Postdoctor in Political Science, focus on AI and political behaviour - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department announces one vacant position as a 2-year postdoctoral fellow with an orientation towards AI and political behaviour, and cross-disciplinary research. The postdoctoral position is fully funded for 2 years and placed at the Department of Political Science. A postdoctoral fellow within the same research program is also currently placed at Chalmers University of Technology. 

What we offer
Lund University is a public authority, which means that you will have special benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension. Read more on the University’s website about being a Lund University employee, Work at Lund University.

Project description
The postdoctoral position will be part of the 5-year research project “Bias and Methods of AI technology studying political behavior”, funded by the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation within the national research program wasp-hs. The vision of wasp-hs is to realize excellent research and develop competence on the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems with a strong investment on research in humanities and social science. The project is led by Associate Professor Annika Fredén in the Department of Political Science at Lund University together with Associate Professor Moa Johansson in the Department of Computer Science at Chalmers University of Technology. The project also involves two fully funded PhD students (one in computer science, and one in political science) and a postdoc position at Chalmers. The overarching aim of the project is to examine how the most recent machine learning and neural network techniques can develop the study of political behavior. To answer these research questions, the project employs a cross-disciplinary design combining social science and computer science methods to analyze quotes from parties, politicians and voters.

Main responsibilities
The main responsibility for the postdoctoral fellow is to conduct research within the research program in collaboration with other projects participants. Research tasks will involve data collection of various kinds, data analysis, and dissemination of results through publications in scholarly journals and conferences presentations as well as certain project coordination and reporting. Research should concern political behavior, machine learning and AI with a focus on questions related to methods, information, and experimentation. The position may include up to 10% administrative tasks and/or teaching.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the application deadline. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special circumstances refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/ assignments relevant to the subject area.
Special consideration will be given to the scientific skills and merits of the applicant. We seek candidates with a PhD in Political Science or related disciplines with a background in comparative politics, political psychology and/or political methodology. 
 
Experience from previous studies of comparative politics and/or machine learning is a merit. We are particularly interested in candidates with a quantitative methods background, as the program combines social science and computer science methods. Additional merits include a capacity to work in an international cross-disciplinary team of researchers and to communicate research findings to wider audiences beyond academia. The candidate must have excellent skills in academic written English. 

Terms of employment
The position involves at least two year full-time employment, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances according to the Swedish national agreement Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor. The starting date is at the earliest in September 2023 or as per agreement.

Application
Apply for the position at Lund University's recruitment system Varbi. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.
Please include the following information with your application
•    Your contact details and personal data
•    Your highest degree
•    Your language skills
•    Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents
•    Cover letter
•    CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
•    Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
–    why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
–    why and how you wish to complete the project
–    what makes you suitable for the project in question
•    Copy of PhD diploma
•    Letters of recommendation (no more than 3 files)
•    Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).