Postdoc ERC-funded project ‘Politicians under radical uncertainty’ (RADIUNCE)

Would you like to study political elites’ behaviour by conducting survey experiments and interviews with them? Join us as a postdoc to join the ERC-funded research project ‘Politicians under Radical Uncertainty: How Uncertain Phenomena Influence Political Elites’ Behavior’ (RADIUNCE), led by Professor Barbara Vis (PI) at Utrecht University School of Governance (USG).

Your job

RADIUNCE (2023-2028) starts from the observation that politicians face numerous phenomena that are characterised by uncertainty, such as climate change, digitalisation, and pandemics. Some of these phenomena are characterised by resolvable uncertainty that can be reduced with more or better information while other phenomena are radically uncertainty and cannot. RADIUNCE’s overall aim is to develop a theory that explains politicians’ behavioural responses to both radically and resolvably uncertain phenomena—something about which surprisingly little is known. Theoretically, RADIUNCE adopts a multidisciplinary approach, integrating insights from political science, public administration, decision theory, psychology, and behavioural economics. Empirically, the project focuses on four countries with different opportunities and constraints for responding to uncertainty: Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. It uses an innovative multi-methods design: survey experiments, automated text analysis, interviews, Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), and process tracing.

As a postdoc, you will work on the part of the project that sets out to explain variation in individual political elites’ responses to both radically and resolvably uncertain phenomena. Our first analyses reveal that politicians display a variety of such responses, ranging from avoiding the phenomenon, to relying on rules of thumb (heuristics), to adopting a comprehensive approach. We will build on these results and examine how politicians’ individual characteristics shape their responses. To this end, and in collaboration with other researchers in RADIUNCE, you will collect original data from political elites at the subnational level in all four countries and at the national level in the two unitary ones (the Netherlands and the UK) by means of survey experiments. Co-designing and conducting these survey experiments will be your main task. In addition to the experimental part, the surveys will include questions measuring politicians' individual characteristics, such as their ideology and personality. The surveys with the national level politicians will be administered in-person during a semi-structured interview. Conducting and qualitatively analysing these interviews will be another main task of yours.

Your main tasks will be to:

• co-design, conduct, and analyse survey experiments with politicians at the subnational level in RADIUNCE’s four countries;
• co-design, conduct, and analyse survey experiments with politicians at the national level in the Netherlands and the UK;
• conduct and analyse interviews with national level politicians in the Netherlands and the UK;
• (co-)author papers based on this research to be presented at major conferences and to be submitted to international refereed journals.
• (co-)organise a multidisciplinary RADIUNCE conference;
• contribute to policy briefs and other valorisation activities aimed at the wider public (e.g., blogs, op-eds).

You will become part of an enthusiastic team, collaborating with the researchers in RADIUNCE including the PI, three PhD candidates, three supervisors, and research assistants, as well as with other researchers from Utrecht University School of Governance and beyond. Within our team, your initiative and input are highly valued.

Your qualities

We encourage you to apply if you meet all of the following requirements:

• You hold a PhD in Political Science or a related discipline.
• You have experience with, and strong skills in, designing and conducting survey experiments. Experience with survey experiments with political elites is a plus.
• You have a track record in publishing in leading academic journals.
• You have excellent written and spoken Dutch and English language skills.
• You have a strong commitment to scientific integrity as well as open science practices.
• You have demonstrated affinity with multidisciplinary research.
• You have excellent social and organisational skills.
• You are excited to share your knowledge with both academic and non-academic audiences.
• You are a team player with a substantial degree of independence.

Our offer

• A position for one year, with - after positive evaluation - an extension until January 2028;
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary of €4,537 (salary scale 11.0 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus; 
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU. 

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance is a faculty at the heart of society, with a strong focus on social issues. Our subjects of Law, Economics and Governance give us a strong mix of academic disciplines that complement and enhance each other. This is a unique combination and a mark of our faculty's strength.

More information

For more information, please contact Barbara Vis (PI, and Professor of Politics & Governance) at b.vis@uu.nl.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please submit the following documents via the 'apply now' button:

• your motivation letter;
• your curriculum vitae;
• one selected publication (preferably an international peer-reviewed journal article);
• the names and contact details of two referees.

The first round of interviews is scheduled to take place on 24 April 2025. Depending on your location, the interview will either be in person or online. The starting date of this position is between 1 June and 1 September 2025.

The application deadline is 6 April 2025.