Two PhD positions (f/m/d; 30 hours/week; 4 years) with focus on qualitative representation researchat the University of Salzburg
The position is offered in the project Intangible and Invisible Interests, Concealed Constituents and Excluded Electorates: Understanding the Politics of Absence (INCONEX) funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant (March 2025 – February 2030), led by Dr. Lucy Kinski.
INCONEX aims to understand who is made absent by whom, how, when, and why in the process of political representation. It combines quantitative text analyses of parliamentary speech with online interviews of representatives and online focus groups with citizens. More information on the project is available here.
The doctoral researchers will actively contribute to the project and complete a PhD thesis in the thematic area of the project. They will co-develop innovative concepts and theoretical arguments on representative absence and work on the project’s qualitative work packages, including interviews with members of the Austrian, German, Spanish parliament and the European Parliament and/or on focus groups with absent citizens from Austria, Germany, and Spain. They will be involved in the project’s research, publication, administration and dissemination activities.
Applicants hold a very good Master’s degree in political science or a related discipline, completed by the starting date of the position (1 October 2025). They should have academic interests broadly related to the project, particularly in political representation, and knowledge of the EU and member states’ political systems. Successful candidates will have an excellent command of English, and knowledge of German and/or Spanish. They will have qualitative methods skills (e.g., documented in transcripts, training, or course work), particularly interviews and/or focus groups. Experience with MAXQDA (or similar software) and transcription software (e.g., Trint, noScribe) is desirable. The candidates should have excellent communication skills, be able to work well in a team, and demonstrate responsibility and a high level of commitment.
The positions are funded for four years with an intended start date of 1 October 2025. The working time commitment is 30 hours per week (75%). The salary, which includes social insurance (e.g., healthcare, pension), is in accordance with the Austrian Collective Bargaining Agreement for university employees (Employment Group B1: EUR 2786.10 gross; monthly salary, paid 14 times a year). Funds for advanced methods training, conferences, and career support are available.
The project is hosted at the Department of Political Science and the Salzburg Centre of European Union Studies (SCEUS) at the University of Salzburg, Austria, which offers a dynamic international, and interdisciplinary research community. Important research themes include political representation, European Union politics, trade policy, and populism.
How to apply: Your application should consist of a cover letter that explains your interest in the project and details your experience with qualitative methods. Please include your reasons for applying for this position and your ideal starting date. A one-page outline of a potential PhD project (can be a first idea, but should include research question, relevance, theoretical expectations, envisioned data collection and analysis). A current Curriculum Vitae (CV), a copy of your university diplomas and transcripts of record (providing specific information about your university-level coursework and/or a list of courses), a writing sample (research paper, publication, or Master’s thesis), contact details of two potential referees.
Please compile these documents in a single Pdf file and send it to no later than 2 May 2025, end of day. Please use the email subject “Application INCONEX PhD”.
The University of Salzburg is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.
Individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses who meet the required qualification criteria are explicitly encouraged to apply. The University of Salzburg aims to increase the proportion of women in its staff and therefore, in case of equal qualifications, women will be given priority.
For informal inquiries, please contact the Principal investigator, Dr. Lucy Kinski ().
Funded by the European Union (ERC, INCONEX, Grant No. 101163258). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
