项目介绍

2025年5月3日

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 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. 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 program/project

The Department of Political Science invites applications for a post-doctoral fellow, to conduct research within the project “Debtors as Voters”, funded by The Swedish Research Council. This is a 2-year position, 100% of full-time.

The project investigates how increasing household indebtedness affects political behavior in Sweden. It focuses on three key outcomes: party choice, political participation, and electoral accountability. The research uses a combination of survey experiments, register-based panel data, and aggregate-level analyses over multiple election cycles to examine how debt influences citizens’ political attitudes and actions.

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 his independence as a researcher after completing his 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.

As a postdoctoral fellow, you are expected to conduct research in the field of political behavior with a focus on the political effects of household debt. This work combines opportunities to work with Professors Mikael Persson and Paula Roth (Stockholm School of Finance), as well as opportunities to independently develop your own ideas. The tasks consist partly of designing and analyzing survey experiments, and partly of contributing to the quantitative analyses in the broader project. The work will take place in collaboration with the Department of Political Science and the Swedish House of Finance.

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. 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. 

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

Assessment criteria 

You must have a doctoral degree in preferably political science or related at the latest at the time the employment decision is made. We are looking for you with previous experience of research in connection with the research area described above. Experience with experiments and survey data is required, and research experience related to redistribution, taxation, or related fields is considered a merit.

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

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 excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Great emphasis is placed on personal suitability for the position, as well as on the relevance of the research proposal for the project. 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 two years, 100% of full-time at the Department of Political Science. Starting date; as agreed.

Contact information 

If you have questions regarding the employment, or details about the projects in which this position is organized, please contact Mikael Persson, mikael.persson.3@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 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 brief proposal (1–2 pages) outlining a concrete idea or subproject that the applicant would be interested in pursuing within the scope of the larger project.
• A CV (including 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: 2025-05-21

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/