PhD position in the research project “Contested Representation of Inequalities in International Cooperation” (80 %)
Department of Political Science, University of Zurich
Start of employment: September 1, 2025 (temporary)
Application deadline: March 3, 2025
The Department of Political Science at the University of Zurich invites applicants for a PhD position in the research group of Dr. Thomas Malang. The PhD student will work in the project entitled Contested Representation of Inequalities in International Cooperation which is part of the University Research Priority Program (URPP) Equality of Opportunity.
Project background
The Contested Representation of Inequalities project seeks a PhD candidate to explore the representation of minority interests in International Organizations (IOs). Specifically, the project focuses on the role of members of parliament (MPs) and their function in representing inequalities in international politics. Through a combination of attendance data, text analysis of summit speeches, and elite interviews with MPs, the research aims to understand how countries from both the Global North and South decide which social and global inequalities are highlighted and politicized in IOs. Additionally, the project will investigate whether this representation has tangible effects on international policy.
The project is part of the second phase of the University Research Priority Program (URPP) Equality of Opportunity. The URPP brings together researchers from Economics, Social Sciences and Law. The program's overarching goal is to examine the economic and social changes that contribute to inequality and to explore public policies that enhance equality of opportunity. The PhD candidate will be fully integrated in the activities of the transdisciplinary network of URPP researchers, as well as the Department of Political Science IPZ.