Postdoctoral Position in Political Science

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract scientists and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Political Science is an open and socially engaged institution, in the middle of the city and in the middle of the debate. Our research revolves around elections, democracy, corruption, forms of government, globalization, the environment and politics, as well as European issues. The department hosts research programs such as the Center for Collective Action Research (CeCAR), the QoG Institute, Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem), Governance and Local Development (GLD) and the Swedish Electoral Research Program. We have education at all levels, undergraduate advanced level and postgraduate level, as well as independent courses. Teaching is given in both Swedish and English. In total, about 1,400 people study with us. The Department of Political Science has around 160 employees.

The Department of Political Science invites applications for a post-doctoral fellow, to conduct research within two projects on comparative politics/ political economy, funded by the Swedish Research Council. This is a 2-year position. 

Subject area description 

Political science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, nation, government, and politics and policies of government on a national and international perspective.

Job assignments

As a postdoctoral fellow, you are expected to conduct research in the field of comparative politics with a focus on political economy. This work combines opportunities to work with already outlined studies, as well as opportunities to independently develop your own ideas. The tasks consist partly of designing and conducting survey experiments on people's attitudes to authorities (where issues such as legitimacy and corruption are in focus), and to construct and analyze geospatial datasets where a focus is existing large-scale data on protected nature reserves. For the latter track, an example of the project’s focus is an interest to analyze how issues such as ethnic power relations, leaders’ ethnic/ geographic origin and their political position is related to the establishment of protected areas. Here, the project will partly focus on African countries, but also welcomes a comparative focus on other regions. The work will take place in collaboration with Associate Professor Aksel Sundström at the Department of Political Science and a number of other researchers, based for instance at the University of Cape Town, the London School of Economics and the University of Oslo.

Eligibility 

The eligibility criteria for employing teaching staff are set out in Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the Appointment Procedure for Teaching Posts at the University of Gothenburg.

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree, a doctoral degree in art or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made.

In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area.   

Assessment

You must have a doctoral degree in preferably political science or related discipline. We are looking for you with previous experience of research in connection with the research area described above.

The project will be based on two different approaches, (1) experimental research method and survey analysis, and (2) geospatial analysis of data. It is therefore a requirement with extensive documented experience in either experiment-based research projects (design and implementation), quantitative data analysis, and survey programming and / or extensive experience in geospatial design and data analysis.

Documented experience of STATA and / or R is a requirement. You should also be able to independently produce high-level scientific articles. Previously published self-written scientific articles are therefore a merit.

Applicants must have excellent written and oral proficiency in English.

To be successful in this position, you must have an eye for detail, good organizational skills and be able to solve problems. You need to have very high communication and collaboration skills. Great emphasis is placed on personal suitability for the position. We will make an overall assessment and the applicant who is considered to be best qualified to carry out and develop the tasks described above will be appointed to the position.

Employment 

The employment is limited (temporary) for 24 months, 100% of full-time and is placed at the Department of political Science. Starting date; as soon as possible or as agreed.
Contact information for the post 

If you have questions regarding the employment, or details about the projects in which this position is organized

please contact Aksel Sundström aksel.sundstrom@pol.gu.se
Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande 

Application 

To apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to create an account in our recruitment system. Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline. 

The application should include the following:

•     A letter of application (max 3 pages), outlining how your research agenda can contribute to this project. It should clearly show the ways in which the applicant meets the requirements specified above.
•     A CV (including a list of publications)
•     One writing sample
•     A list of at least three references (with contact information) from whom letters of recommendation can be solicited

Applications must be received by: 15 August 2022.

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection with this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.