Postgraduate research schools
First-rate opportunities for early-career researchers
Postgraduate research schools at Lund University provide unique interdisciplinary opportunities for doctoral students and postdocs. There are currently around 25 of them and many offer courses, seminars and workshops, while some also offer research positions.
Postgraduate research schools focus on a specific subject or theme and connect early-career researchers from different academic backgrounds with common aspirations and interests. They are often run in close collaboration with industry, the public sector or private organisations.
Below you can find a list of postgraduate research schools at Lund University.
They are categorised according to their main/general subject area, but please note that they may also provide opportunities to doctoral students/postdocs representing other areas of study.
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CanFaster combines applied medical research in oncology and entrepreneurship.
Students with a doctoral degree or equivalent of four years of full-time research experience can apply to CanFaster.
The postgraduate school provides students with:
- top cancer research settings
- an academic training programme as well as clinical and industrial secondments
- entrepreneurship and soft skills training.
CARES provides a deeper insight into all aspects of comprehensive translational cancer research.
Doctoral students in cancer research at Lund University and the University of Gothenburg can apply to the postgraduate research school that was relaunched in a new format in 2022.
At CARES, students can take part in:
- online courses
- retreats and
- an exchange programme.
Keywords: cancer, translational, collaboration Gothenburg, preclinical/clinical fellows
LiFT postgraduate school is a national education platform and research network in food-related areas.
Doctoral students at LiFT have various scientific and technical backgrounds. Early-stage doctoral students who have a mentor, funding, and who are interested in an industrially oriented education can apply to LiFT.
The school provides:
- high scientific competence in areas of importance for Swedish society and industry
- networks between industry, academia and institutes
- courses, seminars and conferences.
CSiS is a postgraduate research school for teachers and pre-school teachers in science and technology subjects.
At CSiS, enrolled students can study how various types of science communication skills and methods impact pupil motivations in science and technology.
CSiS has close collaboration with schools and municipalities in Skåne and Blekinge county in southern Sweden.
HELIOS focuses on a new generation of intelligent instruments for the exploration of matter. It currently merges expertise in instrumentation development, control, data acquisition and data handling from different fields of physics.
Applicants with a Master’s degree in natural sciences or related fields can apply for doctoral positions at HELIOS.
Students that are part of HELIOS:
- are co-supervised in Hamburg and Lund, and paired with another student
- have the opportunity to do internships in affiliated research groups and cutting-edge companies
- can participate in two retreats per year to learn about instrumentation and its interaction with research at large facilities, such as MAX IV, CERN, EU-XFEL and NanoLund.
HELIOS – heliosgraduateschool.org
Keywords: instrumentation, photon science, particles physics, nano science.
NDPIA focuses on infection and antibiotics research.
Doctoral students and postdocs can apply for membership in NDPIA if they are enrolled at a Swedish university/institute or with one of NDPIA:s international partners. Applicants also need to be active in infections and/or antimicrobials research.
Students that are part of NDPIA can:
- take part in advanced courses with theoretical and technical relevance to infection biology and antibiotics, both in Sweden and abroad
- gain access to a national and international network of scientists connected to infection biology and antibiotics
- apply for co-funding to support travel and accommodation costs related to courses and activities
- apply for travel scholarships for visits to laboratories in Sweden and abroad.
The SWEAH graduate school contributes to the development of a new generation of researchers in ageing and health. 13 higher education institutions are affiliated with the graduate school, which is coordinated by Lund University.
Doctoral students from SWEAH partner universities in Sweden can apply to this postgraduate research school. Doctoral students and postdocs often have a background in medicine and health sciences, but may also represent other research areas, such as behavioural sciences, humanities, law, demography, technology and architecture.
The postgraduate school offers:
- inter- and transdisciplinary core courses in ageing and health for affiliated doctoral students and external doctoral students
- courses for postdocs
- activities that help doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows in their academic development and career, such as student days, network meetings, conferences, and educational assignments.
Keywords: interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, gerontology, age/ageing, higher education institutions.
The National ATMP Research School provides high quality training for healthcare professionals, equipping them with in-depth knowledge and research experience in the development and clinical use of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs).
The school aims to advance the field of ATMP research and create a sustainable educational platform that enables collaboration between academia, healthcare and industry.
The research school provides:
- an educational programme for co-funded doctoral students and affiliated doctoral students
- various activities, such as network meetings, student days and conferences
- six specialised courses, ranging from molecular aspects to legal considerations.
This postgraduate research school focuses on multidisciplinary aspects in neuroscience.
The school targets preclinical-, health science- and clinical graduate students and postdocs who are active in neuroscience research.
Students that are part of the school can:
- specialise in multidisciplinary research areas, for example, cell and animal models, health sciences, clinical research, nanotechnology, physics, imaging and computational sciences
- take part in courses, seminars and workshops that reinforce scientific competence as well as improve and nurture leadership and project management skills.
This school offers a diverse selection of educational activities related to stem cell research at Lund Stem Cell Center (SCC).
Doctoral students and postdocs are automatically admitted to the postgraduate research school once they start working in one of the SCC-affiliated laboratories.
The school provides:
- a one-year complementary educational programme for doctoral students from diverse laboratories at SCC
- a variety of flexible courses and workshops in stem cell biology, as well as in soft skills such as scientific writing, scientific illustration and leadership development
- A seminar series that stimulates translational discussions and collaborative research between different research areas at SCC.
COMPUTE is a postgraduate research school that focuses on computers as a tool for scientific discovery, and provides training and other activities related to E-science.
COMPUTE brings together partners from several different faculties at Lund University who use computer-based tools to solve various research problems. These problems range from the microscopically small to the astronomically large, and from pure basic research to concrete applications to the challenges facing society today.
Doctoral students or employees at the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Medicine or LTH can become a member of the research school. Some activities are also open to participants from other faculties.
The research school offers:
- courses (e.g. in programming, artificial intelligence)
- seminars
- workshops
- support for self-studies
- other activities.
The AquaClim postgraduate research school offers doctoral education in water research at a high international level. The research school focuses on challenges in the water industry and aims to contribute to building a better climate with water research.
The school is open to doctoral students conducting research connected to the Swedish Water Research Clusters. This includes students from all over Sweden. The school’s courses are also open to doctoral students working with water in other contexts and to individuals from the water sector.
The school provides:
- courses, seminars and a community network
- an optional mentorship programme that connects students to experienced people in the water research sector and the water industry
Water Research School – waterresearchschool.lu.se
Keywords: Svenskt Vatten, drinking water, stormwater, wastewater, treatment processes.
WCMM Research School provides high quality education in molecular and regenerative medicine. Topics include inter-organ communication, biomedical engineering and imaging.
The school is open to all doctoral students and postdocs at Lund University.
The school provides:
- lectures, seminars and journal clubs that focus on the interface between physiological systems, translational and clinical research
- hands-on workshops on state-of-the-art research methods in molecular and regenerative medicine
- workshops on scientific writing, project design and career development activities
- opportunities to discuss career development strategies with WCMM fellows and guest researchers
WCMM Research School – wcmm.lu.se
Keywords: regenerative medicine, biomedical engineering, cutting edge techniques, hands-on workshops.
XANADU is an interdisciplinary research school focusing on sustainability research using the advanced neutron and X-ray techniques available at ESS and MAX IV.
Currently, PhD students from the Faculty of Science can apply to the research school. However, others can also participate in the various activities organised by XANADU, by paying a subscription fee for each activity.
The school offers:
- a collaborative research environment across different disciplines, including physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and at the large-scale facilities themselves
- multidisciplinary courses and activities such as seminars, training sessions at MAX IV and ESS
- networking opportunities with fellow PhD students and senior researchers from different faculties, ESS, and MAX IV.
XANADU Graduate Research School – fysik.lu.se
Keywords: X-rays, neutrons, MAX IV, ESS sustainable development
The graduate school is open to doctoral students from Swedish universities who are conducting research related to contemporary issues in East and Southeast Asia. The school also welcomes doctoral students from universities abroad, depending on the availability of places in courses/events and resources.
The graduate school provides:
- jointly developed interdisciplinary doctoral courses
- regular research seminars/webinars
- thematic days and workshops
- an annual graduate school meeting
- a mobility programme
- a mentor programme and career events
Graduate School in Asian Studies – graduateschoolasianstudies.lu.se
This four-year postgraduate research school in educational sciences specialises in subject didactics.
The school promotes scholarly development of knowledge within learning, teaching, educational systems, schools and the teaching profession.
FYS focuses on applied welfare research that strengthens long-term knowledge formation and development of social services.
Social service employees in Sweden and individuals who are eligible for postgraduate studies in social work can apply to FYS.
The school provides:
- third-cycle studies that lead to a licentiate degree
- specialised knowledge of social work, including extensive theoretical and methodological knowledge in social sciences
- courses, seminars and guest lectures that focus on applied welfare research
- an opportunity for subject specialisation.
FYS – forskarskolanfys.se (In Swedish)
Keywords: social services, applied welfare research, social work, practice research.
This postgraduate research school provides high quality education for doctoral students specialising in historical subjects.
Doctoral students engaged in historical research at Lund University, the University of Gothenburg, Linnaeus University, Malmö University and Södertörn University can attend the National Graduate School of Historical Studies.
The school provides:
- courses on specific themes
- joint residential seminars
- one-day events
- opportunities for doctoral students to discuss and share dissertation projects in national as well as international contexts
- a national network of doctoral students and academic staff engaged in historical research
- international doctoral student exchanges.
ROCIT's ambition is to improve the public school system by combining experience-based and science-based knowledge.
Teachers and supervisors from universities, institutes, schools, preschools, and after-school activities who are eligible for postgraduate studies can apply to ROCIT.
ResArc produces new types of knowledge in architecture by combining architecture, geography, political sciences and environmental research.
Doctoral students in architecture and related subjects can apply to ResArc. Students from various disciplines can take part in courses.
Students that are part of ResArc:
- can develop PhD projects in collaboration with national and international actors in architecture research
- get access to recurrent thematic courses, as well as subject-specific courses related to architectural theory, history, materiality, socio-spatiality, design and practice
- are given an opportunity to present PhD projects at seminars as well as international symposia and biennials.
Keywords: architecture, built environment, urban studies, design process, artistic methodologies, theories of place and culture.
Agenda 2030 Graduate School is a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary postgraduate research school for topics related to the Agenda 2030 and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
The 17 sustainable development goals – un.org
The school has two target groups. One group consists of 30 enrolled doctoral students representing all faculties and many subject areas at the University. The other group is called 'the extended family'. The extended family is larger, consisting primarily of PhD students at Lund University, but also of PhD students from other universities.
The school provides:
- university-wide and interdisciplinary PhD courses related to the Agenda 2030 and the sustainable development goals
- research seminars, conferences and other events and activities related to sustainable development.
Agenda 2030 Graduate School – agenda2030graduateschool.lu.se
Keywords: Agenda 2030, sustainable development goals, SDGs, interdisciplinarity, sustainability, societal challenges, networking.
This transdisciplinary postgraduate research school focuses on the transition from a heavily fossil fuel-based economy to a circular bioeconomy.
BIOECONOMY Graduate Research School is open to all national/international PhD students who have connections to bioeconomy.
The school provides
- PhD courses
- workshops
- a PhD summer school
- seminars
- guest lectures
- field trips.
ClimBEco stands for Climate, Biodiversity and Ecosystem services for a sustainable world. It is a two-year postgraduate research school that promotes interdisciplinary research by supporting PhD students in networking and learning across different fields of study.
ClimBEco is open to currently enrolled PhD students from various disciplines and a number of Swedish universities. The school provides:
- subject-specific and general skill PhD courses
- annual thematic meetings exclusively for participating PhD students
- workshops, seminars, study visits and other extracurricular events
- an optional mentoring programme designed to promote personal and career development, and to strengthen the PhD students' relational and communication skills
- a network with other students and senior scientists within our profile areas of climate and biodiversity.
Keywords: climate, biodiversity, interdisciplinarity, environmental science, sustainability.
The research school addresses sustainable development and poverty reduction in low-income countries, with a particular focus on aspects of governance, power and inequality.
The school is a collaboration between Lund University, the University of Ghana, the University of Gothenburg, and Uppsala University. The main purpose of the school is to strengthen doctoral training in development studies through collaboration between the four partner universities and between individual doctoral students within and beyond these universities.
The school provides activities such as:
- interdisciplinary and boundary-crossing doctoral courses
- a series of seminars with researchers, practitioners and other invited guests
- skills and knowledge needed to address current and future challenges related to sustainable development in low-income settings.
Development Research School – developmentresearchschool.lu.se
Keywords: sustainable development, SDGs, development research, governance, inequality, poverty reduction.
Contact information
If you have any questions about a specific research school, please contact a staff member. You can find contact details on their website.
General questions about postgraduate research schools at Lund University may be directed to:
Ylva van Meeningen
Research coordinator
ylva [dot] van_meeningen [at] cec [dot] lu [dot] se (ylva[dot]van_meeningen[at]cec[dot]lu[dot]se)
Telephone: +46 (0)73 081 4968
Note that the following may differ between research schools:
- target audience and eligibility requirements
- whether any doctoral/postdoc positions have previously been announced and filled, or will be offered in the future
- application procedures, dates and deadlines for positions, courses or other activities
- whether they are based on local, national or international collaborations (or a combination of these)
- organisation and format.