Lund University
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5 days ago
PhD in Political Science on Affective Polarization and Algorithmic Amplification at Lund University Lund University in Sweden
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Fixed-term doctoral studentship for four years with a monthly salary paid by Lund University. The appointment may be extended if departmental duties such as teaching take up to 20% of working time. The position includes access to a workspace at the Department of Political Science.
Deadline
Oct 27, 2026
Country
Sweden
University
Lund University
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About this position
PhD student in Political Science at Lund University, Sweden. This opening is part of the research project “A Divisive Spiral? Elite Communication, Voter Engagement, and Algorithmic Amplification of Affective Polarization”, led by Professor Hanna Bäck at the Department of Political Science, Lund University.
The project examines affective polarization, elite communication, voter engagement, and how algorithms and social media shape political attitudes. It uses large language models to analyze polarizing communication in text and audio from Sweden and Finland, and includes experiments on communication and algorithmic effects. The doctoral student will contribute to the study of affective polarization among elected representatives and voters, while also developing independent research questions, theory, and methods within the project framework.
Degree level: PhD / third-cycle studies in Political Science. The program is 240 credits (four years full-time). The position is a fixed-term doctoral studentship with a monthly salary from the university. Teaching or other departmental duties may be included up to 20% of working time, with the appointment extended accordingly.
Eligibility and requirements: Applicants must meet the general entry requirements for doctoral studies and the specific requirement of at least 30 second-cycle credits in political science (or equivalent), plus an independently written thesis of at least 15 second-cycle credits in political science or an equivalent discipline that has been examined and graded. Strong English proficiency is required. Highly relevant merits include research experience related to the project themes, automated text analysis, programming, large-scale social science data, and knowledge of languages relevant to the empirical material. The department also expects the doctoral student to be present on site and actively participate in the research and teaching environment.
Funding: Fully funded doctoral employment with salary. Access to a workspace at the Department of Political Science is included.
Application window: Published 2026-10-06; deadline 2026-10-27. Apply via the Lund University recruitment portal with a cover letter, CV, certificates, thesis, research plan, and two references.
Funding details
Fixed-term doctoral studentship for four years with a monthly salary paid by Lund University. The appointment may be extended if departmental duties such as teaching take up to 20% of working time. The position includes access to a workspace at the Department of Political Science.
What's required
Applicants must meet the general entry requirements for third-cycle studies: a second-cycle qualification, at least 240 credits with at least 60 second-cycle credits, or equivalent knowledge. In addition, applicants must have completed at least 30 second-cycle credits in political science or equivalent, and have an independently written thesis of at least 15 second-cycle credits in political science or an equivalent discipline that has been examined and graded by the application date. Strong motivation, ability to work independently under time pressure, good collaboration and communication skills, and proficiency in written and spoken English are required. Documented experience related to the project themes, automated text analysis, programming, large-scale social science data, and relevant languages are strong merits. Non-Swedish speakers are expected to acquire basic Swedish during employment.
How to apply
Apply through the Lund University recruitment portal. Submit a cover letter, CV, degree and grade certificates, a qualifying thesis, a research plan, the names and contact details of two references, and any other supporting documents. Only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be considered.
More information can be found here
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