Researcher in Social Sciences

Stockholm University

Sweden

About the Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI)

The Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI) is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Stockholm University. SOFI is an internationally-leading institute in the fields of social policy, welfare, inequality and labour markets and has about 90 employees.

Now we are looking for a junior researcher.

More information about us, please visit: the Swedish Institute for Social Research.

Project Description

The researcher position is linked to the project, Making Time: Organized Labour and the Politics of Care Leave, funded by the European Research Council (ERC).

The project combines social movement and welfare state development research and examines the role of trade unions and organized labour in advocating and shaping care leave policies.

These policies, which vary considerably across countries and over time, grant job-protected time-off from work to address self-care or family care needs for a child, spouse, parent or other relative.

Analyses will consider differences in trade unions and the types of workers they represent, investigate the mechanisms of potential union influence over policy and compare union-policy relationships across different institutional contexts.

Main Responsibilities

MakingTime is a mixed-method project that includes case studies of leave policy development in Ireland, France and the Netherlands.

Each country represents different degrees of corporatism and has adopted or reformed leave provisions in the previous decade.

Process-tracing techniques will be used to examine the introduction and movement of leave legislation through the policy-making process.

The researcher will therefore:

Collect and analyze archival government documents.
Analyze news media reports.
Identify and interview key political actors.
Interview trade union leaders regardless of their involvement in leave policy advocacy.

The MakingTime project will hire:

One researcher for the French case study.
One researcher for the Dutch case study.

The current call is open for applicants to select their preference for researching either France or the Netherlands.

In addition to contributing to the selected case study, the researcher is expected to:

Collaborate with other project members.
Develop research plans that advance the aims of the project.
Conduct high-quality research.
Publish in international scientific journals.

Qualification Requirements

Researchers are appointed primarily for purposes of research and must hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment Criteria

Special emphasis will be placed on scientific competence.

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in:

Sociology,
Political Science, or
A related discipline.

Assessment criteria include the applicant's:

Scientific ambition and innovative thinking.
Quality of earlier research, publications and training.
Experience with qualitative research, especially elite interviewing.
Degree to which the applicant's research plan and previous research support the overall goals of the MakingTime project.

Applicants must be fluent in spoken and written English.

Good communication skills in French or Dutch are preferred, as the position will require interviewing policy-makers, trade union representatives, and leave policy advocates and opponents.

A demonstrated understanding of current politics and policy-making processes in France or the Netherlands will strengthen the application.

About the Employment

This is a full-time, indefinite-term position with a six-month trial period.

Work will be devoted to the case study part of the project, which runs for a full-time equivalent of two years.

Work in France or the Netherlands may be required.

Start Date: 14 September 2026 or as per agreement.

We Offer

With us, you will experience the dynamic interaction between higher education and research that makes Stockholm University an exciting and creative environment.

You will:

Work in an international environment.
Receive favourable employment conditions.
Be based at a university located in the National City Park with excellent transport links to Stockholm city.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact:

Associate Professor Cassandra Engeman
Project Coordinator

Telephone: +46 8 16 20 75

Email: cassandra.engeman@sofi.su.se

Application

Apply for the position through Stockholm University's recruitment system.

Attach:

Personal letter.
Curriculum Vitae (CV).
All attachments requested in the application form.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the application is complete according to the instructions in the job advertisement and submitted before the application deadline.

Instructions for applicants are available at:

How to apply for a position

Required Materials

The cover letter should explain:

Why you are interested in conducting research on France or the Netherlands.
What makes you suitable for the position.
How your previous research, training and experience relate to the project.

The research proposal should describe:

Your future research plans.
How your plans, competencies and previous experience will contribute to the French or Dutch case study within the MakingTime project.

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