Postdoctoral Research Associate (EDGE) | King's College London

Postdoctoral Research Associate (EDGE) | King's College London

King’s College London, within the Department of European & International Studies, School of Politics and Economics, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position to join the prestigious Horizon Europe-funded project EDGE – Enhancing Democratic Support under Conditions of Geographic and Intersectional Inequalities in Europe.

This is an exciting opportunity for researchers interested in democracy, inequality, public opinion, survey research, social data science, and European politics to contribute to a major international research collaboration addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing modern democracies.

Position Details

About the EDGE Project

The EDGE Project (Enhancing Democratic Support under Conditions of Geographic and Intersectional Inequalities in Europe) investigates a critical question for contemporary democracies:

How do economic inequalities—both objective and perceived—influence citizens’ support for democracy?

The project seeks to:

• Advance understanding of how different forms of inequality affect democratic attitudes.

• Identify the conditions under which inequalities undermine or reinforce democratic support.

• Evaluate policy interventions that can strengthen democratic resilience.

• Examine how geographic, territorial, and intersectional inequalities shape political attitudes.

• Explore how social identities, territorial contexts, media environments, and digital networks influence perceptions of inequality and democratic engagement.

The project is jointly led by:

• Prof. Alexia Katsanidou, GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences

• Prof. Sofia Vasilopoulou, King’s College London

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Contribute to the design and implementation of large-scale research activities within the EDGE project.

• Support the collection, management, and analysis of survey data.

• Design and analyze survey experiments.

• Conduct quantitative and empirical research related to democratic support and inequality.

• Collaborate with international project partners across Europe.

• Co-author academic publications and research outputs.

• Prepare reports, policy briefs, and dissemination materials.

• Organize workshops, conferences, and public engagement activities.

• Present research findings at academic and policy forums.

Candidate Profile

Essential Requirements

Applicants should possess:

• A PhD (completed or near completion) in Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Public Policy, Social Research, Data Science, or a related discipline.

• Strong knowledge of quantitative research methods.

• Experience in survey design, survey analysis, or experimental research.

• Excellent analytical and communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and collaborate within multidisciplinary teams.

Desirable Qualifications

Preference may be given to candidates with expertise in:

• Survey methodology

• Experimental research

• Public opinion studies

• Democratic attitudes and political behavior

• Social data science

• Statistical programming and data analysis

• European politics and comparative political research

• Inequality and social stratification research

Research Areas

The project sits at the intersection of several important research themes, including:

• Democracy and Democratic Support

• Political Behavior

• Public Opinion

• Economic Inequality

• Geographic Inequality

• Social and Intersectional Inequalities

• Digital Media and Political Communication

• European Politics

• Survey and Experimental Methods

• Social Data Science

Why Join King’s College London?

King’s College London is one of the world's leading research-intensive universities, offering researchers access to:

• An internationally recognized academic environment.

• Extensive research networks across Europe and beyond.

• Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

• World-class facilities and resources.

• Strong support for publication, professional development, and career progression.

• Engagement with policymakers, civil society organizations, and international research institutions.

About the Department

The Department of European & International Studies is part of King's renowned School of Politics and Economics and is recognized for research excellence in:

• European Politics

• International Relations

• Comparative Politics

• Political Economy

• Public Policy

• Democracy and Governance

The department hosts a vibrant community of scholars working on contemporary political and societal challenges across Europe and globally.

Researchers interested in democracy, inequality, public opinion, and quantitative social research are encouraged to apply for this impactful postdoctoral opportunity at King’s College London.