Postdoctoral researcher in War Studies with a focus on Russian military capability and warfare

The Swedish Defence University in Stockholm is currently recruiting up to two Postdoctoral Researchers to the Strategy Division within the Department of War Studies. Project description The postdoctoral researcher will participate in a research project on Russian warfare comprising of three pillars: Russian military capability (economy, industrial production, organization, command, personnel, materiel, and readiness); Russian military theory, strategy, and doctrine (conceptual aspects of Russian warfare); and lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. The postdoctoral researcher will conduct research on their own specific topic within the project while also contributing to the broader research area at the Swedish Defence University. Duties The post-doctoral researcher is expected to contribute to the Russia studies project by planning and conducting appropriate research in contact with the project leader. The work will take the form of scientific publications in well-established journals or presses. The work should be conducted in close cooperation with other researchers in the project and in international networks. Research is 80% of the employment and there is an opportunity to work with teaching andsupervision up to 20%. General Requirements To be eligible for the position of postdoctoral researcher, the candidate must hold a doctoral degree—or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree—in a subject relevant to the research assignment, no later than the start date of the position. While a degree in a social science subject is preferred, other applicants are also welcome, provided they have a relevant research profile. Priority is given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree no more than 3 years before the application deadline. The application deadline serves as the reference point for calculating this three-year period. Exceptions may be made for special circumstances, such as leave due to illness, parental leave, or positions of trust in trade unions. Applicants must not have previously been employed as a postdoctoral researcher for more than one year within the same or a related subject area at the same employer. Great importance is placed on personal suitability. To thrive and succeed in the role, you should be motivated, organized, and communicative, with a strong ability to take initiative and start new tasks. We expect you to actively participate in the department’s research activities and enjoy collaborating with others. Additional assessment criteria

• Documented scholarly expertise in Russian military capabilities and warfare
• Documented experience in independent and collaborative research
• Excellent communication skills and fluency in written and spoken English
• Proficiency in Russian
• Proficiency in Swedish or a Scandinavian language
• Relevant military experience

About The Employment This is a fixed-term, full-time position for two years under the central collective agreement, with the possibility of a one-year extension. Employment at the Swedish Defence University may involve a security clearance in accordance with the Security Protection Act (2018:585). The position may also involve wartime deployment. If you are already assigned to wartime duties in your current role at a government agency and your skills are required within the Swedish Defence University’s wartime organisation, negotiations will take place between the relevant agency and the Swedish Defence University regarding your placement. Start date As soon as possible or by agreement. Salary and benefits The Swedish Defence University applies individual salary setting. Employee benefits at the Swedish Defence University - FHS/Benefits/employee. Application Application Shall Contain

• a project plan where you present (maximum three pages) the research that you would want to work on within this employment.
• CV should include academic publications
• a copy of the PhD certificate.

If you have not defended your PhD, please provide expected viva date. Applications must be submitted via the Swedish Defence University’s recruitment system by clicking on the ‘Apply’ link on the job advertisement page. Please mark your application with reference number HR 192/2026. Your application must be submitted no later than 31 oktober 2026. The complete application must be received by the Swedish Defence University no later than midnight on the closing date, CET/CEST (Central EuropeanTime/Central European Summer Time). Contact If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact: Oscar Jonsson, Department of War Studies, Oscar.Jonsson@fhs.se. Welcome with your application by 31 oktober!