Key Subject Area “Democratic Resilience”: Postdoctoral Research Associate with a background in Political Science, Public Policy, Governance Studies, Sustainability Studies or a related field
2025-06-23
As a humanistic, sustainable and action-oriented university, Leuphana University of Lüneburg stands for innovation in education and science. Methodological diversity, interdisciplinary cooperation, transdisciplinary cooperation with practice-based partners and an overall dynamic development characterize its research profile in the fields of culture, education, management & technology, public affairs, and sustainability. With the university-wide research development program “Embracing Transformation through research, education and knowledge transfer” (in short “Embracing Transformation”) Leuphana aims to establish itself as a leading university for the analysis and critical reflection of transformation processes. More than one hundred researchers at various career levels will collaborate in an interdisciplinary environment to generate transformation knowledge that empowers individuals and communities to manage societal challenges and develop solutions for the common good.
Visit our website to learn more about the five Key Subject Areas that are involved in the project: “Climate Futures in Digital Cultures”, “Companies das Drivers of Sustainability Transformations”, “Democratic Resilience”, “Organizing in Times of Crisis”, and “Toward a Regenerative Society”, complemented by a “Psychology of Transformation” acting as a Hub Science. To create synergies between these various fields and explore new perspectives, the “Leuphana Transformation Lab“ will be established as a shared intellectual and physical space to promote collaboration among the researchers involved.
The university is looking for a responsible, motivated and committed person for the Key Subject Area “Democratic Resilience: Democracy’s sustainability in an era of global polycrisis“ to fill the position of a
Postdoctoral Research Associate with a background in Political Science, Public Policy, Governance Studies, Sustainability Studies or a related field
(salary group EG 13 TV-L, as a full-time employee for a limited period until 31 August 2030 to start on 1 October 2025 or depending on your availability)
We invite you to become part of an exciting community of highly motivated scholars and offer you the opportunity to advance your academic career as a postdoctoral researcher. You will be able to refine your own profile and build an international network by working with numerous professors, other postdocs, doctoral students and international fellows in a stimulating interdisciplinary setting. You will significantly further your field of study and its integration into the research agenda of “Embracing Transformation”, thus positioning yourself as an expert in the highly dynamic and future-oriented field of transformation research as well as management and organization studies. To fully benefit from the purpose and value of collaborative and interdisciplinary research facilitated by a shared physical space, an adequate presence on campus is expected.
The project is an ambitious research initiative investigating how liberal democracies can remain robust, adaptive, effective, legitimate, and sustainable in the face of multiple crises and systemic challenges. It explores the resilience of liberal democracies in a time of global polycrisis, including climate change, economic instability, geopolitical competition, and social polarization. It investigates how democratic institutions can enhance long-term sustainability by balancing legitimacy, governance effectiveness, and systemic adaptability. The research examines resilience across different levels – from individual citizens to political institutions and international alliances – using a range of empirical social science methods. An interdisciplinary approach will integrate insights from political science, sustainability studies, law, economics, and governance to develop a comprehensive framework for understanding and strengthening sustainable democratic governance.
Your tasks:
- Lead and coordinate a multi-year research project on Democratic Resilience and Sustainability, co-supervising multiple PhD researchers and working with collaborating scholars
- Contribute to the common objective of “Embracing Transformation” by analyzing transformation processes and generating transformation knowledge
- Drive the research agenda forward by conducting your own original research on how democratic institutions can enhance long-term resilience and sustainability in governance and policymaking
- Develop synergies between the project’s interdisciplinary research strands, working closely with scholars from political science, law, economics, psychology, governance, and sustainability studies
- Connect empirical and theoretical insights, ensuring a cohesive conceptual framework for the project
- Facilitate high-impact academic outputs, including peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, and public engagement
- Secure future funding by developing a competitive grant proposal for a larger follow-up research initiative on sustainable democratic governance
- Advance your own academic career by preparing for a junior professorship, a habilitation project or by seeking funding for a junior research group, for example
- Participate in and co-organize regular meetings and workshops
- Co-supervise doctoral students
- Contribute to teaching on Democratic Resilience (2 German SWS = 1.5 regular teaching hours per week during the term)
Your qualifications:
- A PhD in political science, public policy, governance studies, sustainability studies, or a related discipline A strong publication record in democratic theory, resilience studies, governance, or sustainability-related fields
- Demonstrated experience in research coordination and project management
- Expertise in empirical social science methods, with familiarity in qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method approaches
- Ideally, experience in interdisciplinary contexts
- Excellent organizational and leadership skills, including the ability to mentor PhD researchers and collaborate across disciplines
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English (having a good command of German is an advantage)
- Strong personal initiative, excellent organizational skills, and ability to work in interdisciplinary and multicultural teams; experience in securing external research funding is a strong plus
Our offer:
- An inspiring cutting-edge collaborative research environment with multiple established and early-career scholars and scientists working together in an attractive modern university building designed by Daniel Libeskind
- Green and inviting campus at the edge of the picturesque Hanseatic town of Lüneburg, close to the Northern German metropolis Hamburg
- Flexible and family-friendly working hours within a time frame between 6 am and 9 pm, including opportunities for remote working
- A wide range of additional (subsidized) benefits such as continuing education, sporting activities, catering service for lunch and dinner, and a public transport ticket valid in the whole of Germany
- An additional company pension scheme through the Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder (VBL)
Your application:
For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Jens Newig (jens.newig@leuphana.de), Prof. Dr. Astrid Séville (astrid.seville@leuphana.de) or Prof. Dr. Christian Welzel (christian.welzel@leuphana.de), all three of them speakers of “Democratic Resilience”.
Leuphana University of Lüneburg promotes professional gender equality and heterogeneity among its members. Applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if they have the same qualifications. Please also note our data protection information for applicants.
We look forward to receiving your application, including a list of publications, up to three writing samples, relevant certificates and transcripts (incl. Abitur/high school), a research statement (up to four pages) outlining your proposed research on democratic resilience and sustainability, as well as the contact details of up to three academic referees. In addition, please include a CV (without photo) and a motivation letter in which you briefly describe (1) your qualifications, (2) how your envisaged research project may contribute to the interdisciplinary concept and overall goals of “Embracing Transformation”, and (3) how working in this setting will be beneficial for your own academic career. Please send the application by 17th August 2025 digitally (summarized in a PDF file) or by post to:
Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
Human Resources and Legal Affairs / Application Management
Subject: Democratic Resilience Post Doc
Universitätsallee 1
21335 Lüneburg