Call for expressions of interest for a 4-year PhD scholarship within project GPOL “The dynamics of gender polarization” at the Autonomous University of Barcelona
We invite expression of interest for a full-time FPI predoctoral contract to pursue a PhD thesis within the research group Democracy, Elections and Citizenship (DEC). Eva Anduiza, as PI of the project “The dynamics of gender polarization” (PID2024-155487OB-I00), will act as supervisor of the successful candidate (co-supervision is possible).
We are seeking a highly motivated person interested in developing a doctoral thesis in Political Science on a topic related to political attitudes and behavior. Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Political Science or a Social Science discipline (Sociology, Economics, Psychology, Communication) adding to 300 ECTS credits, and have a strong methodological background. Proficiency in English and Spanish is also required. The selected candidate will contribute to all tasks of the the research project, including data analysis and publications’ preparation.
We offer a four-year predoctoral research contract (FPI) for the completion of a doctoral thesis within the PPIR program of the UAB. The selected candidate will join an established research group (DEC) within the Department of Political Science and the Institute for Govern and Public Policy of the UAB. DEC provides an engaging and supportive environment to pursue a PhD, providing opportunities for advanced methodological training, attendance to international conferences and seminars, publications in high-impact journals, and access to unique resources and data.
Interested candidates can submit to gr.dec@uab.cat a complete CV (including BA and MA grades and contact details of two references), and a motivation letter (outlining their interest in the project and a brief outline of their ideas for their PhD thesis) at their earliest convenience. The official selection process (details will be published in due course) is expected to take place between October and December, and the contract is tentatively scheduled to start in the first months of 2026.
GPOL investigates the dynamics of gender-related polarization in Spain, conceptualized in three dimensions: the growing gaps in attitudes and behaviors between men and women, tensions around gender issues (including questions related to representation, recognition, redistribution, and sexual and reproductive rights), and ambivalence in attitudes towards feminism. These dimensions serve to examine the processes driving polarization, its evolution over time, and its implications for voting and political support. The project will examin whether attitudes and preferences are based on specific considerations, partisanship, or different feminist frames, and how they become polarized, affecting political competition. The project employs a longitudinal methodological approach with data from the POLAT panel and media sources, complemented with qualitative and cross-sectional evidence.