PROFESSORSHIP: Political Psychology, in particular Empirical Negotiation Research and Security [...]

HUMANISTIC. SUSTAINABLE. ENTREPRENEURIAL.

Overview

Leuphana University of Lüneburg invites applications for a Junior Professorship (W1) in Political Psychology, in particular Empirical Negotiation Research and Security Studies (W1 with optional Tenure Track leading to W2) at the School of Public Affairs. The position is based at the Institute of Political Science in the newly established Leuphana Centre for Cooperative Security (LCCS) and aims to develop a research profile at the intersection of political psychology, empirical negotiation research and security studies.

Responsibilities

• Develop an innovative, internationally visible research agenda focusing on the psychological mechanisms of political negotiations in security‐related fields such as diplomacy, mediation, peace and conflict, deterrence and crisis bargaining.
• Conduct research using a broad spectrum of methodological approaches, including multivariate regression, quasi‑experiments, qualitative analysis (archives, interviews, document analysis) and computational methods (text and discourse analysis of political communication).
• Publish peer‑reviewed articles and communicate results to public and non‑academic stakeholders.
• Seek and secure external funding for research projects, including larger proposals as part of the LCCS.
• Teach electives and methods courses at the bachelor and master level in political science and psychology.
• Supervise theses and contribute to doctoral training in political science and psychology.
• Participate in the development of bachelor, master and doctoral programmes and uphold Leuphana’s high educational standards.
• Work in a research‑based, interdisciplinary environment and contribute to Leuphana’s educational philosophy that promotes student activation and gender and diversity awareness.

Qualifications

• University degree and PhD in psychology, political psychology or a discipline relevant to the position.
• Early‑career researcher with a promising research agenda that combines political psychology, psychological negotiation analysis and security studies.
• Track record of peer‑reviewed publications in recognized outlets.
• Experience in teaching at bachelor or master level and a commitment to research‑based education.
• Experience in communicating research to public and non‑academic audiences is an asset.
• Experience in acquiring externally funded projects and a strategy for obtaining additional funding during the tenure track.
• Excellent written and spoken English; courses at Leuphana are taught largely in English.

Teaching Load and Evaluation

The junior professorship (pay grade W1) has a standard teaching load of 4 LVS. It is initially limited to a period of three years, renewable for an additional three years based on a positive academic evaluation following Leuphana’s mid‑term evaluation guidelines. If funding permits, a tenure track may lead to a permanent W2 professorship.

Benefits

Academic community with interdisciplinary dialogue, emphasis on research‑based education, and commitment to gender and diversity in teaching and research.

Equal Opportunity

Leuphana University is an equal opportunities employer. The university encourages applications from women and considers severely disabled applicants and applicants with equivalent status preferentially in accordance with legal provisions.

Application

Please submit your application (without a photo) in two PDF files: (a) letter of motivation, CV, copies of academic degrees, up to three recent course evaluations, and a research concept; (b) two most relevant publications. The research concept should describe, in not more than three pages, your plan to align your current research with the advertised position over the six years of the Junior Professorship. Include the completed application form (Excel file) in English.

Send your application by email to beko@leuphana.de with the subject line “Political Psychology (W1)” or to the President of Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Post Box 2440, Lüneburg D‑21314, by September 09, 2026. Physically sent documents will not be accepted.

By submitting your application, you consent to your data being stored and processed for the recruitment process. Please note our Data Protection Notice for Applicants (in English or German).