To strengthen our team in the Department for Migration and Globalisation the following position is to be filled:
Advertisement No. SB25-0075
Advertisement No. SB25-0075
Postdoctoral Researcher (qualitative) (m/f/d) - Refugees’ (Im)Mobilities & Political Agency
Your tasks
Job Description:
The Department for Migration and Globalisation of the University for Continuing Education Krems is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to undertake research in two projects led by Dr. Lea Müller-Funk: to a larger degree (85%) you will contribute to the new project ‘RESTATE: Refugees’ Political Participation and State-(Re)Making in Displacement’ (2025-2030) and to a minor degree (15%) to the project ‘SYREALITY: Syrian Imaginations of Europe meet Reality’ (2022-2027).
RESTATE investigates how refugees perceive and engage with the state throughout their displacement journeys, and how these perceptions shape their roles as political actors. Centring refugees’ political agency, the project aims to: (1) provide a dynamic understanding of refugees’ experiences and interactions with the state; (2) discern which forms of state violence erode trust in state institutions and potentially incite political resistance; (3) theorise the conditions of refugees’ political participation throughout their displacement trajectories; and (4) theorise the implications of refugees’ political participation in both origin and host states for processes of ‘state-making’ – attempts to fulfil key government functions such as protection, justice, and the provision of services. Employing a comparative mixed-methods and multi-sited approach, the project studies displacement from three civil-war states (Afghanistan, South Sudan and Syria) in four major host states (Iran, Turkey, Uganda, and Germany). The project will collect a cross-national survey, life histories, online interviews, and a compilation of humorous representations of the state. The team consists of the Principal Investigator (PI), two postdoctoral researchers, a PhD researcher, a project manager, and local research assistants. The qualitative postdoctoral researcher will co-lead the qualitative data collection and lead the Afghan case study.
The postdoctoral researcher will also be involved in the analysis of the qualitative data of the SYREALITY project. Taking on a longitudinal perspective, SYREALITY focuses on Syrians who have settled in four cities across Europe since 2011. It investigates (i) how broader life aspirations influence migration decision-making in a context of forced displacement; (ii) which influence war and displacement have on life aspirations and social class; and (iii) how the context of reception in four different European cities impact their life aspirations and well-being.
Your tasks:
The Department for Migration and Globalisation of the University for Continuing Education Krems is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to undertake research in two projects led by Dr. Lea Müller-Funk: to a larger degree (85%) you will contribute to the new project ‘RESTATE: Refugees’ Political Participation and State-(Re)Making in Displacement’ (2025-2030) and to a minor degree (15%) to the project ‘SYREALITY: Syrian Imaginations of Europe meet Reality’ (2022-2027).
RESTATE investigates how refugees perceive and engage with the state throughout their displacement journeys, and how these perceptions shape their roles as political actors. Centring refugees’ political agency, the project aims to: (1) provide a dynamic understanding of refugees’ experiences and interactions with the state; (2) discern which forms of state violence erode trust in state institutions and potentially incite political resistance; (3) theorise the conditions of refugees’ political participation throughout their displacement trajectories; and (4) theorise the implications of refugees’ political participation in both origin and host states for processes of ‘state-making’ – attempts to fulfil key government functions such as protection, justice, and the provision of services. Employing a comparative mixed-methods and multi-sited approach, the project studies displacement from three civil-war states (Afghanistan, South Sudan and Syria) in four major host states (Iran, Turkey, Uganda, and Germany). The project will collect a cross-national survey, life histories, online interviews, and a compilation of humorous representations of the state. The team consists of the Principal Investigator (PI), two postdoctoral researchers, a PhD researcher, a project manager, and local research assistants. The qualitative postdoctoral researcher will co-lead the qualitative data collection and lead the Afghan case study.
The postdoctoral researcher will also be involved in the analysis of the qualitative data of the SYREALITY project. Taking on a longitudinal perspective, SYREALITY focuses on Syrians who have settled in four cities across Europe since 2011. It investigates (i) how broader life aspirations influence migration decision-making in a context of forced displacement; (ii) which influence war and displacement have on life aspirations and social class; and (iii) how the context of reception in four different European cities impact their life aspirations and well-being.
Your tasks:
- Contributing to the analysis of the SYREALITY qualitative dataset and cCo-authoring one journal article together with the PI.
- Contributing to the conceptual framework of the RESTATE project through reading groups and working on a joint conceptual paper.
- Developing the RESTATE qualitative interview guides together with the team.
- Leading the qualitative data collection in Istanbul (Afghan case study), Berlin (Afghan case study), and Adjumani (South Sudanese case study) together with local research assistants.
