The Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics is hiring a research assistant with a master’s degree to help advance sustainability research and support the coordination of the Institute’s ongoing projects and programmes.
The Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics is an international research institute for global sustainability under the auspices of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Read more about the Beijer Institute
Tasks
50 % of the time, the Research Assistant (RA) will be contributing to the biodiversa+ (European Biodiversity Partnership) research project Participatory Engagement for Adaptation and Conservation Efforts (PEACE) with academic and societal partners across Europe and Southern Africa.
The remaining time, the Research Assistant will support the development of a new Research Programme at the Beijer Institute.
PEACE project related tasks
The PEACE project aims to advance transformative biodiversity governance in Southern Africa by promoting inclusive, participatory conservation decision-making. The RA will conduct interviews with project members and stakeholders, carry out stakeholder mapping, targeted literature reviews, and support the design and implementation of fieldwork (including scenario-based futuring workshops, citizen juries, and experimental learning games). The RA will participate in consortium meetings and contribute to capacity-building, knowledge transfer, communication and outreach activities (e.g., website updates and newsletters). The position is primarily desk-based, but travelling for meetings and fieldwork is to be expected. The RA will work closely with, and be supervised by, Caroline Schill.
Research Programme related tasks
The Research Assistant will contribute to the development of the new Beijer research programme Planetary Wellbeing in the Anthropocene. As part of this work, the RA will assist in organising a high-level international workshop, including preparing background materials, compiling key readings, and supporting coordination with invited scholars. The RA will also support the development of academic outputs associated with the programme. Working closely with an interdisciplinary team of researchers, the RA will help identify, compile, and synthesise relevant scientific literature, and prepare concise summaries of key debates and emerging research related to planetary wellbeing. This position offers an opportunity to engage with leading scholars in ecological economics, sustainability science, and related fields. The RA will work closely with, and be supervised by, Emily Boyd.
Research Assistants can expect to often be part of the full research process, and as such the RA position should be seen as an excellent opportunity to gather research experience for candidates interested in an academic future.
Candidates must be EU/EEA citizens or have a permanent EU residency permit and a valid work permit to be eligible for the position. You will be expected to work from the office in Stockholm.
Qualifications
Applicants are expected to hold a master’s degree in a relevant discipline/field (e.g. sustainability science, interdisciplinary studies, environmental social sciences, human geography, or ecological economics).
The following criteria will be used for assessing candidates:
- Research expertise: A track record demonstrating experience in interdisciplinary and / or transdisciplinary research relevant for sustainability. Understanding of key concepts around inclusion, wellbeing, and inequality. Experience in linking concepts with empirical work.
- Methods expertise: Experience in targeted literature reviews, stakeholder mapping or participatory research, and conducting interviews or surveys.
- Strong organisational skills (planning of events), structured and independent working style.
- Strong ability and drive to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Strong communication skills: Ability to fluently communicate research ideas, processes, and results to research communities and stakeholders. This should include both written outputs and oral presentations. Excellent command and high proficiency in spoken and written English.
- Willingness to travel for meetings and fieldwork.
Preferred qualifications
- Fieldwork experience in Southern Africa or similar contexts.
- Experience in handling both quantitative and qualitative data.
Great emphasis will be placed on interpersonal skills.
Duration
100% for 18 months (with possible extension), starting from as soon as possible (start date is negotiable).
Location
Employment is based at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden.
Salary
Salary range for Research Assistants in 2026 is 29,500–32,900 Swedish kronor, with entry-level assistants at 29,500 kr/month.
Application
We encourage qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply for the position.
Last application date: 2026-04-13, but send your application as soon as possible as we will be conducting interviews throughout the application period.
Application should include:
- 2-page CV
- List of relevant publications (if any) – do not send full papers as they will not be considered in the initial stage
- A description of your skills and experience as they relate to those called for in the job description
- Contact details to at least two references
Please note: Send your application as one PDF file. Do not send any other documents as these will not be considered in the initial stage.
Applications should be e-mailed to beijer_applications@kva.se, at the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, with the subject line “Beijer RA 2026”. Applications without this subject line risk not being prioritised.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in an independent organisation whose overall objective is to promote the sciences and strengthen their influence in society. It promotes science of the highest quality by fostering development and innovation in Swedish research. It enhances the status of science in society by drawing attention to key social issues and examining them in scientific terms, and participates in cooperation on global issues with the aim of being an international scientific proponent for sustainable development.
