1-2 Postdoctoral positions-peace and conflict research

Postdoc @Uppsala University posted 24 hours ago

Job Description

The project

The project “Political Violence in Democracies” is funded by a Wallenberg Scholar grant from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and headed by Professor Hanne Fjelde.

The overall purpose of the project is to systematically examine the threat of political violence in advanced democracies. The project will examine what shapes citizens’ attitudes to political violence, including anti-establishment violence, state repressive actions, violent protests, and violent extremism. It will also examine how violence, or the threat thereof, in turn, perpetuates or restrains processes that weaken democratic governance. Central to the project is understanding the interplay between citizens’ democratic discontent and elite rhetoric in shaping perceptions of the acceptability of violence, as well as the effects of violence on shifts in public opinion and overall democratic processes. The project will combine survey-experimental evidence from several democratic countries with a diverse range of observational data on political violence, public opinion, voting behavior, and elite and citizen online discourse.

The Department and the project, is now recruiting 1-2 postdoctoral researchers to work within the project. The position is 2 years with start date 1 December 2025 (or by agreement).

Duties

The postdoc will primarily conduct research related to the project theme in collaboration with the PI and possibly other members of the research team. The postdoc is envisioned to play a leading role in developing, designing, and coordinating quantitative data collection and analysis related to the project theme, and publishing subsequent research in high-impact journals. The position comes with additional funding for research-related costs. The candidate is encouraged to take on some teaching at the department.

Requirements

The successful candidate must have documented scholarly experience, preferably in the form of peer-reviewed publications, on research relevant for the overall project theme. Ideal candidates will have expertise in at least one of the following areas: political behavior and democratic values, and advanced quantitative research methods, including survey or field experiments. The successful candidate must also be fluent in English (both in speech and writing).

The application should contain the following

  1. personal letter stating why you are interested in the position and how you would be able to contribute to the project (1-2 pages)
  2. research statement summarizing your past research of relevance for the project and your current/future research interests (2-3 pages).
  3. CV, including a list of publications
  4. names of references
  5. degree certificate or official transcript confirming that the candidate has fulfilled all requirements for a degree.

Assessment

Candidates are assessed based on:

  1. demonstrated research skills, particularly in conducting theory-driven empirical research, and strong demonstrated methodological skills.
  2. the potential for contributing to the project
  3. publications relevant to the project theme

About the employment

The employment is a: temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Scope: Full time position/100%. Starting date: 1 December 2025, or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Hanne Fjelde, hanne.fjelde@pcr.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 1 October 2025, UFV-PA 2025/2198.

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