Research Assistant at the Department of Political Science

The Department of Political Science belongs to the Faculty of Social Sciences at Uppsala University and has about 100 employees, including teachers, researchers, PhD students, and administrative staff.

The activities mainly consist of teaching at undergraduate and advanced levels as well as in doctoral education. Additionally, extensive research is conducted at both national and international levels within the department. Read more about the department's activities on our website: http://www.statsvet.uu.se (http://www.statsvet.uu.se)

Job Responsibilities

The work will be conducted within the project “Does the welfare state shape public support for climate action?”, funded by the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation (MMW). The project aims to develop new comparative data on how welfare investments affect support for carbon taxes in several of the world's largest emitters.

The research assistant will collaborate with researchers at the Department of Political Science. Central tasks include validating questions for a survey study in India. The work includes background research and qualitative interviews to test and adapt the formulation of survey questions in different national contexts. An important aspect is to investigate how different welfare programs should be named in the survey to be perceived correctly by respondents in various demographic groups (e.g., younger/older, different education levels, urban/rural), how respondents perceive the magnitude of changes in compensation levels (increases and decreases), and how they reason about the possibility of increasing acceptance for carbon taxes by offering compensations through the welfare system. The research assistant will also perform certain administrative tasks.

Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree in political science or equivalent social science education. The position requires documented experience in conducting interviews. Excellent ability to communicate in Hindi and English, both orally and in writing, is a requirement. Additionally, very good knowledge, both orally and in writing, of one or more of India's other official languages is an advantage (e.g., Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil). The work also requires good analytical skills and the ability to work independently.

Applicants should have good knowledge of welfare systems and political decision-making processes in India, as well as established networks in the country relevant to the tasks to be performed in the project.

Application

The application should include the following:

• Personal letter (max 1 page): Describe why you are applying, why you are suitable for the position, as well as your possible start date and how you can allocate your working hours.
• If you have a writing sample (e.g., essay or empirical analysis), please attach a copy.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Transcripts (unofficial copy is sufficient)
• Documentation supporting your experience in interviewing (e.g., course certificates or work samples)
• Contact information for two referees (will only be used at the end of the recruitment process).

About the Employment

The position is a fixed-term employment (100%) for 1 month starting on January 30, 2026, or by agreement. Place of employment: Uppsala.

For inquiries about the position, please contact: Moa Mårtensson ([email protected] (mailto:[email protected]))

Welcome with your application by January 15, 2026, UFV-PA 2025/4062.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international standing. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of the country's most exciting workplaces.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/ (https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/)

The position may be subject to security clearance. A prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved during the security clearance process.

We kindly decline offers of recruitment and advertising assistance.

Applications are received in Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Union representatives: Saco-S - [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), Seko - [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), ST (OFR/S) - [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])