- Co-leading the remote qualitative fieldwork in conflict countries together with the PI (follow-up interviews with family members of previous interviewees per phone in Afghanistan, Iran, and South Sudan).
- Authoring two journal articles based on the RESTATE qualitative data and contributing to two other co-authored project publications (e.g. working paper, Methodological Handbook chapter, journal article).
- Participating in project team meetings and research cluster meetings and contributing to the organization of events and workshops.
- Presenting work-in-progress at international workshops, conference panels, and to colleagues within the department and the university.
Your profile
We require evidence of the following qualifications for the application:
In addition, the following criteria are desirable:
- Completed university degree (Doctorate/PhD) in Anthropology, Geography, Sociology, Political Science or in related interdisciplinary fields such as migration studies, preferably completed with distinction (criterion must be met by 31 October 2025 at latest).
- Strong qualitative skills.
- Previous research experience in the Global South.
- Prior knowledge about the Afghan context.
- Strong analytical and writing skills.
- Enthusiasm to contribute to a collaborative team environment and to shared goals.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work in a team and independently.
- Excellent organizational skills and motivation and ability to meet project milestones/deadlines.
- Advanced language competency in Dari or Farsi (min. C1).
- Advanced English language competency (speaking and writing for academic contexts) (min. C1).
- A reflexive approach towards your work.
In addition, the following criteria are desirable:
- Experience with biographical methods or ethnography.
- Previous research work on political participation, refugees’ (im)mobilities, agency, or resistance.
- Publication record in international journals.
- Passion for and experience with mixed methods.
- Passion for and experience with comparative research.
- Knowledge of quantitative methods.
Your perspective
- As postdoctoral researcher, you will be employed by the Department for Migration and Globalisation of the University for Continuing Education Krems, located in the city of Krems. The start of the contract is foreseen for January 2026.
- Full-time position (40 hours/week) initially limited to three years. Another extension might be possible upon the availability of remaining funding.
- Minimum salary of EUR 4,932.90 gross per month on a full-time basis
- Classification as a scientific project staff member according to § 49 VwGr. B1, Kollektivvertrag der Universitäten (collective agreement of universities) §49. In addition, the university grants employees a 13th and 14th monthly salary (Christmas and vacation bonuses).
- You will be entitled to 25 vacation days and additional public holidays per year (full-time basis).
- Apart from fieldwork periods, possibility of home office and mobile working within Austria (max. 42% of working hours).
- Possibility to apply for a commuting allowance.
- Innovative and modern working environment at the Campus Krems.
- Very good opportunities for further education within the framework of our own study programs, extensive offer of workplace health promotion as well as the University Sports Institute (USI)
- We also provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering further opportunities to enhance your skills through participating in trainings and summer schools.
- The Department for Migration and Globalisation is highly successful in acquiring third-party research funding: The department has led and contributed to many national and international research projects over the last 10 years and coordinated as well as co-operated in many European projects, which will allow the postdoctoral researcher to engage and exchange with colleagues on ongoing research and to work on developing a project proposal to submit for funding towards the end of the employment contract.
Informal Q&A Session – Get to Know the Project
Are you interested in this position but still have questions? For more information about the project and recruitment process, there will be an informal online information session on the 5th of August 2025 at 10h30 am - 12h30 pm CET on Zoom. Please register here if you are interested in participating.
For procedural questions regarding the application and recruitment procedure, please contact Adriana Harm (Project Manager) at adriana.harm@donau-uni.ac.at.
We look forward to receiving your online application by 16th of September 2025.
Your application should include:
The first interviews will take place online via Zoom in mid October 2025. The second interview will take place in person in Krems and will be held around four weeks later.
The University for Continuing Education Krems sees high innovation potential in the diversity of its employees and is committed to diversity as a guiding principle. We therefore explicitly invite people with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses who meet the required profile criteria to apply for the position.
Your application should include:
- Your CV
- Motivation letter (max. 3 pages) clearly addressing the following questions:
- What are your motivations for joining the RESTATE project?
- How do the two projects fit in with your previous experience and your future research agenda?
- How would you tailor your contribution to the RESTATE project to your specific interests, networks, and skills? - A writing sample (journal article or a chapter of your PhD thesis)
- Contact information of 2 referees
The first interviews will take place online via Zoom in mid October 2025. The second interview will take place in person in Krems and will be held around four weeks later.
The University for Continuing Education Krems sees high innovation potential in the diversity of its employees and is committed to diversity as a guiding principle. We therefore explicitly invite people with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses who meet the required profile criteria to apply for the position.