The department of Political, Historical, Religious and Cultural Studies
Sapere Aude – dare to know – is our motto. Our students and employees develop important knowledge that enrich both the individual and the community. Our academic environment is characterised by curiosity, courage and openness, with a close connection between people, professional roles, disciplines and research. Gender equality, diversity and a democratic approach form the foundation of our organisation. Located in Värmland, a scenic region with a rich cultural life, we are committed to promoting sustainable development in close collaboration with the wider community.
Karlstad University has a total of approximately 1,400 employees and 17,700 students spread across two inspiring campus environments in Karlstad and Arvika. More information at: kau.se/en/work-with-us
Description
The Department of Political, Historical, Religious and Cultural Studies at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is now accepting applications for a postdoctoral appointment in political science. Due to the postdoctoral appointment’s nature as a career-development position for junior researchers, we are looking for candidates who have completed their PhD no more than three years before the application deadline. The purpose of the appointment is to conduct research that contributes to the emerging field concerning the democratic and political implications of AI, with a particular focus on the development of the welfare state. The research centres on vulnerabilities arising from the implementation of AI technologies and the dynamics between public and private actors in the governance of AI in the public sector.
The position is part of the research cluster The AI Welfare State, which aims to develop new knowledge about emerging AI-related vulnerabilities, including false information, dependence on foreign infrastructures and bias in automated decision-making, and how these vulnerabilities affect the governance and organisation of public welfare. The cluster brings together researchers from several universities in Sweden as well as international guest researchers. As a postdoctoral fellow, you will take part in a range of different activities within the framework of the research cluster. The research is interdisciplinary, allowing for multiple analytical perspectives.
The cluster is part of the national research programme The Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanity and Society (WASP-HS), funded by the Wallenberg Foundations. The vision of WASP-HS is to foster novel interdisciplinary knowledge in the humanities and social sciences about AI and autonomous systems and their impact on human and social development. WASP-HS enables cutting-edge research, expertise, and competence building in the humanities and social sciences. More information about WASP-HS: https://wasp-hs.org
Duties
As a postdoctoral fellow, you are primarily expected to independently formulate, conduct and publish research within the framework of the research cluster The AI Welfare State, as well as present your findings at national and international conferences. You are also expected to actively contribute to the research environment at Karlstad University by participating in seminars, worskhops and other activities with colleagues, as well as taking part in the joint work within the research cluster.
The position is also connected to the research group PPG (Research group on Power, Politics and Governing, https://sola.kau.se/ppg/), which includes participation in meetings and activities. There will be funds to cover costs of conferences and similar events. Duties may include teaching and administrative tasks of up to 20 per cent of working hours.
To contribute to a positive work environment and further the department’s activities, we expect you to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace community.
Qualification requirements
To be eligible for the postdoctoral appointment, applicants are required to hold a PhD in political science, or another related subject, or have equivalent qualifications from abroad. The PhD must be completed before a decision to appoint an applicant is made. The candidate must have completed the degree no more than three years before the application deadline.
Qualifications obtained earlier may be considered if there are special grounds, such as sick leave, parental leave, clinical service, service as a union representative, military service or similar, or service/assignment of relevance to the appointment.
Assessment criteria
Applicants are assessed based on their academic qualifications and documented ability to successfully conduct high-quality research.
Special weight will be given to:
Experience in conducting research on AI, algorithmic governance, automation, digitalisation and the implications for the public sector
Experience applying analytical and methodological research approaches, such as discourse analysis, feminist studies, critical policy studies, or post-structuralist analyses of governance
High level of proficiency in Swedish and English, both in speech and writing
Excellent teamwork skills
Strong ability to work independently and show initiative and flexibility
Weight will be given to:
International work experience (employment, projects, etc.) and experience of national and/or international collaborations
Experience in collaborating with the wider community and disseminating research findings and development work
Valuable qualifications
Previous experience in interdisciplinary research
Recognised or distinguished teaching skills
Completed training in higher education pedagogy
Terms
Fixed-term full-time employment of 2 years, starting on 1 October 2026 or as agreed upon by both parties. An extension may be granted under special circumstances
Application
Submit the application via the University’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications.
The application should include:
CV
A personal statement describing your qualifications and your reasons for applying for this position (maximum 2 A4 pages)
A research proposal describing the specific project you intend to carry out (maximum 5 A4 pages)
List of publications (in multi-authored publications, the role of the applicant must be specified)
Copy of PhD degree or information on when it is expected to be completed
Copy of doctoral thesis and other relevant publications
An account of language skills
Two references, at least one of which is a current or former supervisor
Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content.
Documents that cannot be submitted electronically, such as books or publications, should be sent to:
Karlstads universitet
HR-administratör
651 88 Karlstad
Application deadline: May 17, 2026
State the reference number: REK2025/248
We look forward to your application!
Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies.
HR Excellence in Research
Karlstad University received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research award September 2020. The award is issued to employers with a stimulating work environment and good conditions for researchers and its continuous improvement. The award also conveys the university’s commitment to fair and transparent recruitment as well as favorable professional development for researchers. Read more: kau.se/hrs4r
Type of employment
Temporary position
Contract type
Full time
First day of employment
1 October 2026 or as agreed upon by both parties.
Salary
Monthly
Number of positions
2
Full-time equivalent
100%
City
Karlstad
County
Värmlands län
Country
Sweden
Reference number
REK2025/248
Contact
Malin Rönnblom, professor, +46547001597, malin.ronnblom@kau.se
Union representative
Per Hurtig, Saco, 076-1011954, per.hurtig@kau.se
OFR/S Sveriges lärare Madeleine Wiker, 054-7002113, madeleine.wiker@kau.se
Published
13.Mar.2026
Last application date
17.May.2026