Postdoctoral Researcher in Migration Studies (m/f/d) ERC Co-coordination

Role Overview
The University for Continuing Education Krems, Department of Migration and Globalization, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher (Post-Doc) in Migration Studies (ERC Co-coordination). The position is full-time (40 hours/week) for five years, expected to start on 1 November 2026 or shortly thereafter. The successful candidate will act as a coordinating postdoctoral researcher, working closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) on both the intellectual and organizational leadership of the ERC-funded project "Ethics in Action: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas of Migrant Solidarity," led by Professor Julia Mourão Permoser.

The project focuses on policies and practices of solidarity with irregular and precarious migrants, developing a novel, actor-centred framework to understand how policymakers and civil society actors navigate ethical dilemmas in real-world contexts. It brings together political theory and empirical research through in-depth qualitative fieldwork across multiple world regions, examining five types of actors: national policymakers, local policymakers, labour unions, faith-based organizations, and facilitators of movement.

Responsibilities
You will act as a key intellectual partner to the PI, contributing to both the coordination and the conceptual development of the project. This includes co-supervising early career researchers and advancing the project’s research design and theoretical framework. You will co-lead three central work packages: Overall Comparison and Theory Development, Visual Methods and Artistic Dissemination, and Stakeholder and Society Dialogue.

Specific tasks include:
- Co-coordination and contribution to the refinement and implementation of the overall research design.
- Co-leading the three central work packages.
- Developing an independent research agenda aligned with the project.
- Leading comparative and theory-building work across cases.
- Publishing high-quality research in leading international journals.
- Contributing to major collective outputs, including an edited volume and a practitioner-oriented handbook.
- Coordinating collaboration with academic partners and non-academic stakeholders.
- Co-supervising PhD candidates and mentoring junior researchers.
- Organizing conferences, workshops, and public engagement activities.

Requirements and Qualifications
Required qualifications:
- Completed PhD in a social science discipline (completion certificate must be available by 15 October 2026).
- Research experience in migration studies.
- Excellent international publication record (e.g., publications in high-ranked journals).
- Familiarity with debates on the ethics of migration policy and the ability to link empirical research with political theory.
- Experience working in research projects.
- Expertise in qualitative research methods.
- Experience with comparative research designs and theory development.
- Excellent analytical and writing skills.
- Willingness to relocate to Krems or the surrounding area.
- Excellent English skills (min. C1).

Desirable criteria:
- Experience in grant writing and project management.
- Experience working with sensitive data and ethical research standards.
- Experience with artistic or visual methods of social research.
- Experience in participatory methodologies, citizen science, or stakeholder engagement.
- Experience in the coordination of research projects.

What They Offer
- Full-time employment (40 hours/week) initially limited to 30 September 2031.
- Minimum salary of EUR 5,014.30 gross per month (14x) on a full-time basis.
- Classification as a scientific project staff member according to § 49 VwGr. B1, Kollektivvertrag für Universitäten (collective agreement for universities).
- The opportunity to shape your own research agenda within a high-profile ERC project.
- A vibrant and collaborative research environment at an internationally connected institution.
- Support for fieldwork, publications, and international networking.
- Close collaboration with leading scholars in migration politics and political theory.
- A strong platform for career development and future academic opportunities.
- Innovative working environment at the Campus Krems.
- Flexible working hours and the option to work from home two days a week.
- Comprehensive internal training and coaching opportunities.
- A wide range of support services to help balance work and family life.
- Various workplace health promotion programs as well as offerings from the University Sports Institute (USI).