Associate Researcher To The Department Of 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 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 open and socially engaged institution, at the centre of the city and at the centre of the debate. In 2022, the Shanghai Ranking's Academy of World Universities ranked the department number 1 in Sweden, 5 in Europe and 19 in the world in political science. We are very research-active and offer a lively research environment with several thematic seminar series and internal workshops. 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 Institute (GLD) and the Swedish Electoral Research Program. We offer 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 an associate researcher to the research project “Transnational civil society and foreign policy: the role of diasporas in comparative perspective. This is a fixed- termed position for 6 months, 100% of full-time.

The research team consists of Lisbeth Aggestam (project leader, Department of Political Science), Isabell Schierenbeck, and Arne Wackenhut (School of Global Studies). The project is funded by the Swedish Research Council. The project examines the role of diasporas - as a new type of transnational civil society actors – in the foreign policies of European democracies. The project is designed as a comparative study of two European states, Sweden and Germany, and five diasporic communities (Assyrians, Ethnic Turks, Kurds with Turkey, Jews and Palestinians). The comparative research design includes a variety of methods, such as network analysis, qualitative interviews and contents analysis.

As an associate researcher, your tasks will include qualitative data collection and compilation of data for the Swedish and German case studies. You are expected to identify and evaluate relevant qualitative data through online searches and contacts with diaspora civil society organizations and international researchers. You are expected to be able to work independently and organize the qualitative data collection systematically in accordance with the needs of the project. You will be expected to transcribe and code data, and to write reports describing the data you have compiled. Your duties will also include preparing and writing literature reviews and assisting the team in preparing texts for scientific publications.

You are expected to regularly attend the project meetings and to perform administrative tasks, such as the planning of data collection, interviews, and organization of workshops.

We are looking for you who have a master's degree in the social sciences. The job requires excellent working knowledge of qualitative methods (for instance, different types of textual analysis and semi-structured interviews) and skills in data management and analysis. It is an advantage to have worked with qualitative data management programs, such as Nvivo and/or Atlas.

Applicants must have excellent written and oral proficiency in Swedish and English. It is a significant advantage, but not a requirement, to have working knowledge of German and/or knowledge of the other languages spoken by the diaspora groups in the project, that is, Arabic, Turkish, Kurdish, Assyrian or Hebrew.

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.

The employment is limited (temporary) for 6 months, 100% of full-time placed at the Department of Political Science. Starting date; 1 February 2024 or as agreed.

If you have questions regarding the employment, or details about the projects in which this position is organized, please contact Lisbeth Aggestam, [email protected]

If you have any questions regarding the employment procedure, please contact Helena Jensen, [email protected]

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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.

The application should include the following:

Applications must be received by: 2023-11-29

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Salaries are set individually at the University.

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