Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Comparative Politics with a Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa

Applications are invited for a full-time position, with an initial contract of three years and the possibility of another three years after successful evaluation and depending on the availability of funds. The successful applicant should start as soon as possible. The position is designed for further professional qualification as defined in § 2 WissZeitVG (Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act). The salary is commensurate with EG 13 TV-AVH / TVöD.

The successful candidate will work on key questions and challenges in comparative politics with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Potential research areas include but are not limited to autocratisation and democratisation, domestic politics and/or institutions, external actors, comparative political economy, the comparative study of conflicts, questions of misinformation or repression, and the political challenges arising from digitalisation. We expect the candidate to outline a corresponding research agenda. 

The successful candidate will become a member of the GIGA Institute for African Affairs (IAA) and one of GIGA’s four cross-regional GIGA Research Programmes (RP): Accountability and Participation (RP1), Peace and Security (RP2), Globalisation and Development (RP3), or Global Orders and Foreign Policies (RP4).

The candidate is expected to conduct excellent research with real world relevance and, accordingly, to participate in knowledge exchange and outreach activities (media engagement, policy advisory activities). There are no teaching obligations for this position, but it will be possible to teach at one of GIGA’s partner universities.

Mandatory qualifications:

• A very good doctoral degree (or submitted Ph.D. thesis) in Social Sciences (Political Science, International Relations, Economics, or a related discipline);
• An emerging track record of publications in high-ranking journals;
• A very strong command of qualitative and/or quantitative comparative methods;
• Fluency in English. 

Desired qualifications:

• An emerging track record of attracting competitive third-party funding;
• A focus on Central and Eastern Africa (including the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa);
• Fluency in German and/or a language of the region;
• Experience with policy and knowledge exchange activities.

Screening of applications will begin on 26 May 2025. 

For further information, please visit the GIGA homepage or contact Dr. Julia Grauvogel (email: julia.grauvogel@giga-hamburg.de) or Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau (email: matthias.basedau@giga-hamburg.de; on vacation in May 2025).