Fully Funded & PAID Postdoctoral Research Opportunity n Refugee Studies and Political Agency – University for Continuing Education Krems
Postdoctoral Research Opportunity in Refugee Studies and Political Agency
Department for Migration and Globalisation, University for Continuing Education Krems
Position Overview
The Department for Migration and Globalisation at the University for Continuing Education Krems is inviting applications for a full-time (100%) Postdoctoral Researcher in qualitative research, to begin preferably on 1 January 2026. The position spans three years and offers a unique opportunity to contribute to two interdisciplinary, multi-sited research projects—RESTATE and SYREALITY—focusing on refugees’ political participation, (im)mobilities, and state-making processes.
Project Focus and Research Themes
RESTATE (85% of workload)
Refugees’ Political Participation and State-(Re)Making in Displacement is a European Research Council (ERC)-funded project led by Dr. Lea Müller-Funk. The project investigates how refugees experience, perceive, and engage with the state during their displacement. It seeks to explore:
- The role of refugees as political actors
- The forms of state violence that erode institutional trust
- Conditions for political participation in both origin and host countries
- The implications of such participation on state-making processes
RESTATE uses a comparative mixed-methods design and focuses on three refugee populations (from Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Syria) across four host countries (Iran, Turkey, Uganda, and Germany). The postdoctoral researcher will co-lead qualitative data collection, including fieldwork in Istanbul, Berlin, and Adjumani, and will lead the Afghan case study.
SYREALITY (15% of workload)
Syrian Imaginations of Europe Meet Reality, funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), examines the evolving life aspirations and class trajectories of Syrians who have resettled in Europe since 2011. It investigates:
- The influence of displacement on social mobility and identity
- The impact of reception contexts in four European cities
- The intersection between war, migration, and imagined futures
The postdoc will contribute to data analysis and co-author one journal article with the Principal Investigator (PI).
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and co-lead qualitative research tools (e.g., interview guides)
- Conduct in-depth fieldwork in Istanbul, Berlin, and Adjumani alongside local research assistants
- Co-lead remote interviews with displaced families in Afghanistan, Iran, and South Sudan
- Author two journal articles for RESTATE and contribute to additional collaborative publications
- Participate in reading groups and conceptual paper development
- Assist in organizing project events, workshops, and dissemination activities
- Present findings at academic conferences and institutional events
Candidate Profile
Essential Qualifications
- PhD (completed by 31 October 2025) in Anthropology, Sociology, Geography, Political Science, or a related field
- Expertise in qualitative research methodologies
- Field research experience in the Global South
- Knowledge of Afghan socio-political contexts
- Excellent analytical and academic writing skills
- Strong organizational and time-management skills
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
- Advanced proficiency in Dari or Farsi and English (minimum C1 level)
- A reflexive approach to research and data ethics
Desirable Assets
- Experience with biographical or ethnographic methods
- Research background in political participation, resistance, or refugee agency
- Publications in peer-reviewed journals
- Familiarity with mixed-methods and comparative research
- Competence in quantitative methods
Terms of Employment
- Full-time (40 hours/week)
- Contract duration: 3 years, with possible extension subject to funding
- Gross salary: Minimum €4,932.90/month (plus 13th and 14th salaries per Austrian university regulations)
- Location: Based at the University for Continuing Education Krems, Austria
- Benefits:
- 25 vacation days per year (full-time)
- Flexibility for partial remote work within Austria (up to 42%)
- Support for commuting and travel to research sites
- Access to internal training, health initiatives, and university sports
- Opportunity to apply for further research funding before the end of the contract
Application Process
Deadline: 16 September 2025
Required Documents:
- CV
- Motivation letter (max. 3 pages), addressing:
- Motivation to join RESTATE
- Relevance of prior experience to both projects
- Specific contributions you would bring to RESTATE
- Writing sample (e.g., journal article or thesis chapter)
- Contact details of two referees
Submit your application via: Online Application Portal
Selection Process and Information Session
- Informal Q&A Session:
5 August 2025, 10:30–12:30 CET via Zoom
(Register through the link provided in the project announcement) - Interview Rounds:
- First-round: Online interviews (mid-October 2025)
- Final round: On-site interviews in Krems (travel expenses covered)
Commitment to Inclusion
The University values diversity and encourages qualified candidates with disabilities or chronic illnesses to apply. The Department for Migration and Globalisation is committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative, and supportive research environment.
For inquiries, contact Adriana Harm (Project Manager):
[email protected]
This is a compelling opportunity for a highly motivated early-career scholar to shape and contribute to cutting-edge research on refugee agency, (im)mobilities, and the making of the state in contexts of displacement.
For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram
Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the hiring organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
