Postdoctoral Research Fellow (m/f/d) | Understanding the dynamics of election campaigns in Sub-[...]

Stellenbeschreibung:

The Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity studies central social science questions such as social and political inequality, the erosion and resilience of democracy, and political conflict. The Institute advances social science theory through advanced empirical research on these themes. At the Institute, the Department of Political Institutions and Conflict is inviting applications for the position of a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (m/f/d) , full‑time for two years with a starting date of April 1, 2026, or earlier.

The newly established department “Political Institutions and Conflict” (led by Ursula Daxecker) studies the relationship between political institutions and conflict, broadly construed. Conflict is inherent in politics, but can be managed peacefully or break out in the open and turn violent. Research in the department explores how institutions impact whether conflict is managed peacefully or not, and how conflict itself can sustain or undermine institutions. The department’s empirical focus is on the Global South and combines advanced quantitative methods, such as survey‑based and observational causal inference designs, with qualitative approaches, such as fieldwork and interviews. Through this research, the department aims to produce new, evidence‑based insights relevant to policy and contemporary society.

Responsibilities (what You Will Do)

A postdoctoral research fellow with relevant skills and interests is sought for a project aiming to understand the dynamics of election campaigns in Sub‑Saharan Africa, with a special emphasis on Nigeria. The project seeks to explain variation in African and Nigerian political parties’ campaign strategies, including vote buying, violence, canvassing, and rallies. Empirically, the project relies on a multi‑method approach, combining survey data from Afrobarometer, original surveys in Nigeria, and interviews conducted with party and non‑party brokers. The design and fielding of additional surveys and interviews is a possibility.

Conduct high‑quality research within the framework of the project, including the design, collection and analysis of survey data;
Carry out fieldwork and interviews in Nigeria;
Write academic articles with other project members (including the director and associated researchers at the MPI and other institutions);
Assist with administrative responsibilities related to the project, including organization of workshops, writing deliverables, data management, and dissemination of project findings in general‑audience venues;
Co‑support and mentor PhD students and junior researchers working on the project;
Be affiliated with and take active part in the research environment at the Department. Regular presence at the Institute is therefore required and researchers need to reside within commuter distance of Göttingen.

Requirements

The following qualifications are essential :

a PhD degree or equivalent in Political Science. The degree must have been obtained before the employment start date;
excellent publication record (i.e., publications in highly‑ranked international journals) or demonstrated potential thereof;
demonstrated interest in electoral competition in the Global South or closely related themes, and willingness to develop additional subject‑matter and regional expertise;
excellent command of quantitative research methods, including analysis of survey data, panel regression, and statistical programming in Stata/R/etc.;
excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
a commitment to academic integrity and transparency;
independent thinking and critical analytical skills;
the ability to work independently as well as collaborate in an interdisciplinary team.

The Following Qualifications Are Desirable

demonstrated expertise in research on Nigerian or African politics;
experience with designing and implementing surveys;
familiarity with causal inference methods, or willingness to acquire it;
experience conducting fieldwork and qualitative interviews.

What we offer

The position is full‑time and for a period of two years (with a probational period of six months) ending 31 March 2028. Salary is based on the German collective agreement for civil servants (TVöD Bund), level E 13. The Max Planck Society is mainly funded by German Federal and State Governments. Max Planck Institutes provide outstanding facilities, academic resources and intellectual environments for the support of independent research. Max Planck Institutes are not tied to universities. There are no teaching obligations for staff, but teaching and other forms of cooperation with universities is possible.

The Max Planck Society wishes to increase the participation of women across the sciences. Applications from women are therefore particularly welcome. Following its commitment to equal opportunities employment policies, the Max Planck Society especially encourages applications from persons with disability. Persons of any nationality can apply.

Application Requirements

Applications must be submitted to no later than Sunday, January 4, 2026. Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file and consist of:

a CV including a list of publications;
a two‑page cover letter describing your interest and alignment to the project’s goals;
the names and contact details of two referees whom we may contact;
one published article or one other writing sample.

Please do NOT send additional materials with the initial application. Interviews will be conducted remotely between mid‑ to late‑February 2026.