PhD Position in Humanities

Date published: 27 June 2025

Position: PhD student in Information Studies with a direction towards AI and Digital Humanities research
Department: ALM (Archival Studies, Library and Information Studies, Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies)
Starting date: 1 January 2026

Project description

This PhD position is part of the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program on Humanities and Society (WASP-HS), which aims to realize excellent research and develop competence on the consequences and challenges of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems for humanity and society. WASP-HS is a national research program in Sweden. Its vision is to foster novel interdisciplinary knowledge in the humanities and social sciences about AI and autonomous systems and their impact on human and social development, enabling cutting-edge research, expertise, and competence building.

The WASP-HS graduate school provides foundations, perspectives, and state-of-the-art knowledge in the different disciplines taught by leading researchers. Through an ambitious program with research visits, partner universities, and visiting lecturers, the graduate school supports forming a strong multi-disciplinary and international professional network between PhD students, researchers, and practitioners, offering unique opportunities for students committed to international research excellence with societal relevance.

The doctoral student will be working in the WASP-HS Cluster AI Futures of Culture and Memory, financed by the WASP-HS Programme and directed by Professor Anna Foka. The research will be conducted in collaboration with a number of formally committed Swedish cultural heritage institutions.

AI Futures of Culture and Memory

AI Futures of Culture and Memory, a WASP-HS research cluster led by Uppsala University, explores how AI is transforming human culture and collective memory. The research plan includes defining key research questions, establishing a theoretical framework, selecting diverse methodologies, organizing core activities, projecting expected outcomes, and integrating with ongoing projects.

The cluster focuses on three interconnected themes:

1. Examining how AI changes the perception, production, preservation, and interpretation of culture and memory, its influence on creativity, and the dynamics of human-machine interaction.

2. Investigating how AI-driven collaborations reshape creative professions and cultural institutions such as museums, libraries, and archives, addressing associated legal, ethical, and infrastructural challenges.

3. Identifying and mitigating bias in AI systems processing cultural data, while empowering creative communities to pursue social and environmental sustainability through speculative and futuring approaches.

The cluster emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration with stakeholders to study AI’s societal impact, aiming to develop humane, inclusive, and sustainable AI systems. Its theoretical and methodological approaches include concepts such as sympoiesis, technosymbiosis, sociotechnical imaginaries, and critical legal theory, employing exploratory, interventionist, speculative, and mixed methods.

Uppsala’s contribution focuses on AI, sustainability, and empowering communities within AI and Heritage.

Cluster leader: Professor Anna Foka, Digital Humanities, Uppsala University

Involved universities and institutes: Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Linnaeus University, Lund University, Stockholm University, Umeå University, University of Gothenburg

Requirements

Applicants must explain how their proposed project contributes to the overall aims of the WASP-HS cluster and project. Doctoral education consists of a 4-year full-time studentship. Departmental duties (typically teaching and administration) not exceeding 20% may be included.

Obligatory Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Digital Humanities, Information Studies, Library and Information Science, Archival Science, Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies, or equivalent

• Applicants with equivalent knowledge acquired elsewhere are also eligible

• Very good competence in written and oral academic English

Desired Qualifications:

• Professional experience in heritage digitization research projects

• Experience with computational tools (including programming) or quantitative methods in the humanities

Application

Applications should include:

• Short CV

• Verified copy of Master’s degree certificate (or equivalent), diploma supplement, and transcript of records

• Research plan (maximum 2,000 words) including heading, aim and problem statement, subject area, theoretical frameworks, methods, and preliminary 4-year timetable

• Copies of written material (e.g., Master’s thesis, publications) and other relevant documentation

Selection will be based on the candidate’s ability to benefit from the education and successfully complete a doctoral degree. Considerable emphasis will be placed on the research plan.

About the employment

• Temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5 § 7

• Full-time, 100%

• Starting date: 1 January 2026 or as agreed

• Placement: Uppsala

• Salary: Fixed salary according to local agreement for PhD students

Contact:

• Head of Department: Olle Sköld, olle.skold@abm.uu.se

• Director of Doctoral Programme: Professor Isto Huvila, isto.huvila@abm.uu.se

• Cluster leader: Professor Anna Foka, anna.foka@abm.uu.se

Application deadline: 30 November 2025
Reference number: UFV-PA 2025/2160

Union representatives:

• ST/TCO, tco@fackorg.uu.se

• Seko Universitetsklubben, seko@uadm.uu.se

• Saco-rådet, saco@uadm.uu.se

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. Its goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. The University has 7,600 employees and 53,000 students, fostering curiosity and commitment.

In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com