Postdoctoral Research Fellow

There is a vacancy for a postdoctoral research fellow position at the Department of Comparative Politics on the project Money Talks: Gendered Electoral Financing in Democratic and Democratizing States. The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway under the program of FRIPRO. The project is situated within the Department’s research group on Democracy and Development.

The position is for a period of 2 years.

About the project/work tasks

Money Talks is a research project that critically examines the nexus between money and political recruitment. Its main focus is how different kinds of electoral financing schemes, both gendered and neutral, affects the nomination processes within political parties. During the last decade several governments and non-governmental organizations, in advanced and emerging democracies, have experimented with different financing schemes that target gender balance in the nomination process. Why are gendered electoral financing schemes emerging in some countries and not others? What are their effects on the recruitment processes in political parties and the composition of legislative bodies?

Applicants should have an interest in the dynamics involved in parties’ selection processes. Proposals that seek to test the relationship between money, gender and political recruitment in democratic or/and democratizing states are welcomed. The research team will build a dataset on gendered electoral financing, conduct field studies of recruitment processes in the UK, France, Malawi, Ghana and Kenya, as well as conducting an audience study in Malawi. We invite projects that either contribute to the collection of data along these predefined lines or collect complimentary data with a different empirical focus.

Partners are Chr. Michelsen Institute (Bergen); Queen Mary, University of London; and Chancellor College, University of Malawi. Participation in the project opens up the opportunity to engage with top class research and researchers from across the world.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• The applicant must hold a PhD within political science, sociology, development studies, psychology, development economics, media studies or an equivalent area. The applicant must have submitted his/her doctoral thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the PhD has been awarded.
• Work independently and in a structured manner, and have the ability to cooperate with others.
• Proficiency in both written and oral English.
• International applicants are welcomed.

Potential candidates will be called in for an interview at the University of Bergen or we will arrange for an interview on Skype.

About the position of postdoctoral research fellow:

The position of postdoctoral research fellow is a fixed-term appointment with the primary objective of qualifying the appointee for work in top academic positions. The fixed-term period for this position is 2 years. Individuals may not be hired for more than one fixed-term period as a postdoctoral research fellow at the same institution.

A research proposal of 4-5 pages must accompany the application. The proposal should contain a progress plan for the different parts of the research work, as well as a plan regarding publishing. It is a requirement that the project is completed in the course of the period of employment.

A budget must be set up for operating expenses.

We can offer:

• A good and professionally challenging working environment.
• Salary at pay grade 57(code 1352) on the government salary scale upon appointment (equivalent to NOK 483 700,- per year). Further promotions are made according to length of service in the position.
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• A position in an inclusive workplace (IW).
• Good welfare benefits.
• Opportunities for a research stay and funding for field work abroad.

Your application must include:

• A brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position.
• The names and contact information for two reference persons. One of these must be the main advisor from the PhD programme.
• A research proposal (see above).
• CV
• Your PhD dissertation.
• Transcripts and diplomas and official confirmation that the doctoral thesis has been submitted.
• Relevant certificates/references.
• List of any works of a scientific nature (publication list).
• Any publications in your name.

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at the recruitment portal Jobbnorge.

The application has to be marked with: 16/4098

The closing date is August 15, 2016 

Applications sent by e-mail will not be evaluated.

We kindly ask the applicants to follow the guidelines for applicants to postdoctoral fellowships positions at the Faculty of Social Sciences closely. The guidelines are obtainable by contacting post@svfa.uib.no.

General information:

Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting the project leader, Associate Professor Ragnhild L. Muriaas, e-mail: Ragnhild.muriaas@uib.no, phone + 47 55 58 94 48 (work) / + 47 96 51 40 15 (mobile).

Practical questions about the application process should be directed to Senior Executive Officer Beathe Moldestad, e-mail: beathe.moldestad@uib.no, or phone: +47 55 58 89 56.

The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. Age and gender balance among employees is therefore a goal. It is also a goal to recruit people with immigrant backgrounds. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.