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Looking for Part-Time Research Assistants

2022-05-21T08:47:17+02:00

You want to better understand how politics affects economics and how economics affects politics? Specifically, you are interested in the Rise of China, Global Politics, and Geopolitics? You love reading the news about what is going on in the world? If yes, then apply for a research assistant position at the Institute for International Political Economy.

The position is part of an externally funded research project on ‘International Coercion, Debt Relief, and Land Transfers.’ The project analyses the implications of increased sovereign borrowing from new creditors, such as China, Brazil, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and other emerging economies. However, developing countries now struggle to repay these loans and consider alternative strategies for dealing with mounting debt problems. Besides commonly known strategies such as defaulting on debt, seeking debt relief, or implementing austerity policies to manage debt repayment, a new phenomenon has recently made headlines: Borrowing governments giving land to creditor countries to repay loans. Examples include Sri Lanka, where a Chinese state-owned firm obtained a 99-year lease for Hambantota port in 2017. What explains different debt management strategies by developing countries? We currently cannot answer this question as we lack data on land transactions. Your position addresses this limitation by systematically collecting data on land transactions.

The Job

Job Title: Research assistant
Time: Part-time, 10 hours a week. Flexible hours.
Salary: 552.55 Euro gross per month.
Benefits include vacation time, social insurance benefits, etc.
Start Date: June 1st, 2022.
End Date: The position is initially limited until August 31, 2022, but there is the possibility of extension.
Place of Work: Remote, with occasional in-person meetings in Vienna.
UPDATE from the legal department of the university: Applicants must have tax residency in Austria.

Job Duties:

Conduct data collection (reading and coding newspaper articles) under the supervision and support of the Project Team.
Assist in the design and continuous improvement of the data collection process.
Conduct desk research to create in-depth case studies of specific transactions.
Potentially help apply the data collection process to a different language other than English.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

Interest in the research topic
Excellent knowledge of both written and verbal English.
Strong attention to details
Reliability
Proven ability to work pro-actively, independently, and efficiently
Well-organized hands-on mentality.
Excellent skills in analytical thinking
Computer literacy

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

Previous experience with coding text sources a plus
Knowledge of a language other than German and English is an advantage, but not a requirement.

Application process:

To apply, please send the following documents to nikolett.somogyi@wu.ac.at:

Cover letter with a short description of your prior experiences and how they relate to the research project. You should also outline what makes you suitable for the project and the position in question.
Your CV including prior education, relevant work experience, etc.
Please include evidence (such as letters of recommendation or names of references) that demonstrate your reliability, attention to details, and ability to work independently, if available.
If applicable, evidence of instances where you coded primary sources.
Evidence of English skills.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in further assessment and selection process.

We explicitly recognize the positive value of diversity. We aim to recruit the person who is most suited to the job and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds – people of all ages, gender, sexual orientations, nationalities, religions and beliefs. We particularly encourage applications from women, disabled and minority candidates, as these groups frequently are underrepresented throughout the academic sector. We also want to emphasize that our work environment offers some flexibility to suit your particular life circumstances. This includes schedule (working hours and days, religious holidays, etc.) and location flexibility. In addition, WU offers free training and career development courses to encourage employee career and personal development.

Job Opportunity: Administrative Assistant

2021-12-30T22:09:49+01:00

The Department of Socioeconomics at the Vienna University of Economics is hiring an Administrative Assistant to work with Prof. Jonas Bunte in the International Political Economy unit.

The position is part-time with 20 hours/week. Start date can be as early as February 1, 2022, but there is some flexibility regarding the start date. The position is initially limited to a period of 6 months, but will be converted into an unlimited position upon satisfactory performance. The minimum monthly gross salary amounts to €1,096.60, but this salary may be adjusted based on job-related prior work experience. Strong skills in spoken and written English required, German skills a plus. The deadline for applying is January 12, 2022.

We explicitly recognize the positive value of diversity. We aim to recruit the person who is most suited to the job and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds – people of all ages, gender, sexual orientations, nationalities, religions and beliefs. We particularly encourage applications from women, disabled and minority candidates, as these groups frequently are underrepresented throughout the academic sector. We also want to emphasize that our work environment offers some flexibility to suit your particular life circumstances. This includes schedule (working hours and days, religious holidays, etc.) and location (some home office possible) flexibility. In addition, WU offers free training and career development courses to encourage employee career and personal development.

https://www.wu.ac.at/karriere/arbeiten-an-der-wu/jobangebote?yid=1237

Feel free to forward the info to anyone who might be interested. Also, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions about these positions.

Hiring a Project Staff member

2021-12-28T22:09:06+01:00

I am hiring one Project Staff member for our project “International Coercion, Debt Relief, and Land Transactions” at the Vienna University of Economics.

The project analyses the implications of increased sovereign borrowing from new creditors, such as China, Brazil, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and other emerging economies, and how it is related to land transactions.

We are looking for applicants with a very good knowledge of data management, some background in coding newspapers, and possibly some experience leading a team of research assistants.

The position is initially limited until December 31, 2022, but there might be the possibility of an extension. The gross salary is 2,228 Euros a month, or about 2.500 US Dollars. The position can start as early as February 1, 2022, but there is some flexibility regarding the start date. High proficiency in English required, German skills not necessary but a plus. The deadline for applying is January 12, 2022.

https://www.wu.ac.at/karriere/arbeiten-an-der-wu/jobangebote?yid=1236

Feel free to forward the info to anyone who might be interested. Also, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions about these positions.

PhD Positions!

2021-12-15T16:16:53+01:00

I am hiring three PhD students in International Political Economy to work on the politics of debt, finance, investment, or trade at the Vienna University of Economics in Austria.

The position is guaranteed for 6 years. The yearly gross salary is 31.200 Euros (2,228 Euros, 14 months a year) or about 35.000 US Dollars. The position can start as early as March 1, 2022, but there is flexibility regarding the start date. High proficiency in English required, German skills not necessary but a plus. Generous conference travel budget and research support available. If necessary, the university also offers assistance with the process of obtaining a visa. The deadline for applying is January 12, 2022.

https://www.wu.ac.at/karriere/arbeiten-an-der-wu/jobangebote?yid=1235

Feel free to forward the info to master’s students who might be interested. If you are one of those students, feel free send in your application! Also, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions about these positions.