Intermittent Employment as a Project Assistant at the Department of Geography

Umeå University is one of Sweden's largest institutions of higher education, with over 37,000 students and approximately 4,700 employees. The university offers a diverse range of high-quality programs and world-leading research across several scientific fields, including the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. At Umeå University, everything is close at hand. Our cohesive campuses facilitate meetings, collaboration, and knowledge exchange, fostering a dynamic and open culture. The societal transformation and significant green investments we are witnessing in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, this means conducting research on – and within – a society in transition. It also involves delivering education for regions that need to expand rapidly and sustainably. This is where the future is being created. Are you interested in learning more? https://www.umu.se/jobba-hos-oss/om-universitetet-som-arbetsplats/ The Department of Geography is seeking an intermittent project assistant for the externally funded research project InfraMig. Project Description and Responsibilities The InfraMig project; Mediating Temporary Migration to the 'New Green Norrland' investigates how construction workers with temporary contracts contribute to the green transition in northern Sweden, and how migration infrastructures promote migration and help create new places. Interviews will be conducted with key informants, and relevant background information will be compiled, such as available reports and policies. Semi-structured interviews will be carried out with representatives from relevant authorities, organizations, and associations that interact with migrants. The second part involves in-depth case studies located in Boden and Luleå. Fieldwork will be conducted to understand the specific locations, where interviews with companies, migrant workers, and community actors will be central, along with participant observation. The case studies will consist of two major Swedish companies active in the green transition, as well as the locations where these companies are situated. The companies will be linked to subcontractors, who will also be included in the study. In these locations, authorities, trade unions, non-profit organizations, and migrant workers will also be interviewed. In the two case study areas, the project will utilize participant observation, which involves systematically observing the places, companies, and environments being developed as infrastructure for labor migrants. The companies will be active in industries focused on material development. The primary focus of the position involves conducting fieldwork in part 2 of the project and contributing to the completion of analysis and scientific articles. Specifically, the responsibilities include: - Conducting fieldwork in the selected case study areas during the spring and autumn of 2026. - Contributing to the analysis of the conducted fieldwork alongside the project's other researchers. - As time permits, contributing to 1-2 scientific articles based on the completed fieldwork in collaboration with the project's other researchers. Qualifications To be eligible for this position, you must hold a PhD in cultural geography or a related field. Strong oral and written skills in English, as well as the ability to conduct interviews in Swedish, are required. We expect you to be outgoing and flexible in your working style, able to take initiative, and capable of working independently. We also seek someone who takes full responsibility for the tasks they are assigned to drive and complete. The work also requires a good ability to collaborate with others both within and outside Umeå University. Significant emphasis will be placed on skills in conducting qualitative research, where experience in conducting ethnographic fieldwork in northern Sweden independently is an advantage. Other beneficial skills include experience in conducting interviews, qualitative analysis, and completing academic work. Conditions The position is an intermittent employment with hourly pay over a framework period of 11 months. Start date is April 1, 2026, or as agreed. The intermittent employment form means you may be offered work during occasional short-term opportunities during the specified framework period. Employment instances are time-limited under the Employment Protection Act § 5, paragraph 1. Being available in this manner means you can accept or decline each opportunity you are offered to work, and a new employment relationship is established for each individual occasion you work. Application The application should include: - A personal letter describing yourself and your research interests, as well as why you are interested in and suitable for the position (max 2 pages). - Curriculum vitae (CV) and a list of published scientific articles. - Verified copies of transcripts and degree certificates. - Any other documents that the applicant wishes to present as relevant to the position. You apply via our e-recruitment system Varbi. Log in and apply using the button at the bottom of the webpage. All attached documents should be in MS Word or PDF format. We welcome your application by December 10, 2025. We look forward to your application! Umeå University aims to provide an equitable and inclusive environment where open conversations among people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives lay the foundation for learning, creativity