Research Assistant "Party Competition"

2025-12-05

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 and an overall dynamic development characterise its research profile in the core topics of education, culture, management/technology, sustainability and state. Its international study model with the Leuphana College, the Leuphana Graduate School and the Leuphana Professional School is unique in Germany and has won many awards.

The University is looking for a responsible, motivated and committed person (starting preferably on 1st April 2026) for a vacancy in the DFG-funded research project “Party Competition, Populism, and Sovereignty Transfer to International Organisations”, co-led by Prof. Tobias Lenz and Dr. Alexandr Burilkov, for the position of a

Research Assistant (m/f/d) PostDoc or PhD
(salary group EG 13 TV-L, 75 %, for a limited period of 36 months)

The research project “Party Competition, Populism, and Sovereignty Transfer to International Organisations” examines the impact of the participation of populist parties in party competition on sovereignty transfer to international organisations, with a focus on consolidating democracies in Central & Eastern Europe and Latin America. Integrating research on party competition and international organisations, the project combines construction and analysis of a novel large-N dataset on sovereignty transfer with in-depth case studies of Brazil and Poland. 

Your tasks:

  • Write a doctoral dissertation, ideally related to the project theme
  • Contribute to the construction of the dataset on sovereignty transfer
  • Conduct the case study on Brazil, including relevant fieldwork
  • Support and co-author project publications for peer-reviewed academic outlets
  • Support project communication and organization of a project workshop
  • Develop your own academic profile and pursue relevant qualifications

Your profile:

  • Master’s degree in the field of Political Science / International Relations
  • Research interests and experience in international organizations, party competition and/or Latin America, especially Brazil
  • Proven experience in qualitative social science research methods
  • Excellent written and oral command of English and Portuguese

Our offer:

  • Work in an upcoming and research-oriented institute, together with more than a dozen other PhD students, located on a green and inviting campus at the edge of the picturesque Hanseatic town of Lüneburg, close to the Northern German metropolis Hamburg
  • Funding for fieldwork, conference presentations and other project-related activities
  • 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 inspiring working environment as part of the university community of researchers, teachers, students and staff in technology and administration,
  • a workplace at one of the most beautiful university locations in Germany in a true campus university with an internationally acclaimed central building by Daniel Libeskind and the directly adjacent Wilschenbruch nature reserve,
  • a high level of job security as part of the public service,
  • an additional company pension scheme through the Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder (VBL),
  • flexible and family-friendly working hours within a flexitime framework from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
  • flexible and family-friendly opportunities to alternate between presence work and mobile work,
  • an extensive internal and external continuing education programme,
  • a wide range of sporting activities sponsored by the university, which employees can take part in for one hour per week during working hours to promote their health,
  • a university-sponsored catering service for lunch and dinner in the refectory,
  • a Germany ticket sponsored by the university as a job ticket

The position is basically suitable for part-time work, but the aim is to fill it 75 per cent.

Your application: 

For further information please contact Prof. Tobias Lenz (tobias.lenz@leuphana.de).

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 submit all required documents (without photo) via our application portal by 14.01.2026. We look forward to receiving your application!