Researchers in AI-assisted and computational social science

The Swedish Defence University is an internationally prominent university in defence, crisis management and security. We offer a unique academic environment where civilians meet militarily. We train civilian and military managers, experts and researchers to analyse and manage current and future crisis situations and security problems. The Swedish Defence University trains Sweden's officers and leads the academic development of the profession of officers. We conduct research in law with a focus on operational law and international law, defence systems, war science, leadership and management, military history and political science.

Political science at the Swedish Defence University is unique in its special focus on security and crisis management. At the same time, the subject is theoretically broad and is based on a wide range of related areas, such as international relations, political communication, public administration and political theory, as well as drawing inspiration from other research within and outside political science.

The Department of Political Science is now looking for a researcher within AI-assisted and computational social science to research group that conducts mission research on information impact and disinformation. The place of work is Stockholm.

Tasks

The position is focused on AI-assisted social science research, computational social science and quantitative method. The research can, for example, affect the impact of information, political and strategic communication, the media and narratives.

A key part is to develop and test scientifically sustainable ways to use large language models (LLM) and other AI-based methods in social science research

The researcher is expected to plan and conduct his own and joint research and contribute to scientific publications and conference presentations.

The researcher works in a research group that conducts mission research on information impact and disinformation. A central part of the position is also to strengthen the research group's competence in AI-assisted research, computational social science and quantitative method. The researcher is therefore expected to actively educate and supervise other researchers in the group and contribute to building up long-term methodological competence.

The tasks include:

• plan and implement own and joint research with AI-based, computingal and quantitative methods;
• develop and evaluate methods such as LLM, quantitative text analysis, machine learning and NLP;
• examine the use of local and open-source language models on own research data, focusing on validation and reproducibility;
• strengthen the research group's methodological competence through workshops, individual supervision and support in programming and analysis;
• contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations and research applications.

Qualifications

We are looking for a researcher who has completed a doctoral degree or has a foreign degree that is considered equivalent to a doctoral degree.

The employment also requires:

• experience in quantitative and/or computational social science methods, including analysis of text and/or images and processing of data from social media/platforms, and ability to use Python and/or R for analysis and research.
• experience in machine learning, NLP or quantitative text analysis, with particular focus on LLM-based methods;
• good understanding of research design, validation and reproducible research;
• Very good ability to communicate in English.
• Great emphasis is placed on the ability to communicate advanced methodological issues in a clear and educational way and to collaborate well with researchers with varying methodological knowledge.
• Very much emphasis is placed on personal fitness. We are looking for those who are independent, initiating and communicative and who have a good ability to collaborate with researchers with different methodological backgrounds.

Crediting

Experience with local or open-source-based language models, RAG, fine-tuning, multilingual NLP or advanced quantitative methods is meritorious.

Experience of research in political science, media studies, computational social science or other relevant social science fields is meritorious.

Experience of supervision, training or methodological support is meritorious.

Good knowledge of Swedish or other Scandinavian languages is a merit.

Application

The application is drawn up in accordance with the Swedish Defence University's model for academic service.

The application shall contain:

• Presentation letter stating why you are qualified for the service,
• CV including scientific publications or project portfolio;
• Degree certificates and grades from previous studies

The application is submitted via the Swedish Defence University's recruitment system by clicking on the link "Log in and search for the job" on the ad page. Mark your application with dnr HR 180/2026. Your application must be submitted no later than 2026-10-18.

Complete application must be received by the Swedish Defence University no later than the deadline of midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

In cases where there is no gender balance, the Swedish Defence University can employ the under-represented gender in an equal or broadly equivalent manner.

About the employment

This is a fixed-term full-time employment for 12 months.

A position at the Swedish Defence University may involve a security clearance for placing in a security class, which means register control and in some cases security interview with the Swedish Security Service.

The employment may involve the placement of a war. If you are already war-placed in your current employment at an authority and your skills are needed in the Swedish Defence University's war organisation, there is a negotiation between the relevant authority and the Swedish Defence University about where you should be located.

Access

January 1 2027 or by agreement.

Salary and benefits

The Swedish Defence University applies individual salary setting. Benefits for employees at the Swedish Defence University - https://www.fhs.se/om-forsvarshogskolan/jobba-hos-oss/formaner.html

Welcome with your application no later than October 18!

For contact with employee organisations at the Swedish Defence University email saco@fhs.se, OFR/O@fhs.se and OFR/S@fhs.se. We reject offers of recruitment and advertising assistance due to government procurement rules.