PhD Position in Mathematics with a Focus on Extremal Combinatorics

The Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics at Umeå University is opening a PhD position in mathematics with a focus on extremal combinatorics. The position covers four years of third-cycle studies, including participation in research and third-cycle courses. The last day to apply is January 31st 2026.

Project description and tasks
The successful applicant will study problems in extremal and probabilistic combinatorics, as part of Dr. Maryam Sharifzadeh’s project Induced saturation problems for hypergraphs and partially ordered sets (POSets), funded by the Swedish Research Council.

This project is concerned with saturation problems for two classes of combinatorial objects: hypergraphs and posets. For hypergraphs, the aim is to better understand weak saturation, a simpler version of the usual notion of saturation, and to improve what we currently know. On the poset side, the project will involve work on both saturation and non-induced saturation, with the goal of making progress on conjectures about the nature of posets that are hardest to saturate. The work will draw on ideas from extremal combinatorics, set theory and probabilistic methods, and it hopes to clarify how these two settings, hypergraphs and posets, connect through their shared saturation questions.

Combinatorics and mathematics in Umeå
The successful applicant will be expected to take part in (and contribute to) the life of the Discrete Mathematics group. Discrete mathematics is one of the five main research areas at the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, alongside Computational Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics, and Analysis & Modelling.

The Discrete Mathematics group consists of 10 faculty members whose research covers a broad range of modern combinatorics. The group runs a weekly seminar and welcomes many visiting researchers throughout the year. Its areas of expertise include extremal combinatorics, discrete probability, combinatorial optimisation, discrete geometry, and computational combinatorics. The main supervisor for this project will be Dr. Maryam Sharifzadeh, and the successful applicant will also have plenty of opportunities to interact with other group members working in extremal and probabilistic combinatorics, including Dr. Victor Falgas-Ravry, Dr. Eero Räty, Professor Klas Markström, and Dr. Istvan Tomon. More information about Discrete Mathematics at Umeå University can be found on the group’s homepage: https://www.umu.se/en/research/groups/discrete-mathematics/

As a PhD student, you will be part of a lively and welcoming group that stays closely connected with the department’s postdoctoral researchers. The community is active both academically and socially, organizing everything from board-game evenings and sports activities to weekly lunches and informal gatherings. Each year, the department also organizes PhD Days, where students spend a couple of days together away from campus to share their experiences, discuss their research, and get to know one another in a relaxed setting. It is a supportive environment where people naturally mix across research areas and career stages, making it easy to feel included from the very beginning.

Qualifications
The doctoral student will be admitted to study the third-cycle subject Mathematics.

To fulfil the general entry requirements, the applicant must have qualifications equivalent to a completed degree at the second-cycle level or completed course requirements of at least 240 ECTS credits, including at least 60 ECTS credits at the second-cycle level. To fulfil the specific entry requirements to be admitted for studies at the third-cycle level in Mathematics, the applicant must have completed at least 60 ECTS credits within the fields of mathematics, of which at least 15 ECTS credits shall have been acquired at the second-cycle level. The entry requirements specified above are also considered fulfilled by applicants who have acquired essentially equivalent knowledge through other means.

You should have strong and rigorous training in pure mathematics, along with clear and fluent English communication skills in both writing and speech. Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively are essential. A solid background in combinatorics, especially graph theory, together with basic knowledge of probability theory, are required. Documented experience in extremal combinatorics, graph theory, set theory, or probabilistic combinatorics will be considered highly meritorious, and good programming skills are also an advantage.

The assessment of applicants is based on their qualifications and ability to benefit from the doctoral study they will receive.

About the employment
The position is intended to result in a doctoral degree. The main task of doctoral students is to pursue their third-cycle studies, including active participation in research and third-cycle courses. The duties may include teaching or other departmental work, although duties of this kind may not comprise more than 20 per cent of a full-time post. The employment is for a fixed term of four years full-time or up to five years when teaching part-time. Salary is set according to the salary ladder for PhD positions at Umeå University and is currently 33,100 SEK per month (before tax). Employment commences fall 2026 or by agreement.

Application
Applications will be accepted via our recruitment system. The deadline for applications is January 31st 2026. Log in and apply via the button at the bottom of the page. The application must include the following documents written in English or Swedish:

• A cover letter briefly describing your qualifications and research interests, an explanation of why you are applying for the position and why you feel your qualifications and experience are relevant.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Authenticated copies of degree certificates, diplomas or equivalent, including documentation of completed academic courses, received grades, and other certificates.
• Copies of relevant work such as master’s thesis or articles you have authored or co-authored. If the master’s thesis has not been completed before the application deadline, a summary of the master’s thesis project and current progress shall be included. The summary can, at most be five pages, including figures and references.
• Your GMAT (or GRE) and TOEFL/IELTS test scores if available.
• Contact details for at least two references.

The Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics values the qualities that gender balance brings to the department. We are therefore particularly keen to hear from female applicants.

Pursuant to Chapter 12 Section 2 of the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100), the decision regarding the position cannot be appealed.

Life in Umeå

Umeå is a young, creative, and steadily growing city of about 135,000 people, where students make up a big part of everyday life. That mix gives the city an easygoing but lively feel, with plenty of cafés, pubs, small venues, and cultural events without the stress or pace of a big city. In 2014, Umeå was named a European Capital of Culture, a recognition that encouraged even more cultural activity, from festivals and concerts to institutions like Norrlandsoperan and Bildmuseet. Day to day, though, Umeå is simply a comfortable place to live: safe, compact, and easy to get around, especially by bike. As the largest city in northern Sweden, it has what you need while keeping things friendly, calm, and close to home.

What people often appreciate most is how close you stay to nature here. Forest paths, the river, and lakes are all woven into the city, and in winter the snow turns Umeå into a cosy, activity-filled place. Several Christmas markets appear around town, and ski tracks are only a 15 to 20 minute walk from the university. The seasons are clear and shape life in a gentle, familiar way: candle-lit December evenings, crisp spring days, and the long, bright light of early summer. It is the kind of place where you can finish work, step outside, and almost immediately be in the woods or by the water. Visitors often say it plainly: Umeå is a pretty cool place to live, and it is easy to feel that once you are here.

Additional information
For inquiries about the position and further information about the project, qualified applicants are encouraged to contact Associate Professor Maryam Sharifzadeh by sending an email to: maryam.sharifzadeh@umu.se

For additional questions, you may also contact the head of the department, Associate Professor Konrad Abramowicz by email to: konrad.abramowicz@umu.se  

Further information about the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics:

https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-mathematics-and-mathematical-statistics/

We look forward to receiving your application!