Deadline: 23 May 2011
Open to: PhD degree holders in Political Science, from a University in the Netherlands or abroad
Scholarship: gross monthly salary is about € 2.977,00 gross per month, scale level 10 (based on a full-time appointment)
Applications are invited for a three year Post-doctoral Researcher within the project “Database on Political Responsiveness”. The project is funded by the Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research. Principal investigators Christine Arnold, University of Maastricht, Mark Franklin, European University Institute, Christopher Wlezien, Temple University.
The responsiveness of democratic institutions is a topic of fundamental importance to researchers, citizens, and decision-makers. This project will assemble a database that will facilitate the investigation of dynamic representation in a multilevel system of governance. The database will take the form of a unified and cross-indexed resource of the preferences of the European electorates, political parties and government, results of past elections, and government outputs. With the data collection the project will study the degree of responsiveness of the public to government policy and the extent to which there is policy representation by governments across time, policy areas and levels of governance. The project will also take into account the mediating role of political institutions such as electoral systems, government types (coalition versus single-party) and executive-legislative structures. We will examine how and under what circumstances responsiveness can be achieved in different institutional settings. Furthermore, the project will examine interdependencies of legislative decision-making between the national and the European level.
The research fellow will have the unique opportunity to carry out in-depth research on political responsiveness both in a comparative perspective and across time. The fellow will be part of a project which for the first time will collect and analyze data on the preferences of the European electorates, political parties and governments; on the results of past elections, and legislative outputs. The Post-Doctoral Fellow will be involved in the building of the empirical models. There will be opportunities for single-authored publications.
We offer fellows a full time (1.0fte) appointment as Post-doc for 3 years. The first year will be a probation period, after a positive assessment the position will be extended for the remaining 2 years.
The Post-doctoral position is designed for a scholar who has recently received his or her PhD in order to:
- Gather qualitative and quantitative data on the preferences of the European electorates, political parties and governments, past election results, and national and European legislative outputs (in cooperation with a computer assistant and student assistants providing language support).
- Conduct quantitative empirical analysis of political responsiveness across policy areas, countries, levels of governance, and time.
- Contribute to the joint publications of the project team.
- Organize and attend meetings, workshops and conferences.
- Prepare grant applications for new research projects.
- Contribute to the Faculty’s research programme in European Studies.
Eligibility
- PhD in Political Science, from a University in the Netherlands or abroad.
- Expertise in comparative politics, political behavior and European politics.
- Strong quantitative skills (including time series analysis and longitudinal analysis).
- Database management skills a plus.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Evidence of or potential for international excellence in published research.
- Willing to contribute proactively to the conduct of the project and is a team-player.
Scholarship
Depending on experience and qualification, the gross monthly salary is about € 2.977,00 gross per month, scale level 10 (based on a full-time appointment). The gross yearly salary is about € 41.500,00 (based on a full-time appointment). If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings) you will be eligible for an allowance for removal costs. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings) you might be eligible for an allowance for alternative housing or, if eligible for the 30% tax rule, for a tax reduction. You will be provided with shared office space and a PC.
Application
Interested candidates are invited to electronically submit their applications.
Please supply the university with two PDF files:
(1) First PDF file:a short letter of motivation stating the candidate’s qualifications and reasons for interest in the position,a CV,the contact information of three references (including e-mail, phone number, mailing address, and relationship to the applicant), and
(2) Second PDF file: one writing sample (published article, work-in progress, or a dissertation chapter).
The deadline for submitting your application is 23 May 2011.
Please send your application electronically by email to the Secretariat of the Faculty Office (please give the reference number): pzfdcwvacatures@maastrichtuniversity.nl
