PhD studentship in Work-integrated Learning – Informatics

The School of Business, Economics, and IT at University West announces a doctoral position in Work-Integrated Learning within the interdisciplinary field of Informatics. The theme of the project concerns digital practices in lawless digital environments and crime prevention related to online child sexual abuse (CSA), particularly on the Dark Web. The research is conducted in collaboration with law enforcement authorities and other relevant societal stakeholders. The project has both empirical and theoretical ambitions and aims to generate knowledge about how digital environments enable criminal practices, as well as how new forms of situational crime prevention can be designed through technical, organizational, and knowledge-based interventions. The research will also contribute to the development of knowledge related to Work-Integrated Learning in relation to digitalization, crime prevention, and the role of technology in societal development.

The scientific part of the project

The doctoral project focuses on investigating and developing knowledge about digital practices in lawless digital spaces, specifically how pathways to online child sexual abuse are formed within Dark Web spaces. The project is conducted in collaboration with law enforcement authorities and builds upon insights from a completed pilot study examining how Dark Web spaces function as arenas for the normalization, organization, and dissemination of practices related to CSA. Building on previous research, the project will also analyze how digital spaces enable movement between open and closed online environments, and how such “pathways” are shaped through digital interactions, technical infrastructures, and online communities.

Central to the project is analyzing how digital environments create conditions for criminal practice, and how new forms of situational crime prevention can be developed through digital and organizational strategies. The project includes the study of technology, digital communities, crime prevention practices, and professional learning, as well as the development of theoretical frameworks and knowledge that can support law enforcement agencies in their work against CSA in digital environments.

The doctoral project thereby involves investigating the relationships between technology, practice, and learning, with a particular focus on how Work-Integrated Learning can contribute to developing professional competence in digital crime prevention. The PhD student will collaborate with the Swedish Police, other societal stakeholders, and researchers at University West. The project will also draw upon University West’s research environments and technical infrastructure, providing the PhD student with access to secure data storage, analytical tools, and expertise for handling and analyzing sensitive research material.

Doctoral degree program: Work-integrated Learning

Research center:

The research in which the PhD student will participate is conducted within the subject area of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL). The PhD student will be enrolled in the doctoral programme in WIL, which comprises approximately 55 doctoral students. The PhD student will also have the opportunity to be part of the KAM-WIL research environment and the research cluster within Informatics at the School of Business, Economics, and IT.

Job description:

The research program includes, in addition to participation in third-cycle courses and other activities, the implementation of independent thesis work. Doctoral students shall primarily devote themselves to their own education. A doctoral student may, however, be engaged to a limited extent in education, research, and administration, mainly within Production Technology. Such duties, before a doctorate has been conferred, may not occupy more than 20 percent of full-time working hours. (Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100) Chapter 5 section 2).

Qualification requirements:

To qualify for appointment as a PhD, two eligibility requirements must be met: 1) basic eligibility and 2) special eligibility.

1. The basic eligibility requirements for doctoral programs as set out in the Higher Education Ordinance are as follows:
   • a degree at master’s level,
   • completed courses totaling at least 240 university credits of which a minimum of 60 at master’s level
     or,
   • substantially equivalent knowledge gained in some other way whether in Sweden or abroad.
     
     
2.  To fulfil the special eligibility requirements for a doctoral degree in Work-integrated Learning, a student must hold a degree at master’s level in a subject relevant to the doctoral degree subject with a thesis project corresponding to at least half a year of study. The eligibility requirements may be fulfilled by studies in Sweden or abroad.

For more information please read 3.1 and 3.2 in General Syllabus for Third-Cycle Studies in Work Integrated Learning, daybook nr U 2021/814. 

Additional Qualifications:

Mandatory:

• Knowledge in Informatics, Information Systems, or related fields
• Knowledge of the Dark Web, online communities, and communities of practice
• Good English language skills, both spoken and written

Other relevant but not mandatory qualifications:

• Experience studying digital practices, online communities, or cybercrime
• Experience with qualitative research methods, such as digital ethnography, interview studies, or text analysis
• Documented experience in research and scientific writing
• Driver’s licence (Category B)

Selection:

The basic factor for selection among qualified applicants is the ability to profit from such a program. For more information, please read 3.3 in General Syllabus for Third-Cycle Studies in Work Integrated Learning, daybook nr U 2021/814. 

Duration and terms of employment:

Employment as a doctoral student shall be on an open-ended basis but not for longer than to a specific point in time and never for a period extending more than one year after receiving the doctoral degree. The initial appointment must not be for more than one year. The appointment may be renewed for no more than two years at a time. A person may be employed as a research student for a total of not more than eight years. The total period of employment, however, may not exceed the equivalent of four years of full-time study at the third level of higher education. (Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100) Chapter 5 section 7). If 20% of the working hours are dedicated to education and administration, this normally means an employment of 5 years.

Application

Applications are to be submitted electronically through the University West web-based recruitment tool, Varbi.

The application must include:

• CV/Personal qualifications
• Personal letter containing
  • Interest in the research topic.
  • Previous experience regarding the proposed research topic and its research          methods and scientific theories.
  • Motive to pursue doctoral studies
• Degree project of second level of higher education
• Degree certificate of first and second level of higher education in the original language and in translation
• Diploma Supplement in original language and in translation
• Course list/transcript of all semesters for bachelor's and master's degrees in original language and in translation
• Other documents which the applicant wishes to invoke

If your degree is from a university outside of Sweden, make sure that you attach a diploma and full transcripts that makes assessing your degree easier. If your degree has not been verified by a Swedish authority you need to provide contact details to the issuing university, registrar or similar, that can verify the degree at our request.

Approved written languages regarding papers, diplomas, grades and other relevant documents are the Scandinavian languages and English, or translations into those languages. Attach the original when submitting translated documents.

Documents that cannot be sent digitally, should be marked with ref.no R 2025/236 sent to:

University West
HR
461 86 Trollhättan
Sweden

The application should reach University West no later than 2026-01-06. Mark the application with ref.no: R 2025/236.

The School of Business, Economics, and IT strives for equality and diversity in all professions. We welcome applicants with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. For us, it is natural with an inclusive working environment and that our employees can combine work with active parenthood.

Welcome with your application!

We decline any direct contact with the staffing and recruitment companies, as well as vendors of recruitment advertisers.