Postdoctoral Researcher in Economic History

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked among the world's leading higher education institutions. It has approximately 47,000 students and more than 8,800 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our pursuit to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of humanity. Lund University welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Equality, equal opportunities, and diversity are fundamental principles in all aspects of our operations. The School of Economics and Management at Lund University is an internationally renowned business school with triple accreditation. We operate in an international environment and offer sought-after programs at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels. The School has close collaborations with companies and authorities both nationally and internationally. We are committed to fostering a good and stimulating work environment and continuously strive to develop as an attractive employer. Lund University, School of Economics and Management, Department of Economic History Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked among the world's leading universities. The university has approximately 47,000 students and more than 8,800 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our pursuit to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of humanity. Lund University welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We view equality and diversity as strengths and assets. The School of Economics and Management at Lund University is one of eight faculties within the university. It offers education and research in economic history, business administration, commercial law, informatics, economics, statistics, and research policy to more than 4,000 students as well as 450 researchers, teachers, and support staff. The School is accredited by the three largest and most influential accreditation bodies for business schools: EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB. Only just over 100 business schools worldwide have achieved this prestigious Triple Crown accreditation. The Department of Economic History has a well-established reputation for broad research programs focusing on long-term processes, where economic theory and quantitative methods are essential tools. The research addresses socially relevant issues and has a strong international publication profile. The department is very successful in obtaining external funding—over 80 percent of the budget is allocated to research. The staff group is young and international, with representatives from around 30 countries. The department's researchers have extensive international networks and actively participate in international conferences. There is a close connection between strong research areas and the development of teaching. As a government authority, Lund University offers special benefits, generous vacation, and a favorable occupational pension. Wellness grants and a paid wellness hour are included. Postdoctoral Researcher in Economic History The Department of Economic History is seeking two postdoctoral researchers for the Wallenberg Academy Fellow project "Diseases on the Move: Understanding Long-Term Disease Patterns in Africa, 1850–1960." The project is funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and runs until July 2028. It is led by Professor Jutta Bolt and aims to map the historical dynamics of diseases in Africa and analyze how colonial governments attempted to combat major epidemics. The project is based on a unique historical source material: the annual colonial medical reports from both French and British colonies, much of which has already been digitized. The postdoctoral researchers will work on various subprojects related to diseases and the development of healthcare, using both qualitative and quantitative methods, with GIS and spatial analysis as central components. An important part of the work will involve examining the effectiveness of colonial health policy interventions over time and space by linking observed disease patterns to underlying geographical and socioeconomic factors such as rivers, elevation, trade routes, settlement patterns, and precipitation. This aspect includes the use of spatial statistics and time-space modeling in GIS and/or statistical software (e.g., R) to visualize and analyze the spread and control of diseases in colonial Africa. The postdoctoral researchers will work closely with the project leader and other project members, contribute to joint publications, and develop their own research agenda within the project's framework. The position may include a minor teaching and/or supervision component at the undergraduate or master's level. Eligibility/Qualifications To be eligible for the postdoctoral position, the applicant must hold a PhD in economic history or a related field (e.g., economics, economic geography, statistics, history) obtained within the last three years. If there are special reasons, the degree may have been obtained earlier. Applications are also accepted from individuals who have not yet completed their PhD, but the requirement must be fulfilled at the time of employment. Requirements - High degree of scientific competence - Excellent command of English Assessment Criteria The applicant should have demonstrated a high level of research competence, which should be evident from the quality of their doctoral dissertation and/or publications. Documented experience working with colonial documents and data, as well as experience with GIS, is required, along with documented experience in data management and statistical analysis using STATA or R. In the selection process, personal qualities such as