Postdoctoral fellowship in Economic history

The Unit of Economic history is offering Browaldh postdoctoral fellowship with a thematic focus on risk and insurance. The scholarship is tenable for a period of three years, with the possibility of renewal for an additional three years. The successful candidate is expected to commence the fellowship in January 2026; however, the start date may be negotiated.  

The position is funded through a  personal stipend—the Browaldh Fellowship—awarded by Handelsbanken via the Jan Wallander and Tom Hedelius Foundation and the Tore Browaldh Foundation. The stipend is intended to cover living expenses, participation in academic conferences, literature, and related research costs, as well as personal insurance. For information regarding general insurance and healthcare coverage for residents in Sweden, visit this webpage;  Move to Sweden 

Project description  

We are seeking a highly motivated early-career researcher who brings fresh and innovative perspectives to the study of the historical development and societal implications of insurance systems—both private and public. The successful candidate will contribute to advancing international research in this field and may explore topics including, but not limited to: 

• The role of private insurance in managing financial risks for households and enterprises
• The evolution of public insurance systems within the context of the welfare state
• Historical and theoretical approaches to risk, uncertainty, and crisis
• The use of historical insurance data to examine health, well-being, and socioeconomic outcomes 

The appointee is expected to be based at the Unit for Economic History at Umeå University. However, it is possible to undertake research stays as a guest scholar at other academic institutions during the fellowship period. Stays exceeding six months must be approved  by the funding bodies. There is an opportunity to apply for an extension of the fellowship for an additional three years, subject to a new application submitted to the funding bodies. 

Qualifications  

The applicant is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree in economic history, economics, history, or a closely related discipline. This qualification requirement must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the decision about scholarship recipient. 

Priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree before that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organizations, military service, or similar circumstances, or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area. Documented experience/knowledge of working with Python, R, Stata etc is not a requirement but an added merit for the position. 

Applicants should demonstrate a strong research profile, a proven capacity for independent scholarly work, and a clear commitment to academic excellence. The successful candidate must also possess excellent collaborative skills, both within the research unit and in interdisciplinary or international settings. Particular emphasis will be placed on personal suitability for the fellowship. 

Application  
The application should be written in English or Swedish, and attached documents should be in Word or PDF format. The application should be registered via Umeå University’s e-recruitment system Varbi and submitted by the deadline 15 August 2025. 

The application should include: 

• A covering letter outlining the applicant’s motivation for applying (maximum one page).
• A full curriculum vitae, including the date of the doctoral degree, the title of the doctoral thesis, a list of publications, and relevant skills pertaining to the proposed project.
• Copies of degree certificates (doctoral and other relevant qualifications), or documentation indicating the expected date of completion of the doctoral degree.
• A copy of the doctoral thesis and up to five selected publications in which the applicant has played a significant role in the authorship.
• A detailed research proposal (maximum five pages), including the project’s aim, background, theoretical framework, methodology, timeline, expected outcomes, and its relevance to the host institution.
• Any additional qualifications or achievements relevant to the position (optional).
• Contact details for at least two academic referees, one of whom should be a former supervisor. 
   
  For further information, please contact Professor Lars Fredrik Andersson 
   lars-fredrik.andersson@umu.se 

More information about the Unit of Economic history here

Further information 

We look forward to receiving your application