Research and Expertise Centre for Survey Methodology
Organisation / Company Universitat Pompeu Fabra Department Political and Social Sciences Laboratory Research and Expertise Centre for Survey Methodology Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
* Areyou thinking about spending one or two years as a postdoc in a very active and international research environment?
* Are you a highly motivated and enthusiastic researcher looking for a competitive project?
Dr. Diana Zavala-Rojas is a social statistician interested in all aspects of the human data lifecycle. She is a specialist in multinational, multiregional and multilingual comparative surveys. She is the Deputy Director (external relations) of the European Social Survey, European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ESS ERIC). Furthermore, she is the Deputy Director of RECSM.
Topics of interest
We will explore the transition by the ESS ERIC from face-to-face (F2F) data collection mode to self-completion (SC) mode using online and paper questionnaires. This will inevitably imply a break in the time series, as not only will the way of collecting data change, but the visual presentation will also have to be adapted. For example, typical long scales used in survey projects may not be suitable for environments that include small screens. This work will pilot state-of-the-art methods to carry out this transition and maintain the comparability of time series both over time and between modes. Methodologies for comparing response scales have been a topic of study in the survey literature for a long time. Some of the assumptions of the most common methods, such as the Linear Stretch (LS) method (Hull 1922, Veenhoven 1993) and the Semantic Judgement of Fixed Word Value (SJFWV) method (Jones and Thurstone 1955, Lodge 1981), would compromise their applicability to ESS data; for example, assuming that the distance between categories on 11-point scales is the same as on shorter 5-point scales, or that responses are not influenced by the extremity of the verbal labels at the endpoints. Some more recent methods, such as the Reference Distribution (RD) method (DeJonge and Veenhoven 2013), based on a latent variable framework, have been applied to long time series (De Jonge et al. 2021), such as the Life in Nation survey in Japan (1958–2007). However, they have not been applied on a large scale, that is, in many countries, on numerous different topics, with various types of scales and between modes at the same time.
What is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship?
The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF ) scheme is a prestigious European funding programme that supports mobility (you will have to live in Barcelona), career development, and training within and beyond Europe. The scheme offers highly competitive salary and research costs. MSCA-PF involves a joint application between the researcher and the Pompeu Fabra University to develop the research and training programme that the researcher will undertake under the supervision of Dr. Diana Zavala-Rojas. Ultimately, MSCA- PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors.
If successful, researchers will receive a 2-year full time employment contract with Pompeu Fabra University as well as research funds (24.000€).
The fellowship is for a postdoctoral researcher (PhD at the time of the call's deadline: 9/9/2026) who is in the first 8 years of her/his postdoctoral experience (exceptions apply) moving to Barcelona from another country. As a mandatory condition, if selected, the fellow will have to live in Barcelona or its surrounding area during the fellowship (except for research stays, attendance to conferences, etc.).
Applicants from any country may apply, but must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the submission deadline (9/9/2026).
We are looking for a candidate with the following profile
* PhD in Political or Social Sciences with a focus on quantitative methods and/or computational social sciences.
* Demonstrated expertise in advanced statistical analysis employing R and/or Python.
* Proven track record of academic publications clearly and effectively communicating the results of statistical analyses.
* The position is in English; oral and written fluency is a requirement. Knowledge of Catalan is a plus.
* A general aptitude and interest in using computer-based tools and software is essential. We employ and develop digital tools and methods, so technical adaptability and a willingness to learn are necessary.
Selection process
Applicants should check that they fulfil all the eligibility criteria and then send an expression of interest consisting of a CV, a summary presentation of the research proposal (c. 2pages)and the contact information of at least two referees.
Expressions of interest must be submitted by March 15th by email. The title of the e‑mail must be \"MSCA application – Diana Zavala-Rojas – your name and surname\". Proposals will be preselected on the basis of internal evaluation.
Support program
In addition to receiving multiple feedback from your supervisor, if chosen to submit the proposal to the European Commission, you will also receive advice from a dedicated research advisor at UPF's Research Service, who will provide you feedback. Additionally, you will be invited to join an internal Info session where you will get to know the do's and don'ts of these fellowships.
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