Assistant Professor of Sociology

Lund University

About Lund University

Founded in 1666, Lund University is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities, with around 47,000 students and over 8,800 staff across Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. The University values diversity and equality, viewing them as strengths and assets.

Project Description

The Project Assistant will contribute to Protest as a Democracy Test: Protest Culture under Transformation and as a Transformative Power (ProTest), funded by Horizon Europe. The project analyses the context, current state, and potential trajectories of protest politics and culture amid global trends of de-democratization, focusing on the European Union (EU) and Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries in a comparative perspective.

Research objectives:

1. Analyse whether and how de-democratization processes affect protest culture and how these effects vary with the quality of democracy.
2. Investigate how affected protest patterns influence the state of democracy, with a focus on representation of citizens’ preferences.

The position is part of Work Package 4 (WP4) focusing on Sweden, studying the instrumentalization of discursive frames in response to protests through mainstream media and political actors.

Duties

• Compile data for quantitative, qualitative, and critical discourse analysis
• Collect and code media material
• Conduct quantitative content analysis of media and map actor-discourse networks
• Perform qualitative content analysis and critical discourse analysis of media
• Write internal reports on findings

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in sociology of law, sociology, media/communication studies, political science, or related field
• Demonstrated research skill and reliability in collaborative projects
• Proficiency in Swedish and English (oral and written)
• Experience with content or discourse analysis and careful documentation

Additional Merits (Preferred)

• Knowledge of media-framing theory and protest studies

Terms of Employment

• Full-time (100%) for 2 months: 1 April – 31 May 2026, or
• Part-time (50%) for 4 months: 1 April – 31 July 2026
• Employment and remuneration per Lund University regulations
• Hybrid workspace (combination of in-person and remote work, by agreement)

Application Instructions

Submit a single PDF including:

1. Cover letter (max 2 pages) stating fit for WP4 and availability
2. CV with publications (if any) and degree certificates
3. One short writing sample (e.g., thesis chapter, article)
4. Names and contact details of 2 referees

Deadline: 5 January 2026
Start date: 1 April 2026 or by agreement

Lund University prioritizes diversity and equality and encourages applications from underrepresented genders in the subject, in case of equally qualified candidates.

Contact

• Michael Molavi: michael.molavi@soclaw.lu.se
• Isabel Schoultz: isabel.schoultz@soclaw.lu.se
• Elin Jonsson: elin.jonsson@soclaw.lu.se

About the Department

The Sociology of Law Department at Lund University focuses on the relationship between law and society. Research areas include gender and discrimination, AI and machine learning, children’s rights, welfare, legal cultures, corruption, migration, financial security, and crime. The department offers courses at all levels and runs a bachelor’s program in criminology in collaboration with the Department of Sociology. Cross-disciplinary collaboration and professional engagement with public authorities are encouraged.

Employment Details

• Type: Special fixed-term employment
• Contract: Full-time
• Number of positions: 1
• Full-time equivalent: 100%
• City: Lund
• County: Skåne län
• Country: Sweden
• Reference number: PA2025/3109