Postdoctoral Fellow in Political Science with an orientation towards climate and energy governance in the European Union

The Department of Political Science is a dynamic and strong education- and research department at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Stockholm University. The Department aims to be nationally leading and internationally prominent within its field of research and education. More information about us, please visit: the Department of Political Science.

Project description
The postdoctoral postion will be part of the 4-year research project “Rising to the Challenge of the Climate Transition: EU’s Leadership in a Just and Effective Transformation towards Climate Neutrality amidst Turbulence, Crises, and Political Conflicts”, funded by the Swedish Research Council on Sustainable Development (FORMAS). Aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the European Union’s (EU) implementation of the European Green Deal, the ‘Fit for 55’ package and the 2040 climate targets is complicated by turbulence compounded by multiple crises, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, the energy crisis and the economic recession. This project examines the efforts by the EU and selected Member states to accelerate the transformation toward a climate-neutral society through a theoretical framework on the interaction between turbulence and policy change and a mixed methods design (document analysis, interviews, surveys).

The aim of the project is to examine how the implementation of the EU’s climate and energy legislation affect its ability to achieve an effective and just climate transition under conditions of crises. By examining (1) the effectiveness of the Fit for 55 package and EU’s prospects to achieve its mid-term and long-term targets and secure a global leadership: (2) the political conflicts and implementation challenges, and (3) the implications for a just transition, this project contributes to the understanding of the politics and policy of EU’s climate transition.

The project will provide policy-relevant knowledge and recommendations on how to make EU’s decarbonization and green transition more effective, just and legitimate. The project is led by Karin Bäckstrand at the Department of Political Science at Stockholm University. Other project consortium members are Sebastian Oberthür at the Brussels School of Governance at Vrije University Brussels and Charles Parker at the Department of Political Science at Uppsala University.

Main responsibilities
The main responsibilities for the postdoctoral fellow is to conduct research within the research project in collaboration with other research participants. The tasks include data collection, interviews, fieldwork, analysis, and dissemination of results through scholarly journals and conferences as well as project coordination. The position involves up to 20 percent teaching.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the closing date. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

We are seeking candidates with a PhD in Political Science or related disciplines with a background in EU’s climate, environmental – and energy policy and international climate politics. Experience in EU’s climate-and energy politics is a merit. We are particularly interested in candidates with a mixed method background of qualitative and quantitative methods, such as qualitative comparative method, interviews, and document analysis and survey design. Additional merits include the ability to collaborate in an international cross-disciplinary team of researchers. The candidate must have excellent skills in academic written English.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date 2024-11-01 or as per agreement.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from Professor Karin Bäckstrand, telephone: +46 8 16 15 78, karin.backstrand@statsvet.su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/OFR), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University’s recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – why and how you wish to complete the project
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Letters of recommendation (no more than 3 files)
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.