PhD student in working environment, with a focus on digitalisation (PA2025/2877)

The doctoral position is affiliated with the Ergonomics Group at the Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, whose focus is the interplay between people, technology and organisation, and what this interplay implies for the design of technology, technical systems and organisations.

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University.

As a doctoral student, you will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis and a doctoral degree.

More about being a doctoral student at LTH on lth.se. 

Mental ill-health among children and young people is increasing in Sweden, leading to a higher workload for psychologists and counsellors working with this group. To meet these challenges, robots, bots and online services are being introduced to facilitate early-stage support for mental ill-health. However, there is limited knowledge about how digitalisation affects workload, professional responsibility and the experience of providing ‘good care’, as well as whether and how psychologists and counsellors integrate digital tools into their daily work. This doctoral project examines how chat, video, e-services and bots affect psychologists’ and counsellors’ working environment, professional identity and ethics.

Examples of project questions include:

• How do robots, bots and online services (chat, e-services and video consultations) affect the working environment, workload and ways of working of psychologists and school counsellors within Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (BUP) and school health services?
• How do robots, bots and online services influence caring relationships and perceived quality?
• How, and to what extent, are robots, bots and online services integrated into care practice?

The aim is to develop concrete recommendations for a safe and sustainable practice in frontline support. The work includes a literature review, qualitative data collection (interviews/focus groups/observations/co-design workshops) and feedback through collaborative meetings. The results will lead to scientific publications and a targeted knowledge base for practice.

You will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral programme, which includes participation in research projects as well as third cycle courses, seminars and conferences.

During your doctoral studies, you will have the unique opportunity to work closely with practice and contribute to knowledge development in digitalisation and mental ill-health. As a doctoral student, you will carry out literature reviews, including on mental ill-health among children and young people, and on changes in technology and ways of working. You will conduct semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions with psychologists and school counsellors within services for children’s and young people’s health and social care.

The work duties include:

• Analysis of how digitalisation affects workload, professional responsibility and the experience of providing ‘good care’, and whether and how psychologists and counsellors integrate digital tools into their daily work.
• Conduct interviews, observations, co-design workshops and focus-group discussions in Swedish within services for the health and social care of children and young people.
• Analyse and synthesise data from interviews, observations, co-design workshops and focus-group discussions.
• Produce guidance material that documents the project and research results.
• Iteratively test the results with target groups in the sector through feedback meetings.
• Duties also include or may come to include contributing to teaching and other departmental work (up to 20% of working time).

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies if the applicant has:

• At least 50 ECTS in relevant subject areas, of which at least 25 ECTS are at the advanced (Master’s) level.

In order to complete the doctoral programme in question, the following are also required:

• Excellent proficiency in Swedish, spoken and written.
• Very good knowledge of English, spoken and written
• Strong ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
• Good ability to cooperate

For the doctoral programme in question, the following are considered as other qualifications:

• Experience of managing projects in, for example, the non-profit/voluntary sector, associations, sport, or previous employment.
• Experience of using qualitative data-collection methods.
• Willingness and ability to work in a team, as the work is carried out in a project format.
• Experience of pedagogical/teaching work, preferably relevant to the subject.
• Other desirable qualities include analytical ability, curiosity, initiative, perseverance and creativity.
• courses within e.g., psychology, cognitive science, behavioural studies, science and technology studies, sociology, interaction design, leadership, organisational studies or equivalent subjects

Consideration will also be given to strong collaborative skills, drive and independence, as well as to how the applicant’s experience and competence indicate the ability needed to complete doctoral studies.

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. It is advisable to enter information on what your unit specifically can offer as a workplace.

More about working at Lund University on lu.se. 

The employment is afixed-term employment at full time, starting as soon as possible. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

More about terms of employment for doctoral students on Lund University’s Staffpages. 

Any other information such as where and when interviews will be held.

Applications shall be written in English and include:

• CV and a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the doctoral programme/employment and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background.
• Copies of issued study certificates and/or awarded degree certificates. These must confirm that you meet the general and specific admission requirements for the doctoral programme and show that you have the subject knowledge required for the doctoral programme project.
• Other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.)

We welcome your application.