Jobs & studentships in Economic/Social History

Three-Year Postdoctoral Fellowship – Umeå University

Start Date: January 2026 (negotiable)

Duration: Three years, with the possibility of renewal for a further three years

Host: Unit of Economic History, Umeå University

Position Type: Postdoctoral Fellowship

Field: Economic History

Application Deadline: 15 August 2025

Fellowship Overview

The Unit of Economic History at Umeå University invites applications for the Browaldh Postdoctoral Fellowship. The Fellowship is tenable for a period of three years, with the potential for renewal for an additional three years. It is funded by Handelsbanken through the Jan Wallander and Tom Hedelius Foundation and the Tore Browaldh Foundation.

Research Environment

The successful candidate will join a dynamic and internationally oriented research environment. The appointee will contribute to scholarly work in areas such as the historical development of private and public insurance systems, the formation of welfare states, the socio-economic implications of risk and uncertainty, and the use of insurance data to investigate long-term socio-economic outcomes.

Candidate Profile

Applicants must hold a PhD (or equivalent) in economic history, economics, history, or a closely related discipline by the time of appointment. Preference will be given to candidates who have obtained their doctorate within the past three years, although exceptions may be made under special circumstances. Proficiency in software such as Python, R, or Stata is considered advantageous. Candidates should demonstrate strong potential for independent research.

Application Procedure

Applications must be submitted via Umeå University’s Varbi recruitment system no later than 15 August 2025.

A complete application should include:

– Curriculum Vitae (including date of PhD, thesis title, and list of publications)

– Cover Letter (maximum one page)

– Research Proposal (maximum five pages)

– Copy of doctoral degree certificate (or documentation confirming expected completion)

– Doctoral thesis and up to five selected publications

– Contact details for two academic referees (one of whom should be a former supervisor)

Contact Information

Professor Lars-Fredrik Andersson