Researcher in Economic History – The Causes and Effects of Inequality – Long-Term Trends in Africa

The Department of Economic History is a research-intensive department that employs about 100 people: researchers, teachers, technical/administrative staff, and Ph.D. candidates. The department has a large PhD programme and co-ordinates three international Master programmes. The Department has a well established reputation for wide-ranging research with an emphasis on long-term processes, and with economic theory and quantitative methods as important methodological tools. Strong research areas at the department include economic growth and structural change, innovation, energy and sustainability, development economics, and economic demography, as well as financial history and education and the labour market. More information is available at the Department’s website: http://www.ekh.lu.se/en.

The Department of Economic History is announcing a position as a researcher. The position is 100% part-time for five months, starting on August 18 or by aggrement.

Subject Area

African Economic History

Job Responsibilities

The researcher will conduct research within the externally funded project The Causes and Effects of Inequality – Long-Term Trends in Africa. The primary focus of the project is to calculate changes in income inequality in colonial Africa. Our approach involves dividing the population in various colonies into income groups, estimating the average income and size of each group, and then calculating income differences between the groups.

The research is based on the so-called social tables method, and the researcher will specifically focus on identifying income structures within the wage sector in colonial Kenya. We examine the drivers and mechanisms behind the relative economic success of different groups. The main task in the project is to collect raw data, create new datasets, and use existing databases on population, wages, prices, cost of living, and so forth. The sources and methods are both quantitative and qualitative, but no advanced quantitative analysis is required.

The duties include data collection, digitization, and analysis, as well as writing academic articles for publication in internationally recognized journals. The work is to be carried out with a high degree of independence, but also in collaboration with other members of the research team. The researcher is expected to participate in workshops and present ongoing research. They should also actively engage with the department’s research group on African economic history.

The researcher is also expected to teach and contribute to course development within Development Studies.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the position, the candidate must hold at least a PhD in Economic History and demonstrated teaching proficiency.

Requirements

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

Assessment criteria

Scientific expertise within the specific field of research is the most important requirement for the position.

The applicant must be sufficiently competent and experienced to conduct independent research in African economic history. A documented background in the field—primarily demonstrated through published work—as well as training and documented experience in working with African colonial archives and other relevant data sources, is required.

To be considered for the position, applicants must demonstrate a high level of scientific competence, as evidenced by the quality of their dissertation manuscript or other publications, preferably in well-regarded international journals. Documented ability to work with both quantitative and qualitative historical data is required.

The researcher must have experience with archival research in general, and familiarity with colonial archives from African colonies is an additional merit. Previous experience in constructing social tables, as well as knowledge of Kenya’s economic and colonial history, is considered an asset. The applicant should also be capable of building their own research networks and writing academic papers, and should possess strong communication skills, punctuality, a proven ability to collaborate effectively, and a willingness to actively participate in departmental activities and the research group for African economic history.

To be considered for the position, the applicant must demonstrate strong teaching skills through documented teaching experience and course development in Development Studies.

In addition to the above, the following criteria will be applied in the assessment of applicants:

• International experience
• Other achievements and awards that attest to the applicant’s competence as a researcher
• Ability to engage with and communicate research to the public
• Basic teaching qualifications

In the assessment, personal qualities such as the ability to work independently, willingness to collaborate, and strong communication skills will also be taken into account.

Application

The application must be written in English and should include:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Publications, including a publication list
• References, 
• Certificates,
• etc.

Lund University is committed to promoting gender equality and encourages both men and women to apply for this position. In cases of equal qualifications, preference will be given to the underrepresented gender.