Work at TEMA

Welcome to TEMA, the Department of Thematic Studies! We collaborate across disciplinary boundaries to find solutions to major societal challenges.

Since 1980, we have been a leader in interdisciplinary research where the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and technology work together.

The department is divided into four broad themes: Children, Gender, Environmental Change and Technology and Social Change. At TEMA, we value collaboration and knowledge sharing, which creates a creative and supportive work environment where different perspectives are mixed.

We are proud to be able to attract external funding, enabling world-class research. Our international master's programs attract students from all over the world, and our research collaborations strengthen our position in the global academic world.

Do you want to be part of us? Explore our vacancies and read what our employees say about life at TEMA and at Linköping University. With us, you can think freely and do new!

View over the Tema building with the text Welcome to TEMA

Interdisciplinary research environments

TEMA's Head of Department, Thomas Kaiserfeld, welcomes and tells about our activities and everything that happens here.

Short facts about TEMA

International

We have many international exchanges and researchers from all over the world who come to us.

Transformative

In order to be socially relevant, we continuously innovate, develop and adapt our activities.

Pioneers

We were the first in Sweden to organise interdisciplinary research and research schools for PhD's.

Support for researchers

Mentorship program

An informal exchange between colleagues.

The program has been around for a few years and encourages the informal exchange and meeting of colleagues who are at different stages of their academic career. The program includes mentee/mentor meetings, to give the mentee support and inspiration outside their immediate group of colleagues, and guidance in their career planning. Everyone at TEMA can become a mentee or mentor, with the exception of PhD students who are in an early phase of their doctoral studies.

Workshops for fundings

Collegial support before applying for research funding.

During the application season (November-April) and before annual deadlines of relevant funders, we arrange workshops of various kinds in writing, receiving and giving feedback on one's grant proposal or project idea. For example, TEMA offers workshops for new international colleagues with an introduction to research funding in Sweden, we arrange an annual grant writing retreat, an annual workshop for PhD students on post doc funding, and a series of grant workshops. They all have collegiality as a starting point – we help each other, we do it together, we share knowledge and experience and we do it across TEMA boundaries.

The mentorship program gave self-confidence

A man sitting at his desk — Sergiu Novac, postdoc at Environmental Change, Department of Thematic Studies.

Sergiu Novac is a mentee in TEMA's mentorship program

When the opportunity arose to become a mentee in the mentorship program, Sergiu jumped at it. He was open-minded; it sounded interesting, and he understood that it would benefit him to talk to someone to understand academia in Sweden and how LiU and TEMA operate.

He says:

"The worry about continuing research, after the postdoc period, at TEMA crosses my mind now and then. Then my mentor tells me to follow my goals, enjoy my research, teach and follow my research interest. It has given me self-confidence."

Support for researchers

Guest researcher program

Young and senior researchers come from all over the world.

Every year, TEMA welcomes guest researchers from all over the world. Young and senior researchers come for shorter or longer periods. They work on their research while networking, participating in various activities, holding seminars and meeting colleagues at TEMA and LiU. This is a way to strengthen Swedish and international interdisciplinary research through collaboration.

Writers' week

Undisturbed writing for teachers and PhD students.

The writers' weeks are about being able to focus undisturbed on your own writing and the writing process and are carried out in a conference environment. Participants work on individual writing projects and are given the opportunity for reading and feedback from colleagues in between. The writers' weeks build community and the opportunity to share knowledge and experiences with each other. The writers' week for PhD students is organised by the TEMA PhD Student Council.

Guest researcher program

Helen Berents is a senior lecturer at Griffith University, Australia

She joined TEMA as a guest researcher at Child Studies in spring 2024.

Her research explores both representations and participation of children and youth in peace and conflict. How images of children's suffering in conflict and crises are politicised and enable certain kinds of political action.

Why did you choose to come to TEMA?
Helen Berents, senior lecturer at Griffith University, Australia.

"I wanted to come to TEMA to spend time with interdisciplinary scholars working on children and youth. I know of the innovative and interesting work being done in the department thanks to getting to know Jonathan Josefsson, and I jumped at the opportunity to visit, engage with colleagues pushing the edges of what it means to study young people. We so often spend time in our own projects and ideas, but I find it so valuable to hear about current work and learn new things."

"I am so grateful that I got to come visit you, eat many 'kardemummabullar' and learn new and I hope to be back soon."

Meet your colleagues

What does a research engineer do?

"We often call ourselves problem solvers," says research engineer Susanne Karlsson. It all started with studies in chemistry. 32 years later, she looks at her workplace and her job as "a fantastic environment where no day is ever the same."

Portrait picture of Björn-Ola Linnér sitting outside with some trees in the background.

Meet Björn-Ola Linnér, professor at Environmental Change

Björn-Ola Linnér was to become a social studies teacher. Instead, he became a climate scientist. He had never imagined an academic career. Nevertheless, he became a professor at Environmental Change in Linköping and active as a researcher in the environmental debate.

Also read: Björn-Ola Linnér: I am a frustrated optimist

Researchers in front of a tree in a forest

LiU researchers explore sustainable forest management in the Amazon

Can climate action go hand in hand with the needs of local Amazonian communities? A research team from Linköping University is investigating this question through interdisciplinary work with communities in the Mamirauá Reserve, Brazil.

Rinata Kazak looking down at her jacket.

LiU researcher ahead of UN climate summit - "I’m optimistic"

Azerbaijan will host the International Climate Summit this year. Although the country is heavily dependent on its oil production, holding the meeting there could actually be an advantage, according to Rinata Kazak, who will represent LiU.

They research life-changing conversations

How can a conversation shape decisions that change lives? Research on conversational practices within welfare state institutions explores how language and interaction influence some of the most critical meetings in public services.

Working together for a less biased world

In what ways does modern technology risk giving us a distorted picture of the world? Seeking answers, researchers at Tema Genus are working with colleagues in computer science.

Art and science meet at the intersection of nature and nuclear power

How can we understand the impact of nuclear power on our living environments over time? The Nuclear Natures project at Linköping University explores the long-term effects of nuclear power production, in part through the use of artistic elements.

The astronomer who turned his eyes towards Earth

Magnus Gålfalk was ten years old when he became fascinated with space. His doctoral thesis was about how stars are formed. But now he is doing climate research at Linköping University instead.

Vacancies

Vacant positions at TEMA

View the list of all vacant positions at the Department of Thematic Studies and apply today!

Benefits and help for applicants

Employee benefits at LiU

Each employee is offered a tax-free amount of SEK 2,500 per calendar year to purchase preventive health care and staff can apply for professional development and further training abroad. Read more about all the benefits.

Help for applicants

Here you'll find useful information when applying for a vacancy at LiU. For example, you must register an account in our recruitment system. You will also find contact information to the union representatives.

Work at LiU

We have the power of over 4 000 co-workers who contribute with actions, large and small, to LiU meeting the challenges of the day. Welcome to apply for att job at Linköping University.

Contact and follow us

Drone image of the Tema building at Campus Valla

Department of Thematic Studies (TEMA)

In an increasingly complicated world, there is a need for researchers that can handle both breadth and depth, and can collaborate across disciplinary borders. Major societal questions are studied from an interdisciplinary perspective at TEMA.

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Work with us at TEMA

Interdisciplinary research environments