Since January 2019, the Cluster of Excellence «The Politics of Inequality» brings together researchers from political science, economics, sociology and related disciplines to study the political causes and consequences of inequality. Starting in January 2026, the Konstanz Methods Excellence Workshops (KOMEX) will be one of three cross-cutting infrastructure projects of the Cluster of Excellence. KOMEX, taking place annually since 2022, provides excellent, inclusive, and sustainable training in a pluralistic range of empirical research methods to early career researchers in the Social Sciences from around the globe. Within the Cluster of Excellence, the KOMEX project has three pillars: the annual method school (pillar 1), the KOMEX fellowships for scholars from the Global South starting in 2027 (pillar 2), and diverse Methods and Data (MAD) activities within the interdisciplinary Cluster community (pillar 3). The advertised postdoctoral position is affiliated with the Cluster of Excellence, and will entail a close collaboration with the KOMEX academic convenor and Principal Investigator, Prof. The KOMEX director will perform lead executive, community-oriented, coordinative, networking and representative functions at the intersection of KOMEX, the Cluster of Excellence, and the international community of social science methodologists. Next so some moderate involvement in pillar 1 upon mutual agreement (including, if desired, the possibility to teach a course in KOMEX), the KOMEX director will take the operational lead on pillars 2 and 3 in collaboration with the two PIs. Moreover, the postdoctoral researcher contributes their own original cluster-relevant research agenda, independently and in collaboration with the academic convenor, regarding the use and advancement of innovate methods to study inequality. At least fifty per cent of the position will be available for these research activities. The position is ideal for individuals with a keen interest and talent in social science research methodology, who seek to establish themselves as methodologists and/or methods-versed inequality researchers, and who embrace the values, mission, and activities of KOMEX in the global production of knowledge.
KOMEX fellowships) and 3 (MAD activites), including managing application and mentoring processes, organizing conferences or workshops, networking and community activities at (international) conferences
Pursue research on the use and advancement of innovate methods to study inequality, independently and in collaboration with the academic covenor, including publications in high-ranking international peer-reviewed journals
Excellent PhD in Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, or related fields (or close to completion)
Outstanding profile and interest in an area of social science methodology including relevant publication(s)
Original and innovative research proposal on the use and advancement of methods to study inequality, with a clear potential for high-profile, joint and independent publications related to the research priorities of the cluster and the academic convenor
Strong written and oral communication skills in English
Excellent social, interpersonal, and communication skills and motivation to engage with the pluralistic and interdisciplinary communities of the cluster, KOMEX, and international methods experts
All departments involved in the Cluster belong to the premier departments of their kind in Germany and enjoy an outstanding reputation in teaching and research
Stimulating, diverse, and internationally excellent, interdisciplinary research environment
Development and the option to develop acluster project application together withone of the PIs Research support andcareer counseling, including a range offunding and support options particularlyfor early career researchers
A family-friendly diversity-consciousuniversity and work environment
Employer subsidy for the JobTicket BW /Deutschlandticket (free public local and regional transportation within all of Germany)
A research proposal (2-5 pages) that outlines their cluster-relevant research agenda regarding the use and advancement of innovate methods to study inequality, including the synergies and potential for collaboration and publication with the academic convenor (either at level of methods or substantive research interests).
We look forward to receiving your application documents via our Online Application Portal by October 31, 2025.
As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to increase the number of women working in research and teaching. They will be given preference if appropriately qualified (contact sbv@uni-konstanz.