Postdoctoral position in digital humanities

Postdoctoral position in digital humanities with a focus on historical studies (natural resources and society)

This postdoctoral position is part of the project “Making public property: A Digital history of allemansrätten in Sweden and Finland, 1880–1950” (Vetenskapsrådet 2024-02209, PI Matti La Mela). The project investigates the emergence and meaning of allemansrätten (right of public access to nature) through digital analysis of historical source materials, with a particular focus on how access to nature and natural resources has been formulated and contested over time. The project aims to reassess established interpretations of the right of public access and to understand how open access rights developed in parallel with increasing commercialization of natural resources (such as wild berries and mushrooms).

The research combines sources such as newspapers, parliamentary debates, legal cases and government materials with methods from digital humanities (e.g. computer-assisted text analysis), in particular the analysis of digitised historical text corpora, in combination with qualitative historical analysis.

The Department of ALM (Archives, Libraries and Museums) conducts research and education in cultural heritage, information practices and digital humanities. Teaching is offered at advanced level within the Master’s programmes in ALM and Digital Humanities, and at doctoral level in Library and Information Science. The Centre for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences Uppsala (CDHU) is affiliated with the department and supports research with expertise in data management, digital methods, and research infrastructure.

Duties

The duties of the postdoctoral researcher primarily include conducting research within the project, as well as some teaching. The postdoctoral researcher is expected to plan, carry out, and independently develop research within the framework of the project, with a focus on historical perspectives on the right of public access and related issues concerning natural resources, access and use.

The postdoctoral researcher will work with digitised historical text corpora and archival materials and is expected to contribute to the development of digital research practices within the project. The position may also include certain research administrative tasks. The postdoctoral researcher is expected to publish and present research results in international scholarly contexts and to actively participate in the research environment at the Department of ALM.

The position is primarily devoted to research, but includes teaching corresponding to a maximum of 20%, mainly within the Master’s Programme in Digital Humanities. Teaching within the ALM Master’s Programme may also occur.

Requirements

A doctoral degree in digital humanities, history (including various historical specialisations) or another humanities discipline relevant to the position, such as historically oriented social sciences, or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. The degree must be completed no later than the application deadline. Preference will be given to applicants who have obtained their degree no more than three years before the application deadline. In special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier.

Very good oral and written proficiency in English is required.

Ability to independently plan and conduct research, and to collaborate in an interdisciplinary research environment.

Documented research expertise relevant to the focus of the position.

Basic knowledge of Swedish, including some ability to work with archival materials and printed historical sources in Swedish.

Additional qualifications

It is advantageous to have:

• Experience of digital methods in research, for example analysis of digitised sources, geographical analysis, machine learning-based methods, or work with historical databases.
• Experience of research on Nordic history, societal and knowledge-related perpsectives on natural resources and ownership, or human–environment relations, as well as experience of working with public sources such as legislation, newspapers and parliamentary debates.
• Teaching experience, particularly within digital humanities or within archives, library and information science, or museum and heritage studies.

Application

The application should include:

• Cover letter (1 page, focusing on concrete examples of how previous experience contributes to the implementation of the project)
• Research plan (1–2 pages)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• List of publications
• A selection of 1–3 academic publications (including the doctoral thesis)
• Doctoral degree certificate
• Contact details for two reference persons

About the position

This is a fixed-term postdoctoral position of two years in accordance with central collective agreement. The position is full-time. Start date: 1 September 2026 or as agreed. Place of employment: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact:

Matti La Mela, Principal Investigator, matti.lamela@abm.uu.se, +46 18 471 75 67, or Olle Sköld, Head of Department, olle.skold@abm.uu.se, +46 18 471 15 89.

You are welcome to submit your application no later than Tuesday, 12 May 2026, UFV-PA 2026/1047.