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.
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
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
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
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
In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com