Postdoc Position on the INSPIRE Project

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (m/f/d)

(E 13 TV-G-U, 50% – 75% part-time)

for the EU-Horizon research project INSPIRE (Intersectional Spaces of Participation: Inclusive, Resilient, Embedded) 01.04.2024 for 3 years. The salary grade is based on the job characteristics of the collective agreement applicable to Goethe University (TV-G-U).

INSPIRE is a project that brings together 17 partners across Europe and will:

• assess past and current participatory deliberative processes through an intersectional lens to identify the explanatory factors that facilitate and/or hinder inclusion/ exclusion patterns
• investigate the constraints and affordances generated by the interplay between social, economic and political conditions in the configuration and development of participatory assemblages
• co-design and co-deliver intersectionally-inclusive participatory assemblages through engagement with disempowered groups
• coproduce new learning and action with public officials, citizens and a range of stakeholders to inform a more inclusive, and yet pragmatic, approach to participatory design and practice

We are looking for a committed post-doctoral research fellow to conduct research across the Work Package ‘Understanding and Enhancing Intersectional Equality in Participatory and Deliberative Democracy’ and the Work Package on ‘Coproduction of Learning and Action with Public Officials and Citizens’.

Your tasks:

• the primary research task is to conduct research with policy-makers and people within marginalised groups on their attitudes to inclusion in participatory and deliberative initiatives, using a combination of Q-method and conjoint surveys
• the secondary task is to support the construction of a database of cases of participation and their success and failure to realise inclusion
• to publish research results regularly in scholarly and other forms
• to engage in project meetings as appropriate
• to collaborate with the teams on INSPIRE’s other work packages as necessary
• to present research findings and represent the project at international academic conferences and events
• to support the overall project administration and management as necessary

Your profile:

• an advanced Master’s degree and an excellent PhD in Political Science or a related discipline
• excellent proficiency in English
• track-record of research on one of, or a combination of, the following themes:democracy, democratic innovations, participatory governance, and inclusionsolid knowledge of principles of research design and qualitative and quantitative social science research methods
• previous experience of conducting attitudinal research would be valuable. In particular, experience of using Q-method or conjoint surveys is preferred, but willingness to learn is most important and methodological instruction and support will be available
• ability to fulfil administrative and reporting tasks
• proven ability to deliver work to deadlines
• commitment, team-working skills, organizational abilities, the ability to coordinate an international project

The positions are open to individuals of all nationalities. Goethe University recruits, employs, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability or age as required by applicable law.

Please send applications with a research statement of experience and interests (1-2 pages) and curriculum vitae should be emailed in a single pdf file to the Dean of the Department of Social Sciences, referencing code number 24/2023, no later than 13.02.2024 to: [email protected].

If you have any questions about your application, you can contact Prof. Dr. Brigitte Geissel ([email protected]) or Dr. Rikki Dean ([email protected]).