Postdoctoral Fellow in Political Science PAR 2025/838

Om jobbet

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.

The Department of Political Science invites applications for a post-doctoral fellow, funded by the ERC Starting Grant. This is a 2-year position, 100% of full-time, offering candidates to join a timely and ambitious research project on the behavioral consequences of national economic improvement.

The research project

The position is part of the project "More Money, Different Problems? People's Engagement with Politics during Good Economic Times" (ECONENGAGE), led by Associate Professor Florence So and funded by an ERC Starting Grant. General information about the project is available at https://www.florenceso.org/projects/ and https://www.gu.se/en/news/political-engagement-in-good-times-studied-in-erc-project.

ECONENGAGE's aim is to uncover the behavior consequences of national economic improvement. Economic downturns can be a breeding ground for extremist politics. Yet, we know far less about how a good economy affects citizens' interactions with politics. Does national economic improvement affect the way people tune into politics and their commitment to democratic norms? The project provides and tests an original theory on the impacts of economic improvement on the quality of people's political engagement and attitudes toward democratic institutions in established democracies.

This project will first investigate the mechanisms through which individuals translate the national economic condition to their personal economic situations, for the purpose of developing a systematic connection between the national economy and personal financial wellbeing. The project will then examine how this improvement affects their political behavior beyond voting as well as their attitudes and preferences toward different democratic institutions.

The project will employ both observational survey analysis, including analyses of existing surveys and fielding of original surveys, and experiments. Thus, the project team will engage in ambitious data collection and experimental designs. There will be opportunities for extensive collaborations using these methodological approaches.

The research group's broader interest lies in the relationship between the economy, political engagement, and democratic attitudes. Thus, beyond these aims, there will also be opportunity to conduct individual research projects on the political economy of elections, such as but not limited to perceptions of the national economic condition; the consequences of economic inequality; the relationship between the national economy and political behavior beyond voting behavior; and the relationship between the economy and preferences for democratic institutions.

A more detailed project description is available upon request.

Subject area

Political science

Subject area description

Political Science is the study of politics.

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 as part of the research group and is expected to engage in collaborative research with Florence So and the other members of the project group. The postdoctoral fellow's work will be a crucial component of the successful completion of the project. We expect the successful candidate to collaborate with the project group on the first part of the project-the mechanisms through which individuals translate national economic conditions into their personal economic situations-for the purpose of developing a systematic connection between the national economy and personal financial well-being. As such, they are expected to analyze a wide range of panel surveys and cross-national surveys, with the aim of examining how individuals' evaluations of the economy align with various economic indicators, as well as how groups of individuals prioritize different economic indicators.

In addition, they are expected to collaboratively design innovative, original surveys to uncover heterogeneous effects of different economic indicators on individuals' economic well-being, with the goal of understanding how each indicator "activates" individuals in their interactions with politics. We also expect the postdoctoral fellow to conduct independent, high-quality research that aligns with the project's goals and to contribute to publications in top international research outlets.

Successful applicants will be embedded as essential members of a cutting-edge, ambitious research project and a supportive, collaborative, and vibrant research team. They will also be well integrated into a large, international, and dynamic department and its various research environments, such as the Gothenburg Research Group on Elections, Public Opinion, and Political Behavior (GEPOP) and the Quality of Governance (QoG) Institute. The postdoctoral fellow will be encouraged to form independent research collaborations with other members of the department. There will be excellent opportunities for the development of further research ideas within the project's aims as well as independent research agendas. The successful applicant may be eligible to apply for a Marie Curie Individual Fellowship, to be hosted by the University of Gothenburg. The project provides funding for conference attendance, data collection, additional career training, and will create opportunities for the postdoctoral fellow to develop robust, independent research networks-all essential for career advancement within academia.

Eligibility

Eligible to be employed as a postdoctoral fellow is someone who has a doctorate in political science or a closely related subject at the latest at the time the employment decision is made. In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years before the end of the application period should be considered. Even those who have completed their degree previously can be considered if there are special reasons.

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

Assessment criteria

You must have a doctoral degree, preferably in political science or a related subject such as economics, no later than the date on which the appointment decision is made. We are looking for a successful candidate with previous experience of research related to the research area described above.

Applicants are expected to have obtained (or be close to obtaining) a PhD in political science or economics. Research expertise in political economy, political behavior, or public opinion in established democracies is an asset. In addition to the ability and desire to work collaboratively in the ECONENGAGE project, applicants must demonstrate ambition in their research agenda and provide evidence of, or potential to produce, high-quality, innovative, and high-impact research, both independently and as part of a team. They must also demonstrate the ability to work constructively and effectively within an international research team.

We expect applicants to have excellent skills in advanced quantitative methods, including merging and analyzing survey data and survey design. Experience in designing and/or analyzing large-scale surveys related to the economy is considered a merit. We prefer applicants with a strong interest in developing innovative surveys and who are willing to acquire new methodological skills. Applicants are expected to have an excellent command of spoken and written English.

To be successful in this position, the candidate needs to be detailed-oriented, possess excellent problem-solving skills, and equally important, be constructive and collaboratively-minded, and have excellent communication 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 with the possibility of extension. 100% of full-time at the Department of Political Science. Starting date; August 1st, 2026 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 Florence So, florence.so@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/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande

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 will likely be relevant with interviews, reference taking and work tests in English.

The application should include the following:

• A letter of application (max 2 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 research proposal outlining potential ideas for research relevant to the focus of the project (2-3 pages, excluding references)
• A CV (including list of working papers and publications)
• One writing sample of typical article length
• A list of at least three references (with contact information) from whom letters of recommendation can be solicited and whom may be contacted at the interview stage.

Applications must be received by:2026-01-07

Information for International Applicants

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/

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.