PhD position at SLU: Environmental communication in Global South contexts

About the role

The PhD position at the Division of Environmental Communication, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), focuses on exploring how ideas about environmental communication can be applied, understood, and developed in Global South contexts. The project aims to critically and creatively investigate communication in theory and practice within a suitable empirical context in the Global South. The PhD student will shape the research in collaboration with a supervisory team selected from the division.

Communication research at the division moves beyond instrumental perspectives (e.g., information transmission or persuasion) and instead understands communication as the joint construction of meaning—a multilateral, multimodal process involving disagreement, conflict, and power relationships. The research applies these perspectives to global issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, land use, urban planning, and land rights.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine research questions related to environmental communication in a Global South context.
• Design and implement a theoretically grounded, qualitative empirical research approach.
• Conduct fieldwork abroad as required by the project.
• Collaborate with the supervisory team to shape and execute the PhD project.
• Contribute to the division’s research environment through engagement in seminars, workshops, and academic discussions.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant social science discipline (e.g., sociology, anthropology, human geography, communication, or political sciences).
• Strong background in theoretically grounded, qualitative empirical research.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.
• Experience working in Global South contexts is an asset.
• Highly motivated, creative, and enthusiastic about environmental communication research.
• Willingness to conduct fieldwork abroad.

About the department

The Department of Urban and Rural Development at SLU offers a strong social science research environment in environmental communication, rural development, landscape architecture, and agrarian history. The Division of Environmental Communication investigates the communicative aspects of environmental and sustainability issues, focusing on themes such as legitimacy, participation, power, resistance, conflict, and learning in decision-making and change processes. Research spans contexts like nature conservation, forestry, food production, climate change, game management, mining, and urban planning.

Employment

• Located in Uppsala, Sweden.
• Full-time position for 4 years.
• Starting date to be agreed upon.