University for Continuing Education Krems The University for Continuing Education Krems specializes in part-time academic continuing education. As a public university, it works with its expertise in teaching and research to overcome societal challenges. The university combines many years of experience in continuing academic education with innovation and the highest quality standards in research and teaching.
As an employer, we offer around 700 employees an inspiring and flexible working environment in the unique Wachau World Heritage region.
Position Postdoctoral Researcher (Post-Doc)
– part‑time, 30 hrs./week, three years, starting 1 November 2026 (or shortly thereafter). The role is 50 % involved in the ERC project “Ethics in Action” and 50 % in other tasks within the Department of Migration and Globalisation.
Project Description This position is part of the ERC-funded project
Ethics in Action: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas of Migrant Solidarity, led by Professor Julia Mourão Permoser. The project develops a novel, actor‑centred framework to understand how policymakers and civil society actors navigate ethical dilemmas in real‑world contexts. It investigates ethics in action – the everyday processes of decision‑making, justification and compromise in moral conflict contexts.
The project brings together political theory and empirical research: qualitative fieldwork across multiple regions examines five types of actors – national policymakers, local policymakers, labour unions, faith‑based organisations and movement facilitators – in the Global North and Global South to identify patterns and develop new theory of decision‑making under value conflict.
The team includes the PI, a coordinating postdoctoral researcher, and five researchers (postdoctoral fellows and PhD candidates), each leading a complementary empirical work package.
Your Role in the Project You will lead
Work Package 3, conducting a comparative study of the ethical dilemmas faced by local policymakers in sanctuary/solidarity cities in the
United States and Latin America .
Design and carry out your own comparative research within a major ERC project
Conduct fieldwork in diverse and politically relevant urban contexts
Contribute to theory‑building at the intersection of empirical research and political theory
Collaborate within an ambitious, international and interdisciplinary research team
Your Tasks
Lead Work Package 3 of the ERC Project
Select cities to investigate as case studies within the project’s comparative framework
Conduct qualitative fieldwork (interviews, participant observation, policy analysis)
Publish high‑quality research in leading international journals
Contribute to collaborative outputs, including an edited volume and a practitioner‑oriented handbook
Engage with academic and non‑academic stakeholders in the fieldwork regions
Mentor junior researchers and contribute to a dynamic team environment
Participate in conferences, workshops and public engagement activities
Contribute to other departmental affairs and activities
Your Profile
Completed PhD in political science, sociology, public policy, urban studies, migration studies or a related field (certificate available by 15 October 2026)
Excellent track record of academic publications in the migration field
Expertise in urban governance and the multi‑level governance of migration
Experience with comparative research designs
Strong command of qualitative research methods
Excellent knowledge of the United States and Latin America
Excellent analytical and writing skills (proven by two writing samples)
Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research
Excellent command of English (min. C1)
Excellent command of Spanish and/or Portuguese (min. C1)
Willingness to relocate to Krems, Vienna or surrounding areas
Desirable Criteria
Previous research on sanctuary cities or local solidarity policies in the United States and/or Latin America
Experience working with sensitive data and ethical research standards
Familiarity with debates on the ethics of migration policy and ability to link empirical research with political theory debates
Previous experience working in collaborative research projects
Your Perspective
Part‑time position (30 hrs./week) initially limited to three years
Salary of €5,014.30 gross per month (14 ×) on a full‑time basis
Classification as scientific project staff member according to § 49 VwGr. B1, collective agreement for universities
Opportunity to shape your own research agenda within a high‑profile ERC project
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
Strong platform for career development and future academic opportunities
Innovative working environment at the Campus Krems
Flexible working hours and option to work from home (max. two days)
Comprehensive internal training and coaching opportunities
Wide range of support services to balance work and family life
Health promotion programmes and University Sports Institute offerings
Equal Opportunity Statement The University for Continuing Education Krems sees high innovation potential in the diversity of its employees and is committed to diversity as a guiding principle. We therefore explicitly invite people with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses who meet the required profile criteria to apply for the position.
Application Applications must be received online by 24 August 2026 via the university’s online tool: https://www.donau-uni.ac.at/vacancies.
Your application should include:
Cover letter (max. 2 pages)
Curriculum Vitae
Research outline (2–3 pages) describing how you would design and implement Work Package 3
Copies of degrees and transcripts
Two writing samples (preferably single‑authored academic articles or chapters)
Three contact details for references
The research outline should address:
The ethical dilemmas likely to arise in the context of sanctuary/solidarity cities in the United States and Latin America
The proposed research design and methodology
Relevant theoretical and empirical literature, including additional sources beyond the project proposal
For further details, please consult the project proposal.
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