Digitalisation is a prominent force in today’s society, affecting all aspects of our lives. It is transforming how we work, study, interact socially, manage our health, and seek care. It also influences how healthcare providers assess and treat patients. Conducting research in this area allows you to work on issues that directly impact people’s quality of life and health.

The research field of Health Sciences is, simply put, about seeing the whole person and learning how to support individuals, groups, or society at large in staying healthy and feeling well, physically, mentally, and socially.

As a doctoral student, you contribute to solutions and help ensure sustainable and equitable development.

Sought-after expertise

As a doctoral student, you will receive comprehensive research training and have the opportunity to develop research skills that are highly sought after both within and outside academia.

Since digitalisation intersects with areas such as health, technology, and social sciences, you will be able to work in an interdisciplinary environment. In this way, you can benefit from the University’s collective expertise in areas such as gamification, IT, robotics, bioscience, engineering science, and virtual environments.

The University of Skövde has established collaborations with local, regional, and national stakeholders in both industry and the public sector, offering you the chance to participate in projects and partnerships that will broaden your experience and expand your network. As digitalisation’s impact on society is expected to grow, the demand for experts in this area will also increase. By becoming a doctoral student with us, you will be well-positioned for future career opportunities in academia, industry, and the public sector.

Research area: Health in the Digital Society

As a doctoral student in Health in the Digital Society, you will study how digitalisation affects people’s health and well-being. Two important factors for assessing the value of digitalisation are trust and participation in society. Concepts that focus on the individual are therefore central. These may include person-centred care, proactive care, and citizen-centred health.

It is also important to adopt an ethical perspective on development. An individual’s health is influenced by many factors. Personal circumstances interact with the surrounding society. Norms, laws, regulations, health and medical care systems, municipal care, and more can either promote or hinder health in the digital society. You will therefore conduct research in this area using an interdisciplinary approach that considers the sustainability goals.

Health Sciences, digitalisation and sustainable development

Technology creates new opportunities and conditions, but it can also have negative consequences. We influence technology, but technology also influences us. For the digital society to truly be beneficial, it is crucial not only to assess the advantages of technology in each situation but also to carefully consider potential risks. During your doctoral education, we will highlight these important – if not crucial – issues, with a special focus on health in the digital society.

Available PhD positions

All vacant positions are announced under job vacancies.