Two PhD positions SNSF project “Governing the Party: How the Chinese Communist Party Holds Itself Together”

University of Zurich; Zürich; On-site; CHF 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Zurich invites applications for an independently conducted doctoral dissertation within one of four research areas, supervised by Prof. Dr. Jean Christopher Mittelstaedt.

You will develop large datasets from Chinese-language sources and contribute to a shared analytical framework. Applicants should hold an excellent MA in political science or a related field, with strong Chinese proficiency and a keen interest in political institutions.

Qualifications

• MA degree (or equivalent) in political science, sociology, Chinese studies, history or related discipline.
• Proficiency in modern Chinese sufficient to work with primary sources.
• Strong interest in political institutions, and ability to engage with theory.
• Willingness to acquire new research methods.
• Excellent written and spoken English; German is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and complete an independent doctoral dissertation within one of the project's four areas of research, under supervision.
• Develop, with guidance, large datasets from published Chinese-language sources for the dissertation, and contribute to the project's shared analytical framework.
• Publish findings from the dissertation in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to co-authored outputs of the project.
• Conduct fieldwork, archival or interview research where the dissertation requires it and conditions allow
• Take part in the research activities of the team and present work at conferences
• Enrol in a doctoral programme of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Zurich
• Assist with the organisation of workshops and with limited administrative tasks of the project

Skills

Chinese language proficiency

English fluency

Independent work

Teamwork

Research mindset in political science

Willingness to learn new methods

Education

MA degree in political science or related field

Job description

The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!

Your responsibilities

• Develop and complete an independent doctoral dissertation within one of the project's four areas of research, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Jean Christopher Mittelstaedt
• Develop, with guidance, large datasets from published Chinese-language sources for the dissertation, and contribute to the project's shared analytical framework
• Publish findings from the dissertation in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to co-authored outputs of the project
• Conduct fieldwork, archival or interview research where the dissertation requires it and conditions allow
• Take part in the research activities of the team and present work at conferences
• Enrol in a doctoral programme of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Zurich
• Assist with the organisation of workshops and with limited administrative tasks of the project

Your profile

• An excellent MA degree (or equivalent) in political science, sociology, Chinese studies, history or a related discipline, completed by the start of employment
• Proficiency in modern Chinese sufficient to work independently with Chinese-language primary sources
• A serious interest in political institutions and organisations, and the ability to engage with theory in comparative politics, political sociology, organisation studies or the study of ideology
• Training in at least one of the following: qualitative or interpretive methods, quantitative methods, computational text analysis. We do not expect candidates to arrive with all of these: the willingness to acquire new methods matters more than a complete toolkit at the outset
• Excellent written and spoken English; German is an asset but not required
• The ability to work independently as well as in a team, and a commitment to a shared project over four years

The University of Zurich is committed to equal opportunity and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, origin or background.