Jakob Tolstrup

Aarhus University is advertising three 2-year full-time postdoctoral positions in the Department of Political Science (Aarhus BSS) for researchers interested in autocracy research , political science , communication studies , computer science/data science , and related fields. The positions are embedded in two major projects: CULTS , focused on the drivers and consequences of personality cults in contemporary autocracies, and Communicating Dictators , which studies how dictators communicate publicly to shape perceptions of regime strength, durability, and resolve. The postdocs will work with project leaders Jakob Tolstrup (Aarhus University) and Alexander Baturo (Dublin City University). The research environment emphasizes collaboration, co-authored publications, and opportunities for intellectual growth, mentoring, and independent research. The team also supports data collection, workshops, conferences, additional training, and academic networking. There are three possible tracks: text-as-data methods for post-Soviet autocracies, survey experiments on citizen responses in autocracies, and text-as-data methods focused on Xi Jinping and Chinese elites/media. Strong skills in scraping, organizing and analyzing large text corpora, survey experiment design and analysis, and coding in R and Python are especially relevant. Regional expertise in the post-Soviet region and/or China is highly valued, and language skills in Russian, Chinese, or Arabic may be an advantage depending on the track. Applicants should hold or be close to completing a PhD in political science or a related discipline. The position also includes teaching the equivalent of one MA course per year. The start date is flexible between September 2026 and February 2027 , and the application deadline is 2026-06-01 . Funding is provided through the Velux Foundation and the Independent Research Fund Denmark, with support for travel, conferences, training, and research assistance. Competitive salary is offered, and one or two positions may receive a possible 1-year extension.