The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 53 500 students and 6 500 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract scientists and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.
The Department of Political Science seeks to encourage an open exchange of minds in academic debates, and scholars participation in the public sphere. Research areas of specialization include elections, democracy, corruption, governance, globalization, environmental politics as well as European studies. The department offers education on all levels; undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate, carried out in both English and Swedish. A total of 1,400 students are enrolled in our courses, we have over 140 people employed. The department is centrally located in the city of Gothenburg.
Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) is a large-scale, international data collection and research-program. The V-Dem Institute, Directed by Professor Staffan I. Lindberg, has received several large-scale grants from among others the European Commission, several ministries of foreign affairs, the World Bank, European Research Council, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, the Swedish Research Council, and Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
For more information: https://v-dem.net
Subject area
Political Science
Subject area description
Political science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, nation, government, and politics and policies of government on a national and international perspective.
Job assignments
The term for this position in Swedish is “biträdande lektor”. The university’s official translation (in British English) is Associate Senior Lecture, which is the equivalent to Assistant Professor on tenure-track.
The Assistant Professor/Associate Senior Lecturer (tenure-track, 4 years) is primarily expected to conduct research in collaboration with research leader and other scholars in, and with a focus on the main questions of, the research programs at the V-Dem Institute: Endangered Democracies: Sequences of Autocratization (EDSA); "Failing and Successful Sequences of Democratization" (FASDEM); Varieties of Autocratization (V-Aut); and/or the methodological developments related to these programs. Applicants can read about these projects and download various documentation from https://v-dem.net under “Our Work/Research Projects”.
In extension of this, the successful candidate is expected to be active in grants writing to support these and related initiatives. The successful candidate will also join the leadership of the V-Dem Institute and is expected to support the Director with taking on responsibilities with regards to one or more issues such as the long-term strategic planning, financial viability, data collection and curation, outreach, international collaborations (non-/academic), the annual Democracy Report.
In addition, the successful applicant is expected to teach and be an active member of the Department of Political Science, and to contribute to the daily activities of the V-Dem Institute as needed. Research is, however, guaranteed at a minimum of 50 percent of full time employment (FTE).
Eligibility (Minimum Requirements)
Eligibility for this position is stated in Chapter 4, subsec. 12 a, and 12 b of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the University of Gothenburg's Appointments Procedure for Teachers. Applicants with a doctorate in a subject area relevant to the position, or with equivalent competence, not older than five years at the conclusion of the application period, will be given primary consideration. Applicants who have obtained a doctorate earlier may also be considered if there are special reasons. Special reasons include leave of absence due to illness, service in the armed forces or other part of the national defense organization, commissions of trust within professional, union and student organizations, parental leave or other similar circumstances.
Assessment (Desired Qualifications)
Applications will be evaluated primarily on research excellence in comparative politics with a particular view towards areas and approaches of relevance to the research programs at the institute as well as competencies that will contribute to addressing the research questions of those programs, and secondary on merits with regard to teaching.
Advanced comparative and quantitative research at high international level relevant for the study of democratic backsliding/autocratization or resilience, authoritarian regimes, democratization, political development and/or methodological developments related to research done at the institute such as sequencing and episodes analysis, is prioritized in the evaluation of applications.
Scientific skills as expressed in a well-developed proposal of high scientific quality, for a research project that falls within and preferably further develops on one of the existing research programs at the institute, is also highly meritorious.
One or more of the following skills are also meritorious:
- Leadership/working in a larger research and/or data team;
- Documented in-depth understanding of the V-Dem data and its curation, and;
- Outreach and policy advise based on research to non-academic organization.
Documented experience with teaching at under-/graduate level, including lectures, seminars, and advising on papers, is required. Candidates may be requested to demonstrate their teaching abilities.
The applicant should demonstrate resourcefulness, flexibility, and very good ability to work together in different configurations. Excellence in English (orally and written) is a requirement. We will make an overall assessment of the applicants’ qualifications and potential with regards to the varying tasks, and select one judged to complement the rest of the team in the best way possible. Personal qualities relevant for the position are of great importance.
Additional Information (Requirements for Tenure and Promotion)
An Assistant Professor/Associate Senior Lecturer is entitled to apply for promotion to Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer with tenure (in Swedish: “universitetslektor”), before the end of the fixed-term four-year employment. For promotion after the four years on tenure-track, the requirements for promotion in the subject area and the criteria of University of Gothenburg must be fulfilled. For this position, the following are additional requirements for promotion and tenure after the first four years:
- Significant advancement of high-quality research equivalent to at least another doctorate as published research findings addressing questions of the one of more of the research programs mentioned above, in some combination of articles in leading international peer review journals, a book and/or a number of book chapters published by leading international press’.
- University teacher’s training (15 points worth in the Swedish system) or otherwise acquired equivalents including a demonstrated continuous development in teaching abilities, is a requirement for promotion.
- Service to the wider society is expected to be directed towards democracy-promoting actors in particular.
- Finally, the candidate must be able to demonstrate ability to teach political science courses in the Swedish language (as evidenced by actual teaching, or by Swedish advanced course certificate). For information, the university provides courses in Swedish and the department normally offers additional support for the acquisition of language.
The application for tenure and promotion must be submitted six months before the end of the employment time (i.e. latest 3.5 years after starting the position).
See further information here:
Employment
Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, 4 years, with possibility for tenure and promotion.
Extent: 100 %
Location: Department of Political Science, Gothenburg
First day of employment: as soon as possible, latest by 2022-08-01
Appointment procedure
Please apply online.
Applicants are expected to visit https://v-dem.net and what is found under “Our Work/Research Projects”. The application letter should relate to the one of the research programs at the Institute and state clearly how the applicant fulfills the criteria stated above.
The application should also include:
- a research proposal (maximum 5 pages) directly addressing the one of the Institute’s research programs;
- a CV;
- two writing sample;
- an excerpt from Google Schoolar with information about the number of citations, h-index;
and a list of at least three persons who are prepared to submit letters of recommendation upon request.
For further information:
- Regarding the position please contact Staffan I Lindberg, Professor and Director of the V-Dem Institute
phone: +46 31 786 1226
staffan.i.lindberg@pol.gu.se
Unions
Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg:
https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply
Information for International Applicants
Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:
https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/
Closing date: 2021-10-10.
The University of Gothenburg promotes equal opportunities, equality and diversity.
Salary is determined on an individual basis.
Applications will be destroyed or returned (upon request) two years after the decision of employment has become final. Applications from the employed and from those who appeal the decision will not be returned.
In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.
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