Postdoctoral Fellow in Political Science (3-4 years)

About the position

The Department of Political Science is recruiting 1-2 Postdoctoral Fellows (SKO 1352) positions with specialisation in either Comparative Politics, Political Data Science, or Public Administration. We are looking for an excellent candidate with the potential of pursuing a long-term career in academia. The successful applicant(s) will be part of the research project “Governing elites since the dawn of modern democracy” (GETGOV) which is funded by the European Research Council. The appointment is a fulltime position for a period of three years. Depending on the candidate’s competence and the teaching needs of the department, the fellowship period can be extended up to four years for other types of qualification work including various teaching tasks and obligations.

The primary aims of GETGOV is to investigate whether democracy has changed who govern us; and in turn how this impacts the decisions that are made. To do so, the project will create a database on individual governing elites globally from 1789 and onwards, building on the already existing WhoGov and Path to Power datasets. Using this database, we will investigate whether democracy makes governing elites look more like the people they govern by looking at factors such as gender, place of birth, education, class, and occupation. Moreover, the project will use the new database to investigate whether more representative, diverse, and competent elites provide broad-based policies such as mass primary education and better outcomes such as economic growth. We will answer questions such as:

• Does democracy open the corridors of power to the people, or do the same individuals remain in control, despite a formal change in governance?
• Do autocracies and democracies appoint different types of people to governing positions?
• Do some types of governing elites provide better policies and outcomes than others?
• Are voters more satisfied with democracy if their governing elites look more like the population at large?

A postdoctoral position is intended to help the successful candidate develop a research profile and competencies that qualify them to apply for a permanent position in academia. To this end, the main focus of this position is to conduct research, including publication and dissemination. In addition, the fellow is expected to actively contribute to the broader research agenda and environment of the GETGOV project, including project workshops. If the postdoctoral researcher does not already possess the teaching/pedagogical qualifications that meet the requirements for an associate professorship (incl. formal training), the department shall facilitate the acquisition of such qualifications during the employment period. Additionally, the position may provide other competencies relevant to the postdoctoral fellow’s future career.

To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are expected to submit a career development plan, specifying career goals and the competencies that the postdoctoral fellow should acquire, no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period. The department is responsible for ensuring that the plan is followed up and that the postdoctoral researcher has access to career guidance throughout the duration of the postdoctoral fellowship. 

Qualification requirements

Formal qualifications

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree (PhD) in Political Science or a closely related discipline before taking up the post.
• For applicants who have yet to receive their PhD degree, the Doctoral dissertation must have been submitted for evaluation, or completed and scheduled for submission and evaluation, before the application deadline. 

Other qualifications

• Applicants must have a very good command of English (written and oral).
• Language skills in other widely spoken languages, such as Arabic, French, German, Hindi, Mandarin, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili, is an advantage, but not a requirement.
• Previous research on political elites and familiarity with one or more of the topics covered by the GETGOV project is an advantage.
• Previous experience with data gathering and managing research assistants is an advantage.
• Applicants are required to possess robust empirical research knowledge within the realm of political science and be proficient in conducting quantitative analyses. Experience with large language models, machine learning, and/or programming in R or equivalent programs is an advantage but not a requirement.
• Alongside developing own research ideas, applicants should be capable of turning those ideas into well-structured and coherent scholarly papers. This involves possessing strong writing abilities and the capacity to see a writing project through from the planning stages to completion.

The evaluation of applicants is based on documented, academic qualifications. 

We will consider qualifications relative to the length of the candidate’s academic career (based on the length of the PhD program, the number of years since PhD, and career breaks). Personal suitability, motivation, and compatibility with the rest of the project team are also considered. The most promising candidates are invited to an interview.

We offer

• Salary according to “SKO 1352 postdoktor”, NOK 610 000-690 000 per year.
• Personal research funds that can be used for e.g. travel and research assistance (currently NOK 45,000 per year).
• A stimulating and international research environment with multiple research groups and seminar series.
• Involvement in a large research project that provides opportunities to build a network with scholars researching political elites around the world, including an annual workshop on the topic.
• A friendly and inclusive workplace allowing for a good work-life balance.
• Attractive UiO welfare benefits
• Access to Norway’s excellent public services and welfare schemes, including generous parental leave 
• provisions and affordable and accessible childcare (including the university’s kindergartens)
• Norway’s capital with its easy access to beautiful nature and rich cultural life.
• Financial and practical support for international staff moving to Norway (international staff may also benefit from tax cuts in their first years).
• Individual mentoring and annual career development conversation based on the submitted career plan. 
• Various courses and workshops for supporting career development (e.g. on dissemination and presentation skills, op-ed writing, research project management, stress-management etc.).
• The university’s mentoring programme for female postdocs.

Aksel Ørbeck

We need different perspectives in our work 

UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.

We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues—could you be the next one?

We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.

If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).

The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports.

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

We hope you will apply for the position with us. 

How to apply 

The application with attachments must be submitted in our electronic recruiting system. Please follow the link “apply for this job”. All documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their university’s grading system. 

The online application must include the following items, which are to be submitted before the deadline:

• A cover letter (max 2 pages), including a statement of motivation
• A CV summarizing education, positions, research and pedagogical experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activities. Career breaks, including parental leave, that are noted in the CV will be taken into consideration when evaluating applicants’ academic production.
• A complete list of publications
• Copies of educational diplomas and academic transcripts (PhD, MA)
• A copy of what you consider to be your best academic work to date (only one). If this is a co-authored paper/publication, you must additionally submit a declaration of co-authorship specifying your individual contribution and signed by your co-author(s).
• Your PhD dissertation
• Names and contact details for 2-3 reference persons (name, relationship to candidate, e-mail, and phone number). Reference letters are not needed.
• Applicants who have not yet defended their PhD dissertation must include a letter formally confirming that the dissertation has been submitted for evaluation, or is completed and scheduled for submission, before the application deadline. The exact date it was submitted should be noted in the cover letter.

The application deadline is November 17th, 2025. The screening and evaluation of candidates will begin immediately. We expect the whole evaluation process, from the application date to an offer being made, to take 12 to 16 weeks, depending on the number of applications. The expected start date is April 1st, 2026, but is subject to negotiation. 

General information

The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews. 

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian) and Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

University of Oslo

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28,000 students and 7,000 employees in a broad range of academic disciplines. UiO has shaped society for over 200 years. As a leading European university, it promotes independent and innovative research, and offers outstanding education.

The Department of Political Science is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences. It is the largest political science department in Norway and covers all subfields of the discipline: international politics, public policy and administration, comparative politics, political theory and research methods. The department offers a vibrant academic environment with a good mix of permanent staff, postdoctoral and PhD fellows. Around 1,400 students are currently enrolled at BA, MA and PhD level. The department runs two large political science programmes at BA and MA level and a specialized programme in Peace and Conflict Studies at MA level. In addition, the department hosts interdisciplinary study programmes in International Studies and Public Administration and Leadership. The department has several research groups, including Comparative Institutions and Regimes, Policy, Bureaucracy and Organisation, Oslo Political Theory and Political Data Science. The Department also hosts the interdisciplinary Center for Research on Extremism (C-REX).

Questions about the position

Jacob Nyrup

Associate Professor

Jacob.nyrup@stv.uio.no 

Aksel Ørbeck

HR Advisor

Personalgruppen@sv.uio.no 

Tobias Bach

Professor

tobias.bach@stv.uio.no