Postdoctoral position within the ERC Consolidator Project Pledges and Democracy (PLEDGEDEM)
The Department of Political Science at Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, invites applications for a 3-year postdoctoral position offering applicants an exciting opportunity to join the ERC Consolidator project Pledges and Democracy (PLEDGEDEM).
The starting date is January 2021 or subject to mutual agreement.
The research project
PLEDGEDEM asks fundamental questions about relation between politicians and voters in representative democracy, election campaigns, and the political role of the media. More exactly, the aim of PLEDGEDEM is to explore the role of election pledges in politics. The project is interested in all aspects of the politics of pledges, including among other questions: How do pledges matter for voters’ democratic behavior and beliefs? How do elite actors strategically use pledges? Does the media affect the content of pledges and the likelihood they are kept?
PLEDGEDEM is relevant for applicants with an expertise in political behavior, political communication, public policy, and/or comparative politics.
PLEDGEDEM is financed by the European Research Council for the period 2019-2024. The research group is led by Professor Carsten Jensen.
Job description
The postdoc will be employed as part of the research group and is expected to devote his/her research time to the project and engage in collaborative research within the focus of the project. The position implies a modest teaching obligation in the BA or MA programs of the department. Through the research group, the assistant professors will have access to significant funding for conferences, data collection, etc.
Your qualifications
Applicants are expected to hold (or be close to completing) a PhD in political science or a related social science field. In addition to interest in conducting collaborative research within the focus of the project, applicants must demonstrate the ability to conduct state-of-the-art research within the field, possess strong methodological skills, extensive experience with empirical research, and an excellent command of spoken and written English.
Interested applicants should submit an application letter (2-3 pages) motivating why the applicant is interested in being part of PLEDGEDEM and how the applicant can contribute to the success of the project, outlining potential avenues for research relevant to the focus of the project.
Who we are
The Department of Political Science is one of the six departments at Aarhus BSS, one of the five faculties at Aarhus University. Aarhus BSS unites the business and social science-related research fields and brings them closer together to reflect the close relationship between society and the business community. As part of a Top 100 university, Aarhus BSS – and specifically the Department of Political Science – has achieved the distinguished AASCB, AMBA and EQUIS accreditations.
At the Department of Political Science, we emphasise a dynamic and flexible research and teaching profile characterised by pluralism and openness. With around 90 academic staff members and 40 PhD students, we offer a lively and ambitious research and teaching environment.
The research carried out at the department not only covers a variety of political science disciplines, but also represents a variety of methodological approaches. This not only enables us to focus on new problem areas as they appear on the national and international political arenas, but also allows us to contribute actively to the development of the discipline. We also emphasise communicating our research results to the politicaladministrative system and to the public in general.
For more information about the Department of Political Science, please see here.
Further information
Applicants are welcome to contact Professor Carsten Jensen prior to submitting their application, Email: carstenj@ps.au.dk
If you need help uploading your application or have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR supporter Anne Arnfeldt Källberg, Tel.: +45 8715 3631, Email: aak@au.dk
Place of work
Department of Political Science, Bartholins Allé 7, DK - 8000 Aarhus C
The starting date is January 2021 or subject to mutual agreement.
The research project
PLEDGEDEM asks fundamental questions about relation between politicians and voters in representative democracy, election campaigns, and the political role of the media. More exactly, the aim of PLEDGEDEM is to explore the role of election pledges in politics. The project is interested in all aspects of the politics of pledges, including among other questions: How do pledges matter for voters’ democratic behavior and beliefs? How do elite actors strategically use pledges? Does the media affect the content of pledges and the likelihood they are kept?
PLEDGEDEM is relevant for applicants with an expertise in political behavior, political communication, public policy, and/or comparative politics.
PLEDGEDEM is financed by the European Research Council for the period 2019-2024. The research group is led by Professor Carsten Jensen.
Job description
The postdoc will be employed as part of the research group and is expected to devote his/her research time to the project and engage in collaborative research within the focus of the project. The position implies a modest teaching obligation in the BA or MA programs of the department. Through the research group, the assistant professors will have access to significant funding for conferences, data collection, etc.
Your qualifications
Applicants are expected to hold (or be close to completing) a PhD in political science or a related social science field. In addition to interest in conducting collaborative research within the focus of the project, applicants must demonstrate the ability to conduct state-of-the-art research within the field, possess strong methodological skills, extensive experience with empirical research, and an excellent command of spoken and written English.
Interested applicants should submit an application letter (2-3 pages) motivating why the applicant is interested in being part of PLEDGEDEM and how the applicant can contribute to the success of the project, outlining potential avenues for research relevant to the focus of the project.
Who we are
The Department of Political Science is one of the six departments at Aarhus BSS, one of the five faculties at Aarhus University. Aarhus BSS unites the business and social science-related research fields and brings them closer together to reflect the close relationship between society and the business community. As part of a Top 100 university, Aarhus BSS – and specifically the Department of Political Science – has achieved the distinguished AASCB, AMBA and EQUIS accreditations.
At the Department of Political Science, we emphasise a dynamic and flexible research and teaching profile characterised by pluralism and openness. With around 90 academic staff members and 40 PhD students, we offer a lively and ambitious research and teaching environment.
The research carried out at the department not only covers a variety of political science disciplines, but also represents a variety of methodological approaches. This not only enables us to focus on new problem areas as they appear on the national and international political arenas, but also allows us to contribute actively to the development of the discipline. We also emphasise communicating our research results to the politicaladministrative system and to the public in general.
For more information about the Department of Political Science, please see here.
Further information
Applicants are welcome to contact Professor Carsten Jensen prior to submitting their application, Email: carstenj@ps.au.dk
If you need help uploading your application or have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR supporter Anne Arnfeldt Källberg, Tel.: +45 8715 3631, Email: aak@au.dk
Place of work
Department of Political Science, Bartholins Allé 7, DK - 8000 Aarhus C
International applicant?
Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners: http://ias.au.dk/au-relocation-service/. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here: http://international.au.dk/research/
Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here:
http://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/
Terms of employment
The appointment is made in accordance with the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities as well as the circular on the Collective Agreement for Academics Employed by the State (in Danish).
The job content and qualification requirements are described in further detail in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
Application procedure
When you apply for this position it is mandatory to attach the following:
- Application
- Curriculum Vitae. You are encouraged to declare any periods of leave without research activity, including, for example, maternity leave, since your research activities are assessed in relation to your actual research time
- Education (diploma for master's, PhD and possibly higher doctoral degree)
- List of publications (the enclosed publications must be clearly marked on the list of publications)
- Publications. Up to three publications can be included in the application. In the event of several authors the publications must be accompanied by a co-author statement concerning the applicant's share of the collaborative work with the consent of the co-authors. Please use this template
- Teaching portfolio. The specific requirements regarding the documentation can be found here
Materials which cannot be uploaded together with the application may be submitted in three copies to Aarhus BSS HR & PhD, Aarhus University, Tåsingegade 1, 2nd floor, DK-8000 Aarhus C.
Read more about how to apply for an academic post at Aarhus BSS here
The evaluation process
After the application deadline, an assessment committee is appointed. Please note that the assessment of applicants is based solely on the material received prior to the application deadline. For further information, see Guidelines for Assessment Committee, Aarhus BSS.
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply regardless of personal background.
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.