Institute of European Studies of the Faculty of International and Political Studies at the Jagiellonian University invites applications for part-time (25%) research assistance position to begin in October 2023 and lasting for 20 months. The position requires residing in Kraków.

The successful candidates will contribute to the research project SHAPEDEM-EU (Rethinking and Reshaping the EU’s democracy support in its Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood) funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme. SHAPEDEM-EU sets out to rethink, reshape, and review the EU’s democracy support policies in its Eastern & Southern Neighbourhoods. Amidst the increasing contestation of the EU and the weakening impact of its policies in the Neighbourhoods, SHAPEDEM-EU applies an entirely novel approach to democracy support. The approach conceives of democracy support as a social practice requiring the collective democratic learning of all stakeholders involved. The consortium will pilot test a Democracy Learning Loop to create new channels and tools for interaction between the EU and its neighbours and transfer these findings into policy recommendations for an improved EU policy toolkit.  SHAPEDEM-EU represents a multi-national and multifaceted research consortium of academic, think tank, and civil society institutions based in the EU and the Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods. The consortium will apply mixed-methods to collect, assess, and generate policies related to democracy support in the six case countries of Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia. We will investigate the role of EU member states, key EU institutions, third country actors, and international organisations. The project results will lead to improved EU practices in the region. In all project phases, the impact of gender equality & digital transformations in democracy support will be examined.

More information can be found here.

JUK leads a work package on mapping democracy support in EU member states and is engaged in other work packages. The research assistant will contribute to a comparative study which investigates democracy support practices and contestation in selected EU member states. They will help with the collection of documents and analysis of discursive patterns in empirical material with the use of qualitative data analysis software (MAXQDA). The successful candidate will also contribute to the JUKs work on EU democracy support activities in Eastern and Southern Neighbourhoods. The expertise in gender equality and/or digital transformation as part of democracy support is an advantage. Part of the research assistance task will be to support researchers in the dissemination activities such as organising events, preparing publications and blog entries.

Applicants should hold a minimum of a MA’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, European Studies or other related areas and have an interest in EU foreign policy, European Neighbourhood Policy and ideally having some experience in research assistance in discursive analysis. Fluency in English and Polish is essential, both orally and written. Excellent analytical skills and an ability to contribute to collaborative research projects are also required for this position. Salary is commensurate with JUK’s regulations. The intended start date is 1 October 2023 or the soonest afterward.

Applications must be submitted by 15 September 2023.

Required application documents:

• 1-page motivation letter,
• Resume including information on the candidate’s scientific, teaching and organisational achievements, personal questionnaire filled in by the candidate,
• copy of the master’s diploma,
• declaration of the candidate, confirming that the Jagiellonian University will be their primary place of work, should they be selected in the selection procedure,
• statement under Article 113 of the Law on higher education and science,
• statement on acknowledging and accepting the rules and regulations concerning intellectual property management and commercialisation in force at the Jagiellonian University.
• two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the candidate's academic achievements,
• copies of certificates of level of knowledge of English (excluding persons for whom English is their mother tongue or if the language of instruction during their academic education was English - please send a copy of your diploma indicating the language of instruction). Please attach the results of any other relevant language proficiency tests to your application.

Declaration forms and personal questionnaire template can be obtained here.

Documents can be delivered by e-mail to the address shapedemeu@uj.edu.pl, title: SHAPEDEM-EU application documents (research assistance) or by mail to: Monika Nowak, Jagiellonian University, Institute of European Studies, Reymonta Street 4, 30-059 Kraków, Poland with the note: SHAPEDEM-EU application documents (research assistance)

Applications which meet all formal requirements are the subject of substantive assessment, during which an interview with the Candidate may be conducted (directly or via electronic communication channels), upon settling the date of the interview with the Candidate.

For further information on a position please contact dr hab. Magdalena Góra, e-mail address: mm.gora@uj.edu.pl

Personal data processing information for job applicants 

According to Article 13  of the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation – hereinafter GDPR), the Jagiellonian University informs that:

1. The Administrator of your personal data is the Jagiellonian University with its registered office in Gołębia 24, 31-007 Kraków, respresented by the Rector of UJ.
2. The Jagiellonian University appointed the Data Protection Officer www.iod.uj.edu.pl, Gołębia 24, 30-007 Kraków. The Officer can be contacted by email: iod@uj.edu.pl or at the telephone number 12 663 12 25.
3. Your personal data will be processed in order to:

a. conduct recruitment process for the position specified in the advertisement – as part of the legal obligation of the Administrator pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit c of the GDPR in connection with the Polish Labour Code;

b.conduct recruitment process for the position specified in the advertisement based on your consent pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit a of the GDPR – your consent is granted by the clear action of submitting your CV with the Administrator. The consent to the processing of personal data concerns data that you voluntarily provide as part of your CV, which do not result from Polish Labour Code.

4. The obligation to provide your personal data results from the law (it applies to personal data processed under Article 6 (1) lit c of the GDPR). Failure to provide you personal data will result in your inability to take part in the recruitment process. Submission of personal data processed on the basis of consent (Article 6 (1) lit a of the GDPR) is voluntary.
5. Your data will be processed during the recruitment period. In the event of not concluding the contract with you, your data will be deleted after the recruitment process.
6. You have the right of access to the content of your personal data, as well as the right to correct, delete, restrict processing, transfer, object to processing – on the terms and conditions set out in the GDPR.
7. If the processing is based on consent, you have the right to withdraw the consent at any time, which shall not affect the lawfulness of processing based on the consent given before the withdrawal. Withdrawal of consent to the processing of personal data can be sent by e-mail to: monika.a.nowak@uj.edu.pl or by post to the following address: Institute of European Studies, Jagiellonian University, W. Reymonta 4 Street,
   30-059 Kraków or you can withdraw your consent in person at room 536, Institute of European Studies, Jagiellonian University,  W. Reymonta 4 Street, 30-059 Kraków.
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9. You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Inspector General for the Protection of Personal Data, if you feel that the processing of your personal data violates the GDPR regulations.