Source: University of Vienna (Austria)

Post-doctoral position (4 years, full-time)

(ERC-funded project ‘DEPART: The de-party-politicization of Europe’s political elites’, PI: Laurenz Ennser-Jedenastik).

The Department of Government at the University of Vienna invites applications for a 4-year postdoctoral position in the ERC Starting Grant project DEPART, headed by Laurenz Ennser-Jedenastik. The project investigates how the careers of political elites in 30 European democracies have changed since 1945 and how this affects policy outcomes and political accountability. A more in-depth description of the project can be found here.

The Department of Government is a vibrant political science department dedicated to excellence in research and teaching and a friendly and cooperative work environment. In addition, it is located in one of the world’s best cities.

Job description:

  • Conducting and publishing high-quality research within the framework of DEPART

  • Collaborating closely with other researchers in the project (PI, pre-docs, student coders)

  • Training and supervising four student coders for data collection (together with the PI and one pre-doctoral researcher)

  • Disseminating results from DEPART at international conferences and in high-quality outlets

  • Presenting DEPART’s output in departmental seminars

  • Minor organizational and administrative tasks related to the project

  • Starting date: 1 March 2021 (a later start is possible)

  • Salary: approx. €55,000 (before taxes), which works out to approx. €2,500/month net (14 times/year).

Your profile:

  • Doctoral degree or PhD in political science or a related discipline (completed or close to completion)

  • Research focus on political elites, political careers, or political parties

  • Excellent publication record (i.e. publications in highly-ranked international journals) or demonstrated potential thereof

  • Strong quantitative skills, excellent command of Stata and/or R

  • Willingness to acquire new methodological skills

  • Ability and willingness to work independently as well as in a larger team

  • Excellent command of English (written and spoken)

Further desirable qualifications:

  • Experience in applying social sequence analysis and/or event history analysis

  • Experience in designing and/or analyzing survey experiments

  • Knowledge (even basic) of any language spoken in the EU except for German, English, French, Dutch, Swedish, and Danish is an asset

We offer:

  • Participation in cutting-edge research within a project funded by an ERC Starting Grant

  • Collaboration in a larger research team (you, PI, 3 pre-docs, 4 student coders)

  • Opportunity to advance your own research agenda and raise your profile as a researcher

  • Integration into a vibrant and internationally connected department that will allow you to expand your academic network

  • Funding for conferences and training

  • Lots of fun (really)

Your application:

  • Curriculum vitae (including list of publications)

  • Links to two research examples (articles, working papers, thesis sections, …)

  • Contact details of two potential references

To apply, send one PDF file containing this information to depart.staatswissenschaft@univie.ac.at, using the term “postdoc” in the subject line. The deadline for applications is December 7, 2020. Online interviews for the position will take place December 14–18, 2020. Please direct any inquiries about the positions to laurenz.ennser@univie.ac.at.