The Institute for Social Research, SOFI, is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Stockholm University. SOFI is an internationally leading institute in the areas of social policy, welfare, inequality, and labor markets, and has approximately 90 employees. We are now seeking a junior researcher.
More information about us can be found at: Institute for Social Research - Stockholm University.
Project Description
The research position is linked to the project Making Time: Organized Labor and the Politics of Care Leave, funded by the European Research Council (ERC). The project combines research on social movements and welfare state development, and examines the role that trade unions and organized labor play in advocating for and shaping care leave policies. These policies, which vary considerably between countries and over time, provide employment-protected leave from work to meet the needs of self-care or family care for a child, spouse, parent, or other relative. Analyses will consider differences in trade unions and the types of workers they represent, examine mechanisms for potential union influence over policy, and compare union-political relations across different institutional contexts.
Duties
MakingTime is a mixed-methods project that includes case studies of the development of leave policies in Ireland, France, and the Netherlands. Each country represents different degrees of corporatism and has adopted or reformed leave provisions within the past decade. Process-tracing techniques will be used to examine the implementation and development of leave legislation through the political decision-making process. The researcher will therefore collect and analyze archival documents from government and news media reports as well as identify and interview key political actors. Additional union leaders will be interviewed regardless of their involvement in leave policy advocacy work.
The MakingTime project will employ one researcher for the French case study and one researcher for the Dutch case study. The current call is open for applicants to select their preference to investigate 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 have research plans that advance the project's objectives. Conducting high-level research and publishing in international, peer-reviewed journals is also expected.
Qualifications
A researcher is employed primarily for research and must hold a doctorate or have a foreign degree assessed as equivalent to a doctorate.
Assessment Criteria
In the appointment, particular weight will be placed on scientific proficiency. The applicant should have a doctorate in sociology, political science, or a related field of study.
Assessment criteria include the applicant's:
scientific ambition and innovative thinking
quality of previous research, publications, and education
experience with qualitative research, particularly with elite interviews, and
the degree to which the applicant's research plan and previous research support the overall objectives of the MakingTime project.
The applicant must be fluent in English, both spoken and written. Good communication skills in French or Dutch are preferred as the position will require interviews with decision-makers, union representatives, as well as advocates and opponents of leave. Documented knowledge of current politics and decision-making processes in France or the Netherlands will benefit the application.
About the Position
The position is full-time and is permanent with a six-month probationary period. Work will be devoted to the case study portion of the project, which runs for approximately two years. Work in France or the Netherlands may be required. Start date September 14, 2026 or by agreement.
We Offer
With us, you get the dynamics of the interaction between higher education and research that makes Stockholm University an exciting and creative environment. You work in an international environment and receive favorable conditions. The University is located in National City Park with good connections to the city center.
Stockholm University is committed to being a workplace free from discrimination and provides equal rights and opportunities for all.
Contact
Information about the position is provided by project coordinator, docent Cassandra Engeman, phone 08-16 20 75, [email protected].
Application
You apply for the position through Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a cover letter and CV as well as the attachments requested in the application form. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete and submitted to the university no later than the final application deadline.
Instructions for applicants can be found on the website: Applying for a position.
Required Materials: In your cover letter, explain why you are interested in conducting research on France/the Netherlands and what makes you suitable for the position, based on your previous research and relevant education and/or experience. The research plan should describe how your plans, competencies, and previous experience will contribute to the French/Dutch case study as part of the MakingTime project.
Stockholm University contributes to the development of a sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment, and the pursuit of truth.The Institute for Social Research, SOFI, is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Stockholm University. SOFI is an internationally leading institute in the areas of social policy, welfare, inequality, and labor markets, and has approximately 90 employees. We are now seeking a junior researcher.
More information about us can be found at: Institute for Social Research - Stockholm University.
Project Description
The research position is linked to the project Making Time: Organized Labor and the Politics of Care Leave, funded by the European Research Council (ERC). The project combines…