Research Assistant in Chemical Safety and Circular Economy

Om jobbet

The University of Gothenburg tackles society's challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

School of Business, Economics, and Law at the University of Gothenburg

With about 8000 students, 500 employees, more than 160 international partner universities, and the main areas are business administration, economics, and law, the School has a unique broadness. The School is also characterized by its close relationship between research and education, internationalization, overall embeddedness of sustainability, and its close engagement with business and society. The School is accredited by EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA - "Triple Crown". For further information please see the School of Business, Economics and Law's web page; School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg (gu.se)

Environment for Development

The Environment for Development (EfD) is a unit at the School of Business, Economics, and Law at the University of Gothenburg. EfD is a global network of environmental economics research centers primarily based in the Global South. The overall objective of EfD is to support poverty alleviation and sustainable development by building environmental economics' capacity for policy-making processes.

EfD has centers hosted by academic institutions in Central America, Chile, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Vietnam. The EfD unit leads andparticipates in a wide range of research projects and is an active partner in several interdisciplinary networks, including FRAM - Centre for Future Chemical Risk Assessment and Management (www.FRAM.gu.se ), and BECC - Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing Climate (www.BECC.lu.se). More information about EfD can be found on the EfD website: www.environmentfordevelopment.org.

Job assignments

We seek a research assistant for two FORMAS-funded projects on a chemically safe circular economy:

• TRACE AI - Transparent and Accessible Information for a Chemically Safe Circular Economy, which develops AI-based and data-driven approaches to improve chemical information; and
• Global Governance Innovation for Chemical Safety in Circular Value Chains, which analyses governance, equity, and risk shifting in global value chains.

The work is carried out at Environment for Development and conducted in close collaboration with other universities, research institutes, and non-governmental organisations.

You will work closely with the project leader and with other researchers involved in the projects.

Tasks include:

Data collection and analysis
• Conduct and analyse surveys and interviews with public authorities, companies, and civil society organisations.
• Compile and analyse policy documents, information from databases, and scientific literature.
• Contribute to case studies on plastics, textiles, or food-contact materials.

Policy analysis

• Map governance innovations in chemical policy and the circular economy, with a particular focus on global value chains.
• Carry out scenario analyses and visualisations of complex interactions between chemical regulations, circular material flows, and policy processes.

Project coordination and research communication

• Organise and document workshops, online meetings, and dialogue processes.
• Contribute to writing reports, articles, policy briefs, and other research communication.
• Collaborate with international and national stakeholders.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• A Master's degree, or a Master's degree nearing completion
  • Excellent command of Swedish and English, both written and spoken
  • Experience with data collection and analysis (qualitative and/or quantitative)
  • Strong analytical skills, documented through a written thesis and/or publications in scientific journals
  • Ability to work independently and in collaboration with researchers and external partners

Merits:
• A Master's degree in economics, political science, environmental science, or a related field
• Experience with interviews, surveys, focus groups, or stakeholder dialogues
• Experience working on chemical issues, environmental policy, or the circular economy
• Knowledge of AI-related text analysis, data extraction, or other AI-based tools and their application in research settings
• Experience from working in an academic environment (e.g., as a research assistant)
• Working knowledge of tools such as R, Stata, Excel, or equivalent
• Experience from facilitating workshops or coordinating projects
• Experience from working internationally and in interdisciplinary environments

We also place great emphasis onpersonal suitability, including the ability to take initiative, organise work tasks, and work independently.

Employment

The employment as a research assistant is a fixed-term position for 11 months with an extent of 100% of full-time, located at Environment for Development (EfD), the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. The starting date is as soon as possible, or as agreed.

Selection process

References will be contacted for final candidates.

Contact information for the post

For further information regarding the position. Please contact: project leader Daniel Slunge, +46 31 786 9205; daniel.slunge@efd.gu.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-forsokande

Application

To apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to create an account in our recruitment system. Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal by clicking the "Apply" button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

Please attach the following in the application:

• Detailed CV, including a list of university courses and grades
• Personal letter (maximum two pages)
• List of publications/manuscripts, including the Master's thesis
• Description of qualifications in relation to the advertised position
• Any other relevant documentation supporting your application
• Three references (names and contact details)

• Three references (names and contact details)

Applications must be received by:2026-01-23

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden's regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.