At the University of Greifswald’s Department of Political Science and Communication Studies, there is a job vacancy in the “Resilient Baltic Sea Region” collaborative project of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Baltic Sea Region Research (IFZO)expected to be available for earliest possible appointment, limited to a period of three years, for a full-time
Postdoctoral Research Associate.
Payment will be made according to pay group 13 TV-L Wissenschaft. The post is also suitable for part-time employment.
The position is part of the work package on the social and political resilience of democratic systems and offers the opportunity to conduct independent research on current issues related to democratic stability in times of crisis.
Against the backdrop of multiple crises and the changing security landscape, the project examines the social conditions under which democracies in the Baltic Sea region can withstand these pressures in the long term or even address them through institutional and normative renewal. The focus is on the foreign and security policy implications of social attitudes, particularly where these intersect with domestic political dynamics.
The empirical foundation consists of cross-national, repeated population surveys in the Baltic Sea region, which make it possible to analyse changes in social attitudes over time. The selection of countries included in the study is based on the project’s research design while allowing for the development of your own research focus. In addition, there is the opportunity to design and implement your own survey experiments.
The IFZO at the University of Greifswald is an internationally networked, cross-faculty, and interdisciplinary research centre that examines the history, the present, and future challenges of the Baltic Sea region. The position is part of the BMFTR-funded collaborative project “Resilient Baltic Sea Region: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Politics, Social Structures, and Cultural Identities.”
We offer:
- A postdoctoral position with the opportunity to develop an independent research profile in the field of democratic resilience
- Integration into an interdisciplinary, internationally networked research centre with a wide range of collaboration and knowledge transfer formats
- Support for the advancement of your academic career
Job description:
- Conducting independent research on democratic resilience based on quantitative survey data
- Designing, conducting, and analysing cross-national and longitudinal opinion surveys in line with the research project’s objectives
- Coordinating and collaborating with other subprojects
- Contributing to the organisation of academic events and knowledge transfer activities
Job requirements:
- PhD in political science or related discipline completed by the time of appointment
- Evidence of scholarly research potential through scholarly publications and/or advanced publication projects
- Strong expertise in empirical social science methods, particularly survey research
- Excellent English language skills (minimum C1)
Desirable:
- Interest in issues related to democratic resilience and social transformation
- Interest in an international and interdisciplinary research programme at the intersection of the social sciences and the humanities
- Knowledge of the societies and political systems of the Baltic Sea region
- A high degree of independence, efficiency, and a sense of responsibility, as well as strong interpersonal skills
The position is open to all persons, irrespective of gender. Severely disabled applicants with the same qualifications will be considered with preference.
In accordance with § 68(3) PersVG M-V, the Staff Council will only be involved in staff matters of the academic or artistic staff on request.
Unfortunately, the application costs (e.g. travel expenses for interviews) will not be reimbursed by the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Please note that by submitting your application, you provide your consent pursuant to data protection law for our processing of your application data. Further information about the legal bases and the use of your data can be found here.
For further information, please contact Prof. Jochen Müller (jochen.mueller@uni-greifswald.de).
Please submit the following documents (in a single PDF file):
- Cover letter (max. 2 pages) explaining your interest in the position and how your research aligns with the programme’s area of focus (particularly in the area of democratic resilience in times of crisis)
- Curriculum vitae
- A publication or another representative writing sample; if co-authored, please include a brief explanation of your own contribution
- A project outline (max. two pages) in which you develop your own research agenda in the context of analysing democratic resilience in the Baltic Sea region in times of multiple crises
Applications must be sent with reference to the job advertisement number 26/E08 by 31May 2026 via email (one PDF file) to:
Universität Greifswald
Institut für Politik- und Kommunikationswissenschaft
Prof. Dr. Jochen Müller
Ernst-Lohmeyer-Platz 3
17489 Greifswald