Postdoctor in Political

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 scientists 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 ShanghaiRanking’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 Gothenburg Research Program on Pregnancy and Politics (PregDem) is a research collaboration between political scientists, midwives and obstetricians. The aim is to create a profound understanding of how pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood affect the pregnant woman’s and her partner’s views of society. Central outcome variables include policy opinions and ideological priorities, institutional trust, political interest and awareness, political participation, parental identities and gender roles. Central independent variables include health, intake of information, contact with the welfare state, couple dynamics, socio-economic background and the corona-pandemic. We use longitudinal survey data (most importantly The Swedish Pregnancy Panel, The Swedish Citizen Panel, The Swedish Level of Living Survey and the Irish Mammi survey), register data on medical records (from the so-called Graviditetsregistret) and cross-sectional survey data from the Society, Media and Opinion Institute and the Swedish National Election Studies.

Recently, the Swedish Research Council granted PregDem funding for a new project: “Pregnant under the pressure of a pandemic. Understanding why maternal and delivery healthcare varied in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic and assessing effects of variation on mother and child”. It will start during 2023 and we are now looking for a post doc researcher to take part of the PregDem team and to work with us on this project.

The aim of this new project is to 1) map how Swedish maternal and delivery healthcare changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) clarify the differences in healthcare provision that appeared across regions, and understand 3) what consequences these differences had for the health of the pregnant mother and the child. Data will come from the world-leading national quality register the Swedish Pregnancy Register and from our unique longitudinal surveys with pregnant women that happened to already be in place before the COVID-19 pandemic. Two broad research questions are at the center of the project: How and why did maternal and delivery healthcare change in Swedish regions due to the COVID-19 pandemic? What were the consequences of these changes for the health of the mother and the child? The cross-disciplinary research group will allow for stringent statistical analyses and detailed qualitative case studies. We want to develop theory on how societies secure healthcare practices under extreme pressure and thereby how they influence citizens’ health. The end product will also be a thorough evaluation of the societal support provided to a generation of pregnant women that were under extreme pressure during the pandemic. Furthermore, we hope to suggest new evidence-based practices and prepare society for effective delivery of maternal and delivery healthcare in coming pandemics.

This is a 3-year position, 100% of full-time.

PregDem is led by Elin Naurin (Director) and is financed by the Swedish Research Council, Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation and University of Gothenburg. More information is found at PregDem .

Political science

Political science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, nation, government, and politics and policies of government on a national and international perspective.

The employment as a postdoctoral fellow will 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 conduct research in the outlined project and together with the PregDem team follow the plan outlined in the granted application.  This work combines opportunities to work together with the PregDem analytical team, as well as with the team’s large network of political scientists, obstetricians and midwives. A main responsibility will be to perform statistical analyses and to lead publications. The employee will also participate in the earlier stages of the project, such as writing an ethics application and preparing the dataset. There are also important opportunities to independently develop your own theoretical and empirical ideas, as important tasks of the project include to create new theory and try innovative approaches to causal inferences in the intersection of social and medical sciences.

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 Gothenburg univertity Appointment Procedure for Teaching Posts GU 2019/843

You must have a doctoral degree in preferably political science or related discipline 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.

The project demands experience with management and analyses of large datasets. It is a requirement with extensive documented experience of causal analyses, preferably using register data and longitudinal survey data. 

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, as is proof of the ability of working with co-authors on large scale projects.

Applicants must have excellent written and oral proficiency in English. To understand Swedish is an advantage, but not a necessary requirement.

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 and enjoy working across disciplinary boundaries.

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 3 years, 100% of full-time and is currently placed at the Department of Political Science. Earliest starting date 1 May 2023, or as agreed.

For more information please visit Gothenburg univertity Appointment Procedure for Teaching Posts GU 2019/843

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

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

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande  

To apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to create an account in our recruitment system. 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 and reference taking.

The application should include the following:

• A letter of application (max 1 pages), outlining how your research agenda has prepared you to contribute to this project. It should clearly show the ways in which you meet the requirements specified above and why you would be excited to work with us.
• A CV (including list of publications)
• One writing sample
• A list of at least three references (with contact information) from whom recommendation can be solicited

Applications must be received by: 2023-04-11

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.