Research assistant

within the project ’The strategic use of public procurement: mapping variations in the application of EU procurement rules across Europe

Welcome to Linnaeus University where knowledge grows. We are an international university in Småland, Sweden. Together we set knowledge in motion for a sustainable societal development.

The Department of Political Science belongs to the Faculty of Social Sciences, which is one of five faculties at Linnaeus University with approximately 400 employees and circa 3.500 students. The main activities within the Department of Political Science are conducted at Campus Växjö, but education is also pursued at Campus Kalmar. The department offers education at all levels, including third-cycle courses and teaching is hold in both, Swedish and English. The research environment is focused on the representative democratic chain from citizens, through political authorities to the results of decisions made, by means of studies of political behaviour, parties, parliaments, corruption and the EU. We are currently seeking a research assistant.

Field of Subject for the Position: Political Science or related fields.

Placement, for the time being: Växjö, distant work after agreement.

Scope of Employment: The employment is on full time, 100%, limited to 6 months, preferable start 1 October 2021.

Job Description

The assignments mainly include gathering, categorizing, coding and analyzing data from the EU official databases. The applicant is expected to create and establish a new database in collaboration with the project leader on the application of procurement rules across Europe and conduct basic statistical and qualitative analyses. Moreover, the data includes information on the EU decision-making and the actual use of procurement rule in the EU member states over time.

Qualification Requirements

The person qualified for employment shall have a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent academic competence in political science or related field.

Assessment Criteria


• knowledge of collecting, categorizing and coding data
• knowledge of statistical methods
• good command of statistical programmes (SPSS; Stata; R)
• understanding of and interest in EU politics
• excellent command of written and spoken English
• excellent analytical skills and ability to apply them creatively

The following will be considered a strong advantage:


• knowledge of EU institutions and EU databases
• knowledge of qualitative methods and analysis tools
• good command of other EU languages and/or Swedish

For further information, please contact

Project leader Brigitte Pircher, brigitte.pircher@lnu.se, phone no. +46 470 708 163. Head of Department, Johanna Jormfeldt, johanna.jormfeldt@lnu.se, phone no. +46 470 708 476; Human Relations Partner, Ulrika Petersson, ulrika.petersson@lnu.se, phone no. +46 480 446 996.

Applications are welcome in accordance with the instructions, no later than 16 August 2021.


Linnaeus University has the ambition to utilize the qualities that an even gender distribution and diversity brings to the organization.

Please apply by clicking on the "Apply" button at the bottom of the ad. The credentials you invoke must be verified with certification and they must be attached digitally in your application. The application and other documents to be marked with the reference number. All documents cited must be received by the University no later than 24.00 (Local time in Sweden) on the closing day.