"Postdoctoral Researcher (quantitative) – Refugees’ (Im)Mobilities & Political Agency (m/f/d), SB26-0009"

Postdoctoral Researcher (quantitative) – Refugees’ (Im)Mobilities & Political Agency (m/f/d)

40 hrs./week
Advertisement No. SB26-0009

Job Description

The Department for Migration and Globalisation of the University for Continuing Education Krems is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to undertake research in two projects led by Ass. Prof. Lea Müller-Funk: to a larger degree (85%) you will contribute to the new project ‘RESTATE: Refugees’ Political Participation and State-(Re)Making in Displacement’ (2025-2030) and to a minor degree (15%) to the project ‘SYREALITY: Syrian Imaginations of Europe meet Reality’ (2022-2027).

RESTATE investigates how refugees perceive and engage with the state throughout their displacement journeys, and how these perceptions shape their roles as political actors. Centring refugees’ political agency, the project aims to: (1) provide a dynamic understanding of refugees’ experiences and interactions with the state; (2) discern which forms of state violence erode trust in state institutions and potentially incite political resistance; (3) theorise the conditions of refugees’ political participation throughout their displacement trajectories; and (4) theorise the implications of refugees’ political participation in both origin and host states for processes of ‘state-making’ – attempts to fulfil key government functions such as protection, justice, and the provision of services. Employing a comparative mixed-methods and multi-sited approach, the project studies displacement from three civil-war states (Afghanistan, South Sudan and Syria) in four major host states (Iran, Turkey, Uganda, and Germany). The project will collect a cross-national survey, life histories, online interviews, and a compilation of humorous representations of the state. The team consists of the Principal Investigator (PI), two postdoctoral researchers, a PhD researcher, a project manager, and local research assistants. The quantitative postdoctoral researcher will co-lead the quantitative data collection together with the PI and lead the case study on South Sudan. You will be involved in the development of the survey questionnaire, train and supervise enumerators during data collection and analyse the survey data.

The quantitative postdoctoral researcher will also be involved in the analysis of the survey data of the SYREALITY project. Taking on a longitudinal perspective, SYREALITY focuses on Syrians who have settled in four cities across Europe since 2011. It investigates (i) how broader life aspirations influence migration decision-making in a context of forced displacement; (ii) which influence war and displacement have on life aspirations and social class; and (iii) how the context of reception in four different European cities impact their life aspirations and well-being.

Your tasks

• Co-authoring one paper based on the SYREALITY survey data together with the PI.
• Contributing to the conceptual framework of the RESTATE project through reading groups and working on a joint conceptual paper.
• Contributing to the ethics and data management procedures of the university and the European Research Council.
• Developing the RESTATE survey questionnaire together with the PI.
• Planning and conducting the RESTATE survey through online and physical sampling in Adjumani, Istanbul and Berlin over a period of six months in total.
• Leading the analysis of the RESTATE survey data.
• Authoring two journal articles based on the RESTATE survey data and contributing to two other coauthored project publications (e.g. working paper, Methodological Handbook chapter, journal article).
• Participating in project team meetings and research cluster meetings and contributing to the organization of events and workshops.
• Presenting work-in-progress at international workshops, conference panels, and to colleagues within the department and the university.
• Engaging in international research collaboration.
• Preparing and submitting a research proposal for third-party funding for a follow-up research project.
• Contributing to departmental affairs in research.

Your profile

We require evidence of the following qualifications for the application:

• Completed university degree (Doctorate/PhD) in Political Science, Geography, Sociology or in related interdisciplinary fields such as migration studies, preferably completed with distinction (criterion must be met by 30 June 2026 at latest).
• Strong quantitative skills (advanced inferential statistics, survey design)
• Strong analytical and writing skills
• Publication record in international journals
• Advanced English language competency (speaking and writing for academic contexts) (min. C1)
• Enthusiasm to contribute to a collaborative team environment and to shared goals
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work in a team and independently
• Excellent organizational skills and motivation and ability to meet project milestones/deadlines
• A reflexive approach towards your work

In addition, the following criteria are desirable:

• Previous research work on political participation, (im)mobilities, migrant agency, or resistance
• Passion for and experience with mixed methods
• Knowledge of qualitative methods
• Previous research experience in the Global South
• Prior knowledge about East Africa, and South Sudan in particular
• Language skills in Dinka, Nuer or another dominant language spoken by South Sudanese refugees in Uganda

Your perspective

• As postdoctoral researcher, you will be employed by the Department for Migration and Globalisation of the University of Continuing Education Krems, located in the city of Krems. The start of the contract is foreseen for September 2026.
• Full-time (40 hours/week) initially limited to three years. Another extension might be possible upon the availability of remaining funding.
• Salary of EUR 5,014.30 gross per month on a full-time basis. In addition, the university grants employees a 13th and 14th monthly salary (Christmas and vacation bonuses).
• Classification as a scientific project staff member according to § 49 VwGr. B1, Kollektivvertrag für Universitäten (collective agreement for universities).
• You will be entitled to 25 vacation days and additional public holidays per year (full-time basis).
• Innovative and modern working environment at the Campus Krems
• Apart from fieldwork periods, possibility of home office and mobile working from place of residence in Austria (max. 42% of working hours).
• Possibility to apply for a commuting allowance.
• Extensive benefits such as very good further training opportunities as part of our own study programs, a wide range of company health promotion programs and the University Sports Institute (USI).
• We also provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering further opportunities to enhance your skills through participating in trainings and summer schools.
• The Department for Migration and Globalisation is highly successful in acquiring third-party research funding: The department has led and contributed to many national and international research projects over the last 10 years and coordinated as well as co-operated in many European projects, which will allow the postdoctoral researcher to engage and exchange with colleagues on ongoing research and to work on developing a project proposal to submit for funding towards the end of the employment contract.

We look forward to receiving your online application by 13 May 2026 via our online tool: https://www.donau-uni.ac.at/vacancies

Your application should include:

• Your CV
• Motivation letter (max. 3 pages) clearly addressing the following questions:
  • What are your motivations for joining the RESTATE project?
  • How do the two projects fit in with your previous experience and your future research agenda?
  • How would you tailor your contribution to the RESTATE project to your specific interests, networks, and skills?
• A writing sample (journal article or a chapter of your PhD thesis)
• Contact information of two referees

The first round of interviews is scheduled to take place online via Zoom in early June 2026.
A second interview with shortlisted candidates will be held around three to four weeks later.