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Lund University

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PhD in Human/Economic Geography on Infrastructure Decentralization and Socio-Technical Modularity Lund University in Sweden

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Environmental Science

Funding

Full funding available

Deadline

Aug 28, 2026

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Country

Sweden

University

Lund University

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Keywords

Environmental Science
Sociology
Agriculture
Political Science
Geography
Urban Planning
Human Geography
Economic Geography
Sociotechnical Systems
Economics
Human Mobility
Drinking Water

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About this position

Lund University is advertising 1–2 PhD students in human/economic geography within the DECENT project (Socio-technical modularity and the decentralization of infrastructure), funded by the ERC. The project examines how decentralized infrastructure solutions—such as micro-grids, small-scale wastewater treatment, multi-modal transport, short food chains, and distributed finance—can overcome the limitations of large centralized systems.

The doctoral researchers will study decentralization from a configurational socio-technical perspective, with possible focus areas including local and global industry dynamics, geography of innovation, sustainability transitions, and urban experimentation. Empirical work will compare infrastructure decentralization in high-income cities (e.g. European or North American) and middle-income cities (e.g. South or Southeast Asian).

This is a PhD opening at the Department of Human Geography, Lund University, in Sweden. The position is a salaried employment for four years, with teaching/departmental duties of about 20% of working time. The doctoral student is expected to conduct empirical research, write single- and co-authored publications, present at conferences, and complete and defend a PhD thesis.

Eligibility highlights: a second-cycle degree; at least 240 higher education credits with 60 at second-cycle level (or equivalent); a master’s degree in human/economic geography or a related field such as transition studies, innovation studies, sociology, economics, economic history, or political science; independent work of at least 30 credits; and strong spoken and written English. The department also seeks candidates with strong motivation, empirical research experience, mixed-methods interest, interdisciplinary orientation, and excellent writing skills.

How to apply: submit the required documents in English via the Lund University job portal. Required materials include a cover letter, a research idea document aligned with the DECENT project, CV, an example of independent academic work, optional publications, reference contacts, and examination certificates/grades. No other material should be uploaded.

Deadline: 2026-08-28.

Funding details

Full funding including tuition fees and living expenses is available for this position. The scholarship covers all educational costs and provides a monthly stipend.

How to apply

Please submit your application including a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, and contact information for two references. Applications should be sent via the online portal before the deadline.

More information can be found here

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