PhD position in Political Science - ERC Project WarEffects

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PhD position

The Department of Government at the University of Bergen invites applications for a PhD fellowship in political science. The position is fully funded by the European Research Council (ERC) through the project WarEffects (2022–2028). The successful candidate’s PhD project must therefore make a clear and substantial contribution to the themes and objectives of WarEffects.

WarEffects investigates how violent conflict shapes gendered power relations at the local level, within households, communities, and local politics. The project combines large-scale surveys, survey experiments, administrative and archival data, GIS, and qualitative field research in Colombia, DR Congo, and Sri Lanka. More information is available at www.wareffects.eu.

The position is a full-time, three-year PhD fellowship. There are no teaching obligations.

Responsibilities:

• Pursue a PhD project that directly contributes to the WarEffects project’s focus on war and gender at the local level
• Actively participate in research, publication, and dissemination activities of WarEffects
• Collect, clean, analyze, and interpret survey and other quantitative data
• Co-author academic articles and policy briefs together with the project team
• Present research at departmental seminars and international conferences
• Collaborate closely with members of the WarEffects team
• Assist with organizational tasks in the project (e.g., research administration, events, procurement processes)

Qualifications and personal qualities:

Required Qualifications

• MA degree (or equivalent) in political science or economics (thesis must be submitted by the deadline)
• Documented record of advanced quantitative methods skills in R and Python, specifically
  • Experience with GIS and spatial data analysis
  • Experience with natural language processing or text-as-data approaches
• Familiarity with large-scale survey data, conflict and political violence event data, and administrative datasets
• Strong analytical skills and ability to communicate clearly
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken)
• The successful candidate is expected to move to Bergen

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with Stata
• Experience with causal inference methods, survey design, and/or machine learning
• Experience with web scraping and API-based data collection
• Organizational and coordination skills, such as assisting in drafting terms of reference, liaising with research partners, and following up with procurement and suppliers
• Knowledge of languages other than English or Norwegian is considered an advantage, especially those spoken in regions of research interest
• Prior experience in large research projects (ERC, NFR, Horizon Europe).

About the PhD position:

About the PhD position: 

The duration of the PhD position is 3 years. The employment period for the successful candidate may be reduced if he or she previously has been employed in a PhD position. 

About the PhD training: 

As a PhD research fellow, you will take part in the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences, UiB. The programme corresponds to a period of three years and leads to a PhD degree. To be eligible for admission you must normally have an educational background corresponding to a master’s degree with a scope of 120 ECTS credits, which builds on a bachelor’s degree with a scope of 180 ECTS credits (normally 2 + 3 years), or an integrated master’s degree with a scope of 300 ECTS credits (5 years). Master’s degrees must normally include an independent work of a minimum of 30 ECTS credits. It is expected that the topic of the master’s degree is connected to the academic field to which you are seeking admission.

We can offer:

• A three-year PhD position within an ERC-funded research project
• Salary as PhD candidate, code 1017, currently NOK 568 700, - per year. A higher salary may be considered for a particularly well-qualified applicant. Automatic salary increases for up to 4 years with a 3% annual increase
• Personal funds for methods training, books, and research-related equipment
• A dynamic and internationally recognized research environment (the Department of Government currently hosts three other ERC projects)
• Bergen as a vibrant academic city with access to spectacular nature 
• Access to university welfare benefits (including cabins, cultural events, sailing etc.) and enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

Application Process - Required Documents:

Applicants must upload the following documents in English via Jobbnorge:

1. Cover letter (max 2 pages), including a statement of motivation
2. Research proposal (max 4,000 words excluding references): must clearly demonstrate how the PhD will make a substantial contribution to the WarEffects project. The proposal should motivate the research question, situate it within the literature, outline a theoretical approach and hypotheses, and discuss data and methods (including ideas for causal identification).  
3. Curriculum vitae (CV) including education, positions, research experience, quantitative methods training, and other qualifying activities
4. Academic writing sample in English (e.g., MA thesis chapter, article, or term paper)
5. Quantitative portfolio: submission of a short R Markdown or Quarto file (HTML/PDF output) documenting a complete data analysis workflow from data import/cleaning to descriptive statistics and at least one inferential model. Code must be included and clearly commented. This is required to demonstrate advanced quantitative skills. Applications without this portfolio will not be considered.
6. Diplomas and transcripts of degrees (BA and MA or equivalent)
7. Contact details of three referees (reference letters not needed at this stage)

Short-listed candidates will be invited to i) complete a quantitative analysis assignment; and ii) attend an interview.

General information:

• Application deadline: September 16, 2025. Applications sent by e-mail will not be considered
• Starting date: preferably October 2025
• The successful candidate is expected to move to Bergen for the duration of the contract
• For questions about the position, please contact Professor Carlo Koos (PI, WarEffects):  carlo.koos@uib.no
• Practical questions about the application process can be directed to HR adviser Gudrun Horvei: Gudrun.horvei@uib.no 

Diversity is a strength that enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, worldview, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

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.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favourable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. For further information about the recruitment process, click here.

Life as a PhD candidate at UiB

Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.

. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrtp6VxMeJ4&index=2&list=PLf8ZIYfAO0qjhROTj6SthDbSScg0lSO6G