Could you please share this with the community? Thank you! I'm looking for two PhD students for my project "Through a Glass, Darkly: How to Study Authoritarian Regimes" funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. This five-year project examines how foreign audiences learn about the inner workings of authoritarian regimes (specifically the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation), emphasizing the role of country experts and their connections. The position will be available from September 1st, 2025 (or by appointment). The first position focuses on implementing a panel survey of China and Russia experts: https://www.ikmb.unibe.ch/unibe/portal/fak_wiso/c_dep_sowi/inst_kmb/content/e39811/e39814/e1707832/job_ad_University_of_Bern_2025_survey_final_ger.pdf The second position focuses on using LLMs to extract political networks from unstructured text: https://www.ikmb.unibe.ch/unibe/portal/fak_wiso/c_dep_sowi/inst_kmb/content/e39811/e39814/e1707831/job_ad_University_of_Bern_2025_llm_final_ger.pdf (Note that there is a currently a third position for a PhD or PostDoc at the Institute of Communication and Media also still open:) https://www.ikmb.unibe.ch/unibe/portal/fak_wiso/c_dep_sowi/inst_kmb/content/e39811/e39814/e1706654/jobad_UniversityofBern_2025_fin2_ger.pdf More information on the first two positions below. I will be at the Sunbelt conference in Paris next week and would be happy to meet up with prospective applicants to answer questions. Best, Franziska Keller PhD Student - extracting political networks using LLMs We offer: * A fully funded PhD position for four years, with a starting salary of approximately 50'000 CHF and no teaching requirements. Compensated teaching assignments may be available, subject to departmental needs. Employment adheres to the regulations of the Canton of Berne. * An attractive work environment with a collegial and international team, committed to supporting young scholars through cooperation and exchange. * The freedom to develop your own ideas for your dissertation and request additional support from the University of Bern's Data Science Lab. Tasks: * Write a dissertation within the broader scope of the project * Adapt open-source LLMs to extract elite networks from unstructured text, including adapting them to Russian and Chinese texts * Help collect publicly available data on the experts and their social media and publications * Help disseminate results and organize stakeholder conferences Requirements: * An above-average completed or soon-to-be completed master's degree in communication science, political science, or other relevant social sciences. Applicants with a master's level background in computer science and a strong interest in social science are also welcome to apply. * Proven quantitative research and data science skills, experience working with ML applications and/or APIs, and interest in using LLMs as research tools. * Excellent English skills (German and French is an asset) * Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within interdisciplinary and cross-institutional teams. * Chinese and/or Russian language skills are an asset, as is demonstrated interest in the politics of those two countries PhD Student - survey and analysis of China and/or Russia experts We offer: * A fully funded PhD position for four years, with a starting salary of approximately 50'000 CHF and no teaching requirements. Compensated teaching assignments may be available, subject to departmental needs. Employment adheres to the regulations of the Canton of Berne. * An attractive work environment with a collegial and international team, committed to supporting young scholars through cooperation and exchange. * The freedom to develop your own ideas for your dissertation and add relevant questions to the surveys of China and Russia experts. Tasks: * Write a dissertation within the broader scope of the project * Implement surveys of China and Russia experts and collect publicly available data on those experts * Help disseminate results and organize stakeholder conferences Requirements: * An above-average completed or soon-to-be completed master's degree in communication science, political science, or other relevant social sciences. * Proven quