Researcher in Social Sciences

Junior Researcher Position

The Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI) is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Stockholm University. SOFI is an internationally-leading institute in the fields of social policy, welfare, inequality and labour markets and has about 90 employees. Now we are looking for a junior researcher.

The researcher position is linked to the project, Making Time:
Organized Labour and the Politics of Care Leave, funded by the European Research Council (ERC). The project combines social movement and welfare state development research and examines the role of trade unions and organized labour in advocating and shaping care leave policies. These policies, which vary considerably across countries and over time, grant job-protected time-off from work to address self-care or family care needs for a child, spouse, parent or other relative.

Analyses will consider differences in trade unions and the types of workers they represent, investigate the mechanisms of potential union influence over policy and compare union-policy relationships across different institutional contexts.

Making Time is a mixed-method project that includes case studies of leave policy development in Ireland, France and the Netherlands. Each country represents different degrees of corporatism and has adopted or reformed leave provisions in the previous decade. Process-tracing techniques will be used to examine the introduction and movement of leave legislation through the policy-making process. The researcher will therefore collect and analyze archival government documents and news media reports and identify and interview key political actors.

Additional trade union leaders will be interviewed regardless of their involvement in leave policy advocacy.

The Making Time project will hire one researcher for the French case study and one researcher for the Dutch case study. The current call is open for the applicant to select their preference for researching either France or the Netherlands. In addition to contributing to the above-mentioned case study research, the researcher is expected to collaborate with other project members and to have research plans that advance the aims of the project.

Performing high level research and publishing in international, scientific journals are also expected.

Researchers are appointed primarily for purposes of research and must hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country. In the appointment, special emphasis will be placed on scientific competence. The applicant must hold a doctoral degree in sociology, political science or related discipline. Assessment criteria include the applicant's:

• Scientific ambition and innovative thinking,
• Quality of earlier research, publications and training,
• Experiences with qualitative research, especially with elite interviewing, and the
• Degree to which the applicant's research plan and previous research support the overall goals of the Making Time project.

The applicant must be fluent in spoken and written English. Good communication skills in French or Dutch is preferred as the position will require interviewing policy-makers, trade union representatives and leave policy advocates and opponents. A demonstrated understanding of current politics and policy-making processes in France or the Netherlands will benefit the application.

This is a full-time, indefinite-term position with a six-month trial period. Work will be devoted to the case study part of the project, which runs for a full-time equivalent of two years. Work in France or the Netherlands may be required. Start date  or as per agreement.

With us, you will experience the dynamic interaction between higher education and research that makes Stockholm University an exciting and creative environment. You will work in an international environment and get favourable conditions. The university is located in the National City Park with good transport links to the city. Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Further information about the position can be obtained from the project coordinator, Associate Professor Cassandra Engeman, phone: , cassandra.engeman.se.

Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the attachments requested in the application form. 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. The instructions for applicants are available at:

How to apply

for a position. Required materials:
The cover letter should explain why you are interested in conducting research on France/the Netherlands and what makes you suitable for the position, drawing on your prior research and relevant training and/or experience. The research proposal should describe your future planned research and how your plans,…