Background
For a new research project within a recently established Swedish research cluster on “AI, Structural Change and the Future of Work” (AISCAF), we are looking for a postdoctoral researcher. The project studies organizations' and employees' exposure to, adoption of, and adaptation to different types of AI in several countries and for decades. We will primarily combine methods from economics, statistics and computer science and use unique and comprehensive data at the micro level.
The position is at the cluster node at Örebro University, specifically at the university's research environment "Economics and Statistics" (E&S). E&S is a dynamic environment for research in economics and statistics, with links to computer science. The environment consists of approximately 35 researchers. Research includes, for example, the areas of labor markets, wellbeing and welfare, macro-financing, globalization and econometrics.
The position is specifically at the AI-Econ Lab at Örebro University (https://www.ai-econlab.com) – an international and interdisciplinary research lab that focuses on the structural transformation of organizations and work related to AI. The research is mainly empirical and benefits from rich data sources, including high-quality linked employer-employee administrative registers, own surveys, and new sources of data. The researchers are often consulted as experts by government, other organizations and media, and actively cooperate with society. The lab is linked to Örebro University's major investment in both interdisciplinary and core research in AI, for example at the Center for AI, Robotics, and Cybersecurity (ARC), the AI Impact Lab, which is one of the nodes of the Swedish national AI center, and at the reputable Center for Applied Autonomous Sensor Systems (AASS).
Position Description
The appointment as a postdoctoral fellow is intended to enable persons who have recently been awarded their doctoral degree, to consolidate and develop primarily their research skills. The research will be pursued within the interdisciplinary research cluster “AI, Structural Change and the Future of Work” (AISCAF), which is funded by WASP-HS.
The Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanity and Society (WASP-HS) is a national research program in Sweden. The vision of WASP-HS is to foster novel interdisciplinary knowledge in the humanities and social sciences about AI and autonomous systems and their impact on human and social development. WASP-HS enables cutting edge research, expertise, and competence building in the humanities and social sciences.
The interdisciplinary research cluster AISCAF connects researchers at Uppsala, Mälardalen, Stockholm and Örebro universities, as well as KTH. The researchers are economists, business economists and sociologists. The program conducts empirical studies of how the labor market is changing with AI and other technological innovations. The studies analyze both how employees are affected by the automation of some of their tasks and how they are affected when various recruitment and HR functions become AI-based. In addition, it studies how the entry of AI changes how we should design different forms of training and transition functions in society. The program currently includes 12 PhD researchers and will also include three doctoral students and newly recruited post-docs. As a postdoctoral fellow, you will be part of the interdisciplinary research group.
The duties are about being involved in the research process, from processing of microdata, exploiting new sources for data, over designing, conducting and interpreting comprehensive quantitative analyses of the microeconomic effects of AI, to report the results by writing / co-authoring manuscripts for high-quality scientific journals. The duties for this position include doing them independently and in collaboration with the responsible project manager and cluster node leader, as well as in collaboration with other related researchers. You are also expected to actively contribute to the research environment at the lab. The position does not include teaching obligations.
Qualifications
Those qualified for appointment as a postdoctoral researcher are applicants who have been awarded a doctoral degree in a subject matter relevant for the position or have a degree from abroad deemed to correspond to a doctoral degree. Candidates who are expected to complete a doctoral degree after the end of the application period will also be fully considered, but in that case proof of a completed degree must be presented before the starting date. The degree is to have been awarded no more than two years prior to the starting date. If special grounds exist, a person who has been awarded their doctoral degree prior to that could also be considered. Such grounds comprise leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, clinical practice, positions of trust in a trade union or other similar circumstances.
Assessment criteria
A basis for the assessment is the applicant’s ability to disseminate information and communicate; collaborate and engage with the wider community; and facilitate utilization of the university’s research; as well as the ability and suitability to cooperate with other members of staff and contribute to the development of university operations.
Particular attention is to be paid to the applicant’s prospects of contributing to the future development of both research and education. Importance is also attached to a demonstrated ability and ambition to embark on a career within academia.
Other assessment criteria
We are looking for you who, in addition to a doctoral degree, also have previous experience of and excellent ability to handle and microeconometrically analyze large databases. This includes previous experience and a very good ability to work with large data sets in, for example, Python, Stata and SQL, as well as to use microeconometric methods, preferably in combination with machine learning. Your background can predominantly be in labor economics or in quantitative analysis using machine learning techniques. A background in international economics or technological development / innovation can also be an advantage. Experience of working with administrative data and text as data is an advantage.
You should also have and demonstrate:
• Motivation to conduct internationally competitive research
• A strong mathematical background
• A track record of high-quality manuscripts / publications in labor economics, machine learning, international economics or technological development / innovation
• A strong interest and potential in the project's research area
• Excellent ability to conduct empirical research
• Excellent programming and data management skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
We also place emphasis on your personal qualities, your own scientific drive and curiosity, ability to work independently, in a structured way, and accurately within agreed time frames.
Further information
This is a fixed-term full-time position for two years. Funding is provided through a scholarship from the Swedish research foundation (WASP-HS).
For further information about AI-Econ Lab, Örebro University, and WASP-HS, please see our web sites. (Addresses: https://www.ai-econlab.com; https://www.oru.se/english/; and )
For enquiries, please contact associate professor Magnus Lodefalk (magnus.lodefalk(at)oru.se).
To apply for the position, please make sure that you provide the following through EconJobMarket:
• Cover letter, outlining why you apply for the position and how you believe you can contribute to the project, cluster and the continued development of Örebro University
• CV with a relevant description of your overall qualifications and experience
• 3 letters of reference
• Account of research qualifications and experience
• Transcripts of grades for relevant course/degree certificates and references verifying eligibility and criteria met
• Relevant scientific publications, including a clearly labeled “job market paper” (maximum of 10 and in full-text format)
Only documents written in Swedish, English, Norwegian and Danish can be reviewed.
More information for applicants will be found at our career site: https://www.oru.se/english/working-at-orebro-university/jobs-and-vacancies/applicants-and-external-experts/
We intend to interview most applicants online in December 2025 around the time of the European Job Market for Economists. For candidates based in Sweden, we will also hold interviews at the SNS Job Market in Stockholm (11 December 2025) (www.sns.se/en/sns-job-market).
Application deadline: 17 November 2025.
- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Job market paper
- Transcript of grades
- Additional paper
- Research statement (optional)
- Video presentation of job market paper (optional)
- Letters of reference: 3