[Commlist] PhD position in Media and Communication Studies with a focus on AI and Welfare

https://www.sh.se/english/sodertorn-university/meet-sodertorn-university/this-is-sodertorn-university/vacant-positions?rmpage=job&rmjob=8996&rmlang=UK 
<https://www.sh.se/english/sodertorn-university/meet-sodertorn-university/this-is-sodertorn-university/vacant-positions?rmpage=job&rmjob=8996&rmlang=UK>


  One doctoral studentship in Media and Communication Studies with a
  focus on AI and Welfare within the research area of Critical and
  Cultural Theory and the WASP-HS Graduate School, reg. no. AP-2025/293

Huddinge

Reference number AP-2025/293

Södertörn University is a higher education institution in Stockholm that 
conducts education, research, and collaboration for sustainable societal 
development. We have around 14 000 students, 80 programmes and 300 
courses, and we conduct education and research in the humanities, social 
sciences, technology and natural sciences. The university also offers 
police education and teacher education with an intercultural profile. A 
great deal of our research relates to the Baltic Sea region and Eastern 
Europe. We combine subjects, perspectives, people and experiences, and 
are worldminded, curious and questioning, searching for surprising 
syntheses, challenges and development.

Södertörn University welcomes doctoral proposals in Media and 
Communication Studies, to be conducted within the Wallenberg AI, 
Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanity and Society (WASP-HS) 
<https://wasp-hs.org/graduate-school/>. The successful applicant will 
write their thesis as part of the AI Welfare State cluster, which is an 
interdisciplinary collaboration between several universities and is led 
by researchers at Södertörn University, Lunds University and Karlstad 
University.

*The Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanity 
and Society (WASP-HS)* is a national research program in Sweden. The 
vision of WASP-HS 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. WASP-HS enables cutting edge 
research, expertise, and competence building in the humanities and 
social sciences. The WASP-HS graduate school trains promising young 
researchers to understand the challenges and implications of autonomous 
systems and AI in society. A complement to students’ doctoral studies, 
the graduate school offers courses, a summer school, a winter 
conference, a semester abroad, and study visits both within Sweden and 
internationally. Students work collaboratively to solve real-world 
problems and are equipped with the theories, methods, and background 
critical for investigating questions on the consequences of AI and 
autonomous systems for humanity and society.

*Media and Communication Studies* at Södertörn University is one of 
Sweden’s leading environments for media research and education. Research 
and education are focused on the contemporary digitised media landscape 
and founded on a historically informed understanding of new 
communication technologies and their contexts. The research environment 
currently comprises around 30 researchers/teachers including full 
professors, associate professors, assistant professors and nine doctoral 
students. All our doctoral students have an international profile, and 
the working language of the doctoral programme is English. For more 
information, please click here 
<https://www.sh.se/english/sodertorn-university/research/our-research/media-and-communication-studies> 
(English version) or see www.sh.se/mkv <http://www.sh.se/mkv> (Swedish 
version).

Doctoral education at the Department of Media and Communication Studies 
is part of the research area of *Critical Cultural Theory*. This is an 
interdisciplinary research environment which consists of seven subjects 
in the humanities. Research focuses on critically motivated studies of 
cultural artifacts and human practices. For more information, please 
click here 
<https://www.sh.se/english/sodertorn-university/research/doctoral-level-education/critical-and-cultural-theory>. 
For a Swedish version click here 
<https://www.sh.se/forskning/forskarutbildning/kritisk-kulturteori>.


*Description of the doctoral position *

The AI Welfare State cluster addresses the vulnerabilities that arise 
with the introduction of artificial intelligence into our welfare 
systems for better service and control. As AI technologies become 
increasingly embedded in public services, new potential harms are 
materialising; these imperil both the technical infrastructure and the 
individuals affected by the systems. The cluster is developing an 
understanding of emerging AI vulnerabilities, which include the 
generation of false information, dependence on Big Tech, misuse by 
malicious actors, disclosure of sensitive data, and bias in automated 
decision-making. By examining AI vulnerabilities in three research 
streams, which focus on imaginaries, governance and practices, the 
cluster will provide a comprehensive analysis of how AI impacts society. 
It combines infrastructural analysis with an analysis of how citizens 
relate to AI in welfare in terms of meaning-making, feelings and 
perceptions. This multidisciplinary effort aims to develop a new theory 
of the AI welfare state to ensure that AI technologies support, rather 
than undermine, public values such as justice, transparency, and social 
cohesion. Through its ambitious empirical and theoretical research as 
well as a well-integrated outreach programme, the cluster aspires to 
highlight AI vulnerabilities for policymakers and the public, 
facilitating a well informed and sustainable AI welfare state.

For more information about the graduate school and the doctoral 
position, please contact the cluster leader, Anne Kaun (see below).

*Entry requirements*

 1. All credits are ECTS credits.

/The general entry requirements are:/
1. a second-cycle qualification, or
2. fulfilled requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits, 
of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or
3. substantially equivalent knowledge acquired in some other way in 
Sweden or abroad.

The Faculty Board may permit an exemption from the general entry 
requirements for an individual applicant, if there are special grounds. 
(Ordinance 2010:1064)

/Specific entry requirements/

The specific entry requirements are met by someone who has at least 90 
credits in Media and Communication Studies, including an independent 
work of at least 15 credits. The ability to assimilate academic material 
in English and a command of the language necessary for work on the 
thesis are prerequisites for admission to the degree programme.

*Admission and employment *

This position includes admission to third-cycle education, i.e. research 
level, and employment on a doctoral studentship at the School of Culture 
and Education at Södertörn University. The intended outcome for admitted 
students is a PhD. The programme covers 240 credits, which is the 
equivalent of four years of full-time study. The position may be 
extended by a maximum of one year due to the inclusion of departmental 
duties, i.e. education, research and/or administration (equivalent to no 
more than 20% of full-time). Other grounds for extension could be leave 
of absence because of illness or for service in the defence forces, an 
elected position in a trade union/student organisation, or parental 
leave.  Provisions relating to employment on a doctoral studentship are 
in the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, Sections 1-7.

*Date of employment:* 19 January 2026

*General Syllabus for third-cycle programmes in Media and Communication 
Studies*: English version 
<https://www.sh.se/english/sodertorn-university/research/doctoral-level-education/critical-and-cultural-theory/doctoral-studies> 
or Swedish version 
<https://www.sh.se/forskning/forskarutbildning/kritisk-kulturteori/forskarutbildning>

*Information about admission regulations* including selection criteria, 
and third-cycle education at Södertörn University: English version 
<https://www.sh.se/english/sodertorn-university/research/doctoral-level-education/governing-documents-for-doctoral-studies> 
or Swedish version 
<https://www.sh.se/forskning/forskarutbildning/styrdokument-for-forskarutbildningar>

*Application procedure*

For more details, see this website under FAQ 
<https://www.sh.se/english/sodertorn-university/research/doctoral-level-education/interested-in-doctoral-studies>. 
Please use Södertörn University’s web-based recruitment system 
“ReachMee”. Click on the link "ansök" (apply) at the bottom of the 
announcement.

Your application should be written in English and must include:

- an application letter

- curriculum vitae

- degree certificate and certificates that demonstrate eligibility to 
apply for the position (if not written in English or 
Swedish/Norwegian/Danish, you must enclose a version that has been 
professionally translated)

- Bachelor’s essay and Master’s dissertation in the field in accordance 
with the entry requirements (if not written in Swedish, Norwegian, 
Danish or English, you must enclose summaries of approximately 2500 
words each, in addition to copies of the essay and the dissertation in 
the original language)

- a research plan (project plan) of between 1000 and 1500 words. The 
project’s relevance to *Media and Communication Studies*, *Critical and 
Cultural Theory *and the *Graduate School* must be clear.

- name and contact details for two reference persons, and a short note 
on their relationship to the applicant (for example supervisor).

If available, a maximum of three publications may also be attached.

Incomplete applications will not be processed.

*Application deadline: *18 August 2025 at 23:59

*Further information *

Anne Kaun, Cluster Leader, Professor, Media and Communication Studies, 
(anne.kaun /at/ sh.se)
<mailto:(anne.kaun /at/ sh.se)>Göran Bolin, Director of Studies (third cycle), 
Professor, Media and Communication Studies, (goran.bolin /at/ sh.se)
<mailto:(goran.bolin /at/ sh.se)>Martina Sundström, Human Resources Officer, 
School of Culture and Education, (martina.sundstrom /at/ sh.se) 
<mailto:(martina.sundstrom /at/ sh.se)> (questions about employment as a 
doctoral student)

*Welcome with your application! *

Publications referred to must be attached to the application.

An application that is not complete or arrives at Södertörn University 
after the closing date may be rejected.

The current employment is valid on condition that the employment 
decision becomes valid.

Union representatives:
SACO: (info.saco /at/ sh.se) <mailto:(info.saco /at/ sh.se)>
ST: (st /at/ sh.se) <mailto:(st /at/ sh.se)>
SEKO: Henry Wölling tel: +46 8 524 840 80, (henry.wolling /at/ ki.se) 
<mailto:(henry.wolling /at/ ki.se)>

Södertörn University has made strategic advertisement choices for this 
recruitment. Therefore, we decline all contact with advertisers and 
other salespersons of advertisement.


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