reference number 39/2025

At the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy of the University of Erfurt, the following position with 30 hours per week is available as of 1 July 2025:

Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/x) On The Future of Work in Sub-Saharan Africa
Pay category E 13 TV-L (75 %)

Re-founded in 1994 as a reform university, the University of Erfurt considers itself as a research-oriented university that is highly committed to international cooperation as well as innovation in teaching and learning, with a special focus on teacher-training programs. With its strong profile in the humanities, cultural studies as well as social sciences and education, it is a cosmopolitan place for academic debate on key social and cultural challenges.

Area of Responsibility

• developing research agenda on digitalization, future of work in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the Twin Transitions (Digital & Green)
• scientific collaborating in quantitative research projects, especially on public opinion, but also other data-driven projects (e. g. content analysis, macroeconomic data)
• writing grant proposals for research funding and collaborative research groups
• teaching courses at Willy Brandt School of Public Policy and the Staatswissenschaftliche Fakultät in Political Economy, Economics, Political Science, and Public Policy to the extent of 3 LVS
• own academic qualification (habilitation) in the subject area of the professorship
• participation in administrative tasks of the professorship

What we expect

• completed university degree (diploma/MA/state examination) in public policy or social sciences
• completed doctorate in one of the above mentioned fields
• knowledge and strong grasp of the field of digitalization and its social and political consequences, in particular documented research on topics such as measuring the impact of digital disruption in the field of work and welfare, its impact on public opinion and policy making in related areas (social policy, labour rights, etc.)
• familiarity with theories and approaches of political economy and public policy
• working knowledge of economics
• research experience in non-European contexts, especially Sub-Saharan Africa
• proven publications in peer-reviewed academic journals
• proficiency in social science methods
• experience in survey research, especially experience with survey experiments
• good knowledge of econometrics for microdata, as well as other techniques such as content analysis or time-series and pooled cross-section techniques
• fluent command of written and spoken English
• basic proficiency in German
• experience in organization of scientific workshops, research groups and other events

desirable

• ability to work in a team
• relevant teaching experience in English and experience in thesis supervision
• work experience in an international and culturally diverse environment

What we offer
The University of Erfurt promotes the compatibility of career and family/private life and supports flexible working hours. For academic staff, it offers a wide range of further training opportunities as well as coaching and mentoring as part of academic staff development ( www.uni-erfurt.de/go/akademische-pke (http://www.uni-erfurt.de/go/akademische-pke) ). In addition, there are a number of health and prevention offers as part of the company health management programme.

Comments/Remarks
The German version of this job advertisement alone shall be legally binding.

The position is initially limited until 30 June 2030 according to the duration of the project.

The advertisement is addressed to applicants who fulfill the requirements of the German Act on Temporary Scientific Contracts (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz) and who are able to acquire post-doctoral qualifications (“habilitationsäquivalente Leistungen”). The general requirements for employment according to § 91 section 5 Thuringian Higher Education Act (Thüringer Hochschulgesetz) apply.

If you have a foreign university degree, it is necessary that you apply for a certificate application at the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB). We recommend that you attach the corresponding certificate to your application documents, but you can also provide this certificate at a later stage of the process. Please note that this is a chargeable service provided by the ZAB. For more information, please visit https://zab.kmk.org/de/zeugnisbewertung (https://zab.kmk.org/de/zeugnisbewertung) .

The University of Erfurt sees itself as an open-minded employer that values diversity. It is committed to diversity and gender equality and welcomes applications that contribute to this. The University of Erfurt has successfully passed the "shaping diversity" audit, has been audited as a "family-friendly university" and regulary participates successfully in the female professor programme of the federal and state governments. One of the university's strategic goals is increasing the proportion of women in re-search and teaching. Severely disabled persons and those with equal status are given preference in the case of equal suitability, professional performance, and ability. It should be noted that even in the case of a repeated application or previous employment at the University of Erfurt, explicit reference must be made to the severe disability or equal status in the application, as this information is not automatically taken into account in the present procedure for data protection and organizational reasons.

For questions regarding content, please contact Kathrin Eisenhauer (e-mail: kathrin.eisenhauer@uni-erfurt.de (mailto:kathrin.eisenhauer@uni-erfurt.de) ).

Application/Deadline
Please send your application with informative documents (cover letter, curriculum vitae, copies of certificates, description of the doctoral project, list of publications and university courses, if applicable) exclusively online (https://jobs.uni-erfurt.de/en/jobposting/c33038d73ca4eb9aea52309b219074cbdf4f3fe30/apply) by 30 June 2025 via the application management system of the University of Erfurt.

Reimbursement of Expenses
The University of Erfurt does not refund any costs incurred in the application process.

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