Postdoctor in Political Science: Transitional Justice, Victimhood, and Survey Experiments (BIG PEACE

The University of Gothenburg tackles society's challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers 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 international academic environment that welcomes students, researchers and staff from all over the world. Our research covers topics such as political institutions, elections, public opinion and democracy, international and European politics, environmental politics, corruption and political ideas. The Department of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg is ranked as the best in Sweden and one of the top 10-15 in Europe in its subject area, according to the global Shanghai ranking of academic subjects for 2024. We organize a large number of research seminars and workshops each year in the various research areas of the department. We offer education at all levels in both Swedish and English. In total, around 1,400 people study with us, and we have around 170 employees.

For more information about the Department, visit our website www.pol.gu.se.

Description of the project:

The Department of Political Science invites applications for a post-doctoral fellow, to conduct research within "Bridging Injustice Gaps: Peace Enhancement in the Aftermath of Conflict Engagement" (BIG PEACE), funded by The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation with additional funding from the University of Gothenburg . This is a 2-year position, 100% of full-time, with possibility for a third year extension if mutually agreed upon.

The BIG PEACE research program aims to understand the extent to which transitional justice can foster reconciliation. This project examines justice from the perspectives of those most affected-victims, former combatants, and local communities. This focus also brings attention to how victimhood is recognized in conflict-affected societies, and whether the logic of victimhood recognition shifts as we move from individual perceptions to collective, politically contested claims at meta-levels. It also questions the assumption that state-led justice is always the best approach, recognizing that in many war-torn societies, religious and tribal leaders play a crucial role in resolving disputes.

This study will take a data-driven approach, gathering insights through in-depth interviews, large-n surveys, and experiments in multiple conflict-affected countries. It will explore key questions: What does justice mean to different people? Who counts as a victim of civil war, and who decides? Who do conflict affected stakeholders trust to deliver justice? And how do perceptions of justice shape peace and stability? Bringing victimhood recognition into these questions extends the study of injustice gaps to whose suffering is recognized in the first place and how such recognition may differ across individuals and groups.

By identifying patterns across cultures and conflicts, BIG PEACE seeks to provide practical recommendations for policymakers and peacebuilders. The goal is to move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions and develop a more inclusive, grassroots approach to justice-one that truly addresses the needs of war-torn societies and helps prevent future violence.

The postdoctoral fellow will join a collaborative research environment at the Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg. BIG PEACE provides opportunities for international publication, methodological development, comparative and cross-country fieldwork, and collaboration within and beyond the project team, including opportunities for co-authorship. At the same time, the position provides substantial scope for developing an independent research profile at the intersection of political violence, transitional justice, ethnic politics, public opinion, and peace and conflict research.

A more detailed project description is available upon request.

Subject area

Political science

Subject area description

Political Science is the study of politics.

Keywords: Post-Conflict reconciliation, Survey methods, Injustice, Victimhood, Experimental design and analysis, Large n-Data, transitional justice, political violence, causal inference.

Duties

The employment as a postdoctoral fellow aims to give the employee an early opportunity to develop their independence as a researcher after completing their doctoral degree and to create the conditions for further qualifications. The person employed as a postdoctoral fellow must mainly conduct research. Teaching can be included in the work duties, but to a maximum of one-fifth of the working time.

The postdoctoral fellow will be employed at the Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg, and is expected to engage in close collaborative research with Kristen Kao and other members of the BIG PEACE project team.

Much of the work will involve designing, programming, running, and analyzing large-N surveys and survey experiments, making strong survey research skills essential to the position. The postdoctoral fellow will be expected to develop and implement original survey and experimental designs, applying causal inference in the analysis of project data. The work will also involve contributing to data collection and fieldwork across conflict-affected countries included in the project. Thus, prior fieldwork experience or knowledge of foreign languages is a merit.

Duties also include helping to organize and attending one or two international workshops or conferences; traveling to present the project's research to international scholarly, policymaker, and development practitioner audiences; as well as contributing to and leading high-quality manuscripts based on the project data for publication in international peer-reviewed journals. The position offers opportunities for co-authorship with members of the BIG PEACE research team, alongside substantial scope to initiate original studies and develop independent publications and research questions related to the broader themes of the project.

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 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.

For more information regarding eligibility please visit The Appointment Procedure GU 2024/1687

Assessment criteria

The assessment will primarily be based on scientific merit and the applicant's ability to conduct and develop research within the BIG PEACE project. Particular weight will be given to methodological competence, the quality of the applicant's research, and their potential to contribute to and independently develop the project's research agenda.

The following qualifications are required:

• A doctoral degree in political science or another field relevant to the project, obtained (or be close to completing) no later than the time at which the employment decision is made.
• Documented experience in running, programming, and analyzing surveys and survey experiments.
• Strong knowledge of causal inference and experimental methods, including the design and analysis of experiments.
• Strong quantitative research skills and proficiency in relevant statistical software, such as R or Stata.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent, high-quality research and produce scientific work suitable for publication in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Excellent written and oral proficiency in English.

The following qualifications are considered meritorious:

• Experience conducting fieldwork and original data collection in post-conflict or conflict-affected settings.
• Research experience related to civil war, political violence, transitional justice, victimhood, reconciliation, peacebuilding, or closely related fields.
• Experience with comparative or cross-national research.
• Knowledge of Swedish language and/or languages relevant to the project's fieldwork contexts, such as Somali, Ukrainian, or relevant languages spoken in other post-conflict settings that might make for a good case study for the project.
• Experience with complementary methods relevant to the project, such as in-depth qualitative interviewing or large text analysis.
• A good record of scientific publications, high-quality working papers, and/or collaborative research.

To be successful in this position, you should be able to work both independently and collaboratively, take responsibility for research tasks, and contribute constructively to an international research environment. You should have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, an eye for detail, good organizational skills, and excellent 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 at the Department of Political Science. Starting date; 08/2027 or as agreed.

Contact information

If you have questions regarding the employment, or details about the projects in which this position is organized, please contact Kristen Kao, Kristen.kao@gu.se

If you have any questions regarding the employment procedure, please contact Helena Jensen, helena.jensen@gu.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply-for-a-position#collective-agreement-and-union-representatives

Application

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.

We kindly ask you to write your application in English as the application may be reviewed by English-speaking staff. In the selection process, it should be expected that interviews, reference taking, and work tests will occur in English.

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 with particular attention to experience running, programming, and analyzing surveys and survey experiments, and to knowledge and application of causal inference and experimental methods.
• A CV (including list of publications) and a link/links to evidence of survey or experimental work, such as a pre-analysis plan or replication code.
• One writing sample
• A list of at least three references (with contact information) from whom letters of recommendation can be solicited. Letters will be requested only from shortlisted candidates.

Applications must be received by: 2026-11-19

Information for International Applicants

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