PhD Position in Political Science

Universität Basel

Employment Level: 60%
Start Date: 01 March 2026

The Department of Social Sciences of the University of Basel invites applications for a PhD position in Political Science (with Prof. Denise Traber) for a duration of four years. This position is for an initial period of one year, renewable for another three years after positive evaluation.

Your Position

• Develop and conduct a PhD project in the fields of Political Sociology, Political Economy, Political Behavior, or related areas
• Teaching (1 course per semester, in German)
• Contribute to the activities at the Political Science department

Your Profile

• Master’s degree in political science or related discipline
• Skills in quantitative methods and/or computational methods
• Strong command of R
• Didactic competence and enthusiasm for teaching
• Willingness to collaborate with colleagues, and to contribute to the academic activities and further development of the Political Science group
• Willingness to contribute to the university's self-administration
• Strong command of German and English

We Offer You

This position is part of a vibrant English- and German-speaking research environment at the University of Basel.

• Opportunity to conduct independent research and collaborate in a motivated team
• Position for the maximum duration of four years (one year initially)
• Salary and social benefits according to the University of Basel guidelines
• Dedicated faculty mentorship to support your academic progress

Application / Contact

We are looking for candidates with excellent research skills and a motivation to work independently. The application should include the following documents:

• A motivation letter
• CV, diploma, 1-2 academic references (name and address)
• A writing sample (e.g., master thesis or seminar thesis)
• A brief outline of a suggested PhD project in (one or more) of the following fields: Political Sociology, Political Economy, Political Behavior, or related areas (2–3 pages)
• 1–2 suggestions for possible seminars to be taught at the University of Basel (title and abstract)

Submit your application as PDF files using only the recruiting online tool of Basel University.

Application Deadline: 23 January 2026
Job Talks / Interviews: Scheduled for February 2026

For more information about the position, salary, and conditions, please contact:
Prof. Denise Traber – denise.traber@unibas.ch

www.unibas.ch