PhD Position​/pre-doc in Political Science; Political Sociology

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 years, renewable for another three years after positive evaluation. The starting date of the position is March 1, 2026. Your position

• 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

• 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.

The University of Basel is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity and encourages all qualified applications irrespective of gender, race, or physical disabilities.

For more information about the position, salary and conditions please do not hesitate to contact Denise Traber (denise.traber). The Final date to receive applications is January 23, 2026. The job talks and interviews are scheduled for February 2026.

At the University of Basel, you'll discover an inspiring environment with modern employment conditions, room to grow, and a culture that values diversity.

Would you like to learn more? Visit our Working at the University of Basel page for detailed information.