Postdoc-Stelle im Bereich automatisierter Inhaltsanalyse / Computational Social Science

The Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” at the University of Münster, Germany, is seeking applications for a

Postdoctoral Research Associate
Wissenschaftliche*r Mitarbeiter*in
(salary level TV-L E 13, 100%)

for the externally funded project B3-46 “Communication of religiously framed threats” at the earliest possible date. We are offering a full-time position until 31 December 2025. There are no teaching obligations attached to the offered position.

Drawing on preliminary work in the project leaders' work units (AE), the project is developing a combination of different automated content analysis procedures in order to be able to systematically survey the degree of religiously connoted threat communication in different text forms (media coverage, press releases by politically relevant actors). The project then combines these automated procedures with a Citizen Science module by contrasting manually coded degrees of threat perceptions with the automatically coded degrees. Finally, the project analyses the share of threat communication with religious connotations in total threat communication and the influence of religiously versus otherwise framed threat communication on attitudes in the population.

Your tasks

• You will be responsible - in close coordination with the project leaders - for the implementation of the project in three steps (combination of different content analysis methods, combination of automated content analysis with Citizen Science module, and analysis of the quantitative data).
• Your tasks will therefore include
  - the generation, processing and (OA) publication of quantitative content analysis and experimental data
  - the implementation of the Citizen Science module
  - the presentation and publication of the empirical findings in prestigious international forums.

Our expectations

• a doctorate in political science, psychology or a thematically-related social science discipline (sociology, communication science, etc.)
• the ability to work in a team, organizational skills, the ability to work under pressure, and a high degree of independence in completing tasks
• advanced experience in the analysis of quantitative data
• very good knowledge of the use of automated content analysis methods
• very good English language skills
• an interest in the content-related issues of the project

Advantages for you

• As an employee, you will be involved in an exciting and socially relevant project.
• You will be linked to the AEs of the project leaders, who conduct innovative research on highly topical societal issues in interdisciplinary and international collaborations as well as in externally funded projects.
• In addition, you will be involved in the diverse activities of the Cluster and, intensively, also in research transfer.
• We offer
  - participation in workshops as well as national and international conferences
  - flexible working models.

The University of Münster strongly supports equal opportunity and diversity. We welcome all applicants regardless of sex, nationality, ethnic or social background, religion or worldview, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. We are committed to creating familyfriendly working conditions. Part-time options are generally available.

We actively encourage applications by women. Women with equivalent qualifications and academic achievements will be preferentially considered unless these are outweighed by reasons which necessitate the selection of another candidate.

Are you interested? Then we look forward to receiving your electronic application by 9 October 2023 addressed to:

University of Münster
Institute of Political Science
Prof Bernd Schlipphak
bernd.schlipphakuni-muensterde

Please submit your application including a cover letter, your curriculum vitae, your degree certificates, and a relevant writing sample. Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file (LASTNAME_RPTHREAT_2023.pdf). If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Bernd Schlipphak (bernd.schlipphakuni-muensterde)