Postdoctoral fellow in Economic History

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top 100 universities. The University has around 46 000 students and more than 8 000 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.

Lund University School of Economics and Management is one of eight faculties within Lund University. More than 4 000 students and 450 researchers, teachers and other staff are engaged here in training and research in economic history, business administration, business law, informatics, economics, statistics and research policy.

Lund University School of Economics and Management is accredited by the three largest and most influential accreditation institutes for business schools: EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB. Only just over 100 business schools in the world have achieved this prestigious Triple Crown accreditation.

Postdoctoral fellow in Economic History

The department of economic history is hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow in the research program ‘The legacy of a settler colony: Quantitative panel studies of the political economy of the Cape Colony’. The program is funded by the The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation and will run to the end of 2026. It currently employs 13 researchers based in Sweden, South Africa, The Netherlands, and USA and 5 research assistants based in South Africa.

Associate professor Erik Green leads the program. The main objective of the research project is to to contribute to the large literature on colonialism and global inequality by – for the first time – using big data and machine learning techniques to analyze the roots and gradual development of a settler economy - the Cape Colony - its institutions and their impact on growth, inequality, and welfare over time and space. To capture these gradual processes the program is constructing the most comprehensive panel database for the global south – The Cape of Good Hope Panel database. The database provides us with economic and demographic micro-level panel data for almost the entire settler population in the Cape Colony for almost 200 years (c. 1660-1840).

The Postdoctoral fellow will work closely with a supervision team. S/he is expected to create data linkage strategies and link the various sources in the Cape of Good Hope Panel Project. S/he is also expected to produce research papers broadly related to themes such as economic development, living standards, and inequality.

The Fellow must be willing to interact with students at the Department of Economic History and to participate actively in the common activities of the Department. The position involves a limited amount of teaching and/or supervision of Bachelor and Master's Theses.

Eligibility/Entry Requirements

To be qualified for employment as Postdoctoral Fellow, an individual must hold a PhD in Economic History or related discipline (e.g. Economics, Sociology, Economic Geography, Statistics, History) awarded no more than three years ago (unless the applicant has been on parental leave or leave due to illness). Applications will also be accepted from persons who have not yet completed their PhD, but this condition must be satisfied at the time of employment.

Basis of Assessment

Scholarly proficiency is one of the requirements for employment. The candidate must have demonstrated a high degree of research expertise as manifested in the quality of the PhD dissertation and/or publications. Documented experience of working with large historical databases and linking strategies is required, as well as documented experience with scripting languages such as R or Python.

The evaluation will take personal qualities, such as willingness to collaborate, academic independence, and communication skills, into consideration.

Applications should be written in English and must include:

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Publication list Certificates
4. References, etc

Lund University promotes an equal opportunities code. We encourage both men and women to apply for this position.

About us

The Department of Economic History is a research-intensive department that employs about 100 people: researchers, teachers, technical/administrative staff, and Ph.D. candidates. The department has a large PhD programme and co-ordinates three international Master programmes. The Department has a well-established reputation for wide-ranging research with an emphasis on long-term processes, and with economic theory and quantitative methods as important methodological tools. Strong research areas at the department include economic growth and structural change, innovation, energy and sustainability, development economics, and economic demography, as well as financial history and education and the labour market. More information is available at the Department’s website: www.lusem.lu.se/economic-history.

Lund University is a government agency, which means that you receive special benefits, generous vacation and a favourable occupational pension. Wellness reimbursement and a paid wellness hour are a given. Read more on the University's website about being employed at Lund University: Work at Lund University.

Applications are due by 7 June 2023.

First day of employment: Upon agreement

Type of employment: Limit of tenure, two years

Extent: 100%

Location: Department of Economic History, Lund

We kindly decline all sales and marketing contacts.

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment Enligt överenskommelse
Salary Månadslön
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100
City Lund
County Skåne län
Country Sweden
Reference number PA2023/855
Contact
Mats Olsson, +46462223118
Union representative
OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli, 046-2229362
SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet, kansli@saco-s.lu.se
SEKO: Seko Civil, 046-2229366
Published 24.Apr.2023
Last application date 07.Jun.2023 11:59 PM CEST
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