The Department of History at Lund University is seeking two students at Lund University who want to work 20% as project assistants in a research project focused on household economics, wealth, and inheritance from a historical perspective.
This is an abbreviated version of the job posting. To access the full posting, click Apply via external website.
Workplace Description
The positions are attached to the research node HEIRS, which is specifically focused on research about household economics, wealth, and inheritance from a historical perspective. HEIRS currently conducts several different research projects, including GeneaLogies of Old Wealth (GLOW), The Geography of Wealth, Fideicommissum in Sweden over 400 years, and a smaller project on family and land in Sweden during the 1900s. The projects involve several researchers, both at Lund University and other institutions in Sweden and abroad.
As a project assistant at HEIRS, you will be connected to several of the ongoing projects during your employment and will assist by inventorying, excerpting, and conducting basic analysis of various source materials. You will work across multiple projects and partly together with other assistants and research assistants. Closely connected to HEIRS is also a seminar program with the Department of Economic History in Lund (the seminar "Work & Livelihood") where you are expected to participate (3-4 seminars per term). The research node HEIRS is newly established, and as a project assistant, you will be an important part in developing HEIRS activities for the future, alongside the practical research work.
The majority of the work will be located at the Department of History in Lund, but some tasks may also be carried out at archive institutions within Sweden.
Duties and Responsibilities
The work tasks for this position include:
systematic collection of information from primarily handwritten source materials linked to various research projects
transcription of handwritten source material and proofreading of transcriptions
inventorying of various source materials and basic database work
compilation of research literature
preparatory analysis work
supporting the research environment HEIRS and developing its activities
The work tasks include both overall development of the research node HEIRS and research tasks within a couple of the projects underway at HEIRS. These address themes such as household economics, nobility, elites, peasants, wealth, land ownership, and fideicommissum. The projects have a quantitative methodological foundation but also include case studies and more qualitative approaches. An economic fundamental perspective exists in all projects, but it is combined with sociohistorical, cultural historical, and legal historical perspectives. As an assistant, you will work with several different projects during your employment. You will sometimes work independently on your tasks, sometimes together with other project members. It is therefore important that you can both work independently and collaborate with others.
Qualifications
To be eligible for employment as an assistant, you must be actively pursuing studies at the basic or advanced level at the relevant faculty and have not yet completed your degree.
Requirements for the position are that you:
are admitted to and will study at the Faculty of Humanities and Theology during fall term 2026 and spring term 2027
have completed studies of at least 60 credits in history
have very good knowledge of Swedish, both spoken and written
have good knowledge of English, both spoken and written
have the ability to work independently and in a structured manner
have good collaboration skills
Merits for the position include:
having studied or studying in a bachelor's or master's program in history
having an interest in HEIRS research themes, that is, household and family relations, property and inheritance from a historical perspective
having documented experience in interpreting handwritten source material (for example, courses in paleography or experience working with manuscripts in other ways)
having experience working with quantitative data collection and analysis
having experience working with databases, particularly in Excel
having experience in genealogical or biographical research
having experience working within a research project, for example through previous experience as an intern, assistant positions, or similar
Other Information
The position is fixed-term for 10 months with a planned start date of 2026-09-15 or by agreement. It encompasses 20 percent of full-time. The position must not negatively affect the assistant's studies and cannot be combined with other employment. Regulations regarding educational employment as an assistant are found in the Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 2017:284), Chapter 5, Sections 8-12.The Department of History at Lund University is seeking two students at Lund University who want to work 20% as project assistants in a research project focused on household economics, wealth, and inheritance from a historical perspective.
This is an abbreviated version of the job posting. To access the full posting, click Apply via external website.
Workplace Description
The positions are attached to the research node HEIRS, which is specifically focused on research about household economics, wealth, and inheritance from a historical perspective. HEIRS currently conducts several different…