Regarding your final Q: it depends on what you're doctoral degree is in. :-) Also, how ready are you to experience a different culture? There is significant cultural difference between US (I'm assuming you're US based) and Scandinavia, and not everyone thrives on the challenges that entails. Happy to answer any Q's you have.
Naw, I got that worked out, one strong candidate in each country. Very ready. There is one thing that concerns me greatly, and that's the food. I'm cool with attempting pickled herring probably exactly once, but some of the other things I've heard about Scandavian cuisine aren't encouraging either. No, I'm not going to Kiruna, or anywhere else up in the arctic circle, both cities are southern and coastal. The other thing that kinda concerns me: it's pretty cold there. I'm from a very warm climate....it depends on what you're doctoral degree is in.
Also, how ready are you to experience a different culture?