The Department of Political Science at the University of Zurich invites applications for a PhD position in the research group of Prof. Karsten Donnay starting on September 1, 2025. This position is part of a joint research project with the team of Dr. Rainer Gabriel at the School of Social Work at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW).
The project investigates the non-take-up of social welfare benefits due to language and administrative barriers. It explores using an AI tool to translate complex administrative documents (such as application forms, standardized letters, informational material) into plain/simple language. The goal is to facilitate the success of applications among eligible recipients and thereby to improve benefit uptake. Working in close collaboration with social services and other practice partners, the project will validate the tool’s effectiveness, design real-world implementations and evaluate its impact through field experiments.
The project is funded by the Digitalization Initiative of the Zurich Higher Education Institutions (DIZH) and closely connected to the Digital Society Initiative of the University of Zurich (DSI), the cross-disciplinary competence center for digitalization at the university. The University of Zurich offers a dynamic and collaborative work environment with a strong international focus and the Department of Political Science (IPZ) is a leading political science department in Europe. The department features a dynamic research environment, has a collegial working culture and we are firmly committed to advancing young scholars’ careers.
Your responsibilities
The PhD student will support all aspects of the collaborative research project described above throughout the project’s three-year duration. This includes adapting and deploying the already existing open-source prototype of the translation tool for simple language that serves as the foundation for this project; accompanying and supporting its use by our practice partners in real-world settings; designing, conducting and evaluating the field experiments that will test its effectiveness in improving benefit uptake; contributing to academic publications that disseminate the project’s findings. Given the project’s practical orientation, public dissemination of results through workshops and other outreach events is an integral part of our project, and the PhD student will play a key role in this process. In addition, the position also includes stakeholder management and regular coordination with our various practice partners.
Active involvement in both the research teams of Dr. Gabriel and Prof. Donnay is expected and workspaces at both institutes will be provided. The PhD student will be actively involved in the supervision of student research assistants supporting the broader project. There is no teaching requirement associated with the position. However, subject to departmental needs, there may be opportunities to take on compensated teaching assignments at the BA level.
Your profile:
- A strong personal motivation to use digital tools to address real-world social challenges. This is not a tech-for-tech’s-sake project but one with a clear focus on improving people’s lives.
- A completed (or soon-to-be completed) master’s degree in political science, another social science, or social work. Candidates with a background in social work are welcome but should demonstrate a solid foundation in data science (e.g., through prior training, work experience, or additional qualifications).
- A strong interest in applied social research in the areas of social policy, inequality, digitalization and public administration.
- Proven quantitative research and data science skills, including:
- Programming (Python),
- Data analysis (in R or Python),
- Designing and conducting (field) experiments.
- Familiarity with or interest in AI tools, natural language processing, or plain language communication is a strong asset.
- A good understanding of public administrations, welfare states, and the issue of non-take-up of social benefits.
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within interdisciplinary and cross-institutional teams.
- Strong command of both German and English.
- A mindset marked by creativity, open-mindedness, and curiosity.
Closing date for applications: 31 May 2025.
