PhD Position in Economics, especially Health Economics

Uppsala University is a comprehensive research-intensive university with a strong international standing. Our ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a long-term difference in society. Our most important assets are all the individuals whose curiosity and dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has over 45,000 students, more than 7,000 employees and a turnover of around SEK 7 billion.

The Department of Economics is one of the largest departments within the Faculty of Social Sciences with approximately 100 employees from a dozen countries. Each year about 1,000 students participate in undergraduate (BA), graduate (MA) and PhD level courses. The research conducted at the department is mainly focused on labour economics, macroeconomics, political economics and public economics. Researchers at the department are frequently engaged as experts by the government and by the media, and interact with the society in a number of ways.

WoMHeR
Mental ill health are on the way to becoming society’s most daunting and costly problem today. During the latest years, there have been an increasing interest in questions regarding women health. Uppsala University initiated 2020 a center for Women’s Mental Health during the Reproductive lifespan, WoMHeR. In the center, multidisciplinary expertise is gathered to develop evidence-based knowledge relevant for women´s mental health. An important part of WoMHeR is a PhD graduate school where this PhD project is one of the awarded projects.

Project description: Within the WoMHeR PhD project, the department of Economics offers a PhD position in Economics with an orientation towards Health Economics to work on the project Sick of becoming a mother: Causes and consequences of mental ill health related to family formation.

There is a child penalty of becoming a mother. Family formation has a negative impact on women’s position on the labor market: Mothers’ suffer from impaired income and wage trajectories and higher long run sick absence rates after the arrival of the first child. The aim of this project is to improve our understanding of the causes and consequences of the child penalty. The project addresses the following research questions: How is family formation related to mental ill health for mothers? Are mothers reduced labor market attachment mediated through deteriorated mental health? Can maternal mental ill health be alleviated through policy? Erik Grönqvist, associate professor at the Department of Economics at Uppsala University will serve as main thesis advisor to the PhD-student, together with assistant supervisors with medical and physiological backgrounds.

The PhD position is four years of full-time studies. Other departmental work, such as educational or administrative can be part of the position (max 20%). Read more about the PhD Programme at the Department of Economics here.

Requirements: General admission requirements: For admission to the PhD Programme, the applicant must have completed at least 240 ECTS-credits of coursework (four years of full-time studies), including at least 60 ECTS-credits at the advanced (master) level (one year of full-time studies), or have acquired the equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

In addition to the general admission requirements, the applicant must have at least 90 ECTS-credits in economics (three semesters), or have acquired the equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad. Completed postgraduate courses in mathematical methods, microeconomics and econometrics are meritorious. The candidate should have collaborate skills and an interdisciplinary interest.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

How to apply: Required documents for the application:

1. Personal letter (max. two pages) in which you describe why you want to enroll in the PhD Programme in Economics at Uppsala University and implement this research project.
2. Attested copies of all qualifications, including all completed academic courses and academic degrees.
3. Copies of essays that you have authored.
4. A CV.
5. Contact information for two academic references (address, email address and telephone number).

Salary: According to local agreement for PhD students

Starting date: August 16, 2021, or otherwise agreed

Type of employment: Temporary position according to Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7

Scope of employment: 100 %

For questions about the PhD Programme and the employment, please contact the Director of PhD Studies, Mikael Bask, mikael.bask@nek.uu.se.   

For questions about the project and WoMHeR, please contact Erik Grönqvist, erik.gronqvist@nek.uu.se.

Please submit your application no later than April 15 2021, UFV-PA 2021/961.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? If so, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus. You are also welcome to contact International Faculty and Staff Services at ifss@uadm.uu.se.

Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.

Submit your application through Uppsala University's recruitment system.

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