Triple E.D.

Postdoc position in Business Administration with a focus on qualitative methods
The Management Section within the Department of Business Administration at Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics invites applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Qualitative Methods. The position will be affiliated with the research group “Extreme Environments – Everyday Decisions (www.TripleED.com) and the successful applicant will be invited to join and/or lead projects at the intersection of organizations and management, extreme contexts and artificial intelligence (previous research experience in these fields is not a requirement). Applicants who are confident working with qualitative data (evidenced through their dissertation work, publications and/or research projects) are particularly encouraged to apply. Exceptional candidates who wish to develop their qualitative methods skills, but who have primarily worked with conceptual, quantitative or mixed-methods approaches may also be considered. Apply 2023-06-01 at the latest!

About the research environment

The TripleED group is an interdisciplinary research environment interested in extreme contexts – settings where people risk getting hurt or killed (see Hällgren et al, 2018). Current research projects include the response to Covid-19 within the Police, and incident command work in organizations critical to society’s resilience (police, armed forces, county administrative boards), team decision making in remote and inaccessible environments, the commercialization of risk in adventure tourism (ski guiding, mountaineering), the study of odd groups and organizations, leadership and teamwork in rescue services, and collective behaviors in Doomsday scenarios (such as apocalypses). A common denominator across our members projects is the use of qualitative methods (interviews, ethnography, fiction, and archival data analysis etc) and an interest in practices and processes. Our faculty are eclectic in their theoretical orientation, and draw on literatures such as occupational identity, institutional theory, organizational routines, sensemaking, leadership, risk, and collective competence. Researchers in the group have published in i.e. Academy of Management Annals, Academy of Management Perspectives, Journal of Management Studies, Human Relations, Management Learning and Academy of Management Learning and Education, and regularly present at conferences such as Academy of Management (AoM) Conference, the European Group for Organization Studies (EGOS) Colloquium, and the Process Studies (PROS) conference.

The advertised position is interdisciplinary. In addition of the position at Business Administration there will be a postdoc position at the research group ”The Socially Aware AI” (SAAI), at the department of Computer Science, Umeå University. Both postdoc positions is part of the university-wide center for AI research, TAIGA. (www.umu.se/en/centre-for-transdisciplinary-ai/) In addition to other projects, the successful candidate is expected to work with TripleED faculty across the teams in a jointly selected few projects to develop agent-based simulations based on qualitative data.

The research at the Management section is broad. The research covers research topics such as collaboration dynamics (startup-corporate, startup-public sector), digital transformation, new forms of leadership, the dynamics of identity formation in organisational contexts, embodiment and temporality, global management, organisational paradoxes, routines and meaningfulness, sensemaking, inclusion in organisations, and legitimacy at work, ethics and sustainability, temporary organising and extreme contexts.

Work description

The successful candidate is expected to plan and conduct independent and collaborative research with researchers in TripleED. Examples of activities include collecting and analyzing qualitative material, writing, publishing and presenting research in management journals and conferences, and participating in simulation development discussions. The position is for 100%, including up to 20% of teaching on basic and advanced levels in business administration. This corresponds to approximately two classes/year in subjects such as leadership, organizational change, strategy and methods. Classes are taught as a team. The successful applicant is expected to relocate to Umeå. The successful applicant will be employed by Umeå University and receive a competitive salary for a period of two years fulltime. A third year of funding may be offered, contingent on successful grant applications.

The starting date for the position is upon agreement, but no later than October 1, 2023. Within recent years, several of our postdocs have successfully applied for permanent positions and, in competition, been employed as permanent faculty within the department.

Sweden is known for its social security system and safe conditions, which the successful candidate would enjoy. Umeå is known for its friendly vibrant atmosphere and closeness to nature (see https://visitumea.se/en). At the department of Business Administration, we take pride in our collegial environment and our support for early career scholars to grow into independent researchers. For instance, we offer a mentorship program, and there are career programs hosted by the university. There are also support for grant writing and journal publications. Postdocs are encouraged to attend conferences, for which funding is provided. Funding, within reason, is also provided for data collection and work-related expenses. The successful candidate will be part of a research environment that frequently invites international scholars to give talks, and the candidate are encouraged to take such initiatives too, to build their own network. TripleED faculty, and the management section are part of large global networks (such as EGOS, PROS and AoM), including heading the Organizing Extreme context network comprising >700 international scholars, and the six-year Standing Working Group initiative on Extreme contexts at the EGOS conference. Previous postdocs have received opportunities for engaging with these initiatives.

Requirements and qualifications

A successful candidate shall:

• have a Ph.D. in Business Administration, Organizational Behavior, Management or in a related area before starting the position. The research group is interdisciplinary and we are very open to scholars with a Ph.D. in e.g. sociology, psychology, informatics, anthropology to name but a few.
• be skilled in collecting and analyzing qualitative empirical material (e.g. interviews, ethnography, fiction, narrative analysis, grounded theory etc.)
• have published, or have the potential to publish, internationally competitive research. This is demonstrated by published research, or publications in a well-advanced stage in the peer review process, in internationally renowned journals, and/or through books, edited books, and book chapters.
• the ability to work independently and as part of a research group.
• have good communication skills in written and spoken English.

Meritorious qualities

• research on leadership, organizational routines, team dynamics, extreme contexts or AI
• have an international network
• experience of interdisciplinary research
• strong interpersonal skills

Priority will be given to candidates who have completed their doctoral degree no more than three years before the closing date of the application. Candidates that have not yet defended their dissertation when applying are required to have successfully defended their dissertation before starting the position. A candidate who has completed their degree before three years may be considered if special circumstances apply. Special circumstances include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade unions or similar circumstances. We appreciate an equal gender balance and particularly welcome female applicants for the position.

How to apply

The application should include:
• a personal letter (max one page)
• a Curriculum Vitae
• a report on past and ongoing research interest with relevance for the position (max two pages)
• a full publication list
• copies of the Ph.D. thesis and a maximum of five additional publications
• copies of relevant degree certificates and other documentation

The application is to be submitted to the University recruitment system no later than 2022-06-01. For further information, please contact the Head of Research and responsible of TripleED, professor Markus Hällgren at markus.hallgren@umu.se or Deputy Head of Business Administration professor Johan Jansson at +4690 – 786 78 72, johan.jansson@umu.se; questions about doing a postdoc in Umeå is best answered by associate professor Sophie Jané at sophie.jane@umu.se (coming from the US), and associate professor Virginie Fernandez Virginie.fernandez@umu.se (coming from Europe).

Reference

Hällgren, M., Rouleau, L., & De Rond, M. (2018). A matter of life or death: How extreme context research matters for management and organization studies. Academy of Management Annals, 12(1), 111-153.

More about USBE
As an internationally respected, nationally influential, and regionally rooted part of Umeå University, Umeå School of Business, Economics, and Statistics contributes to societal development through education and research of a high international standard.

Through interplay with surrounding society, we provide education and research that contributes to the understanding, ability, and responsibility of individuals in relation to societal challenges and the importance of sustainable development.

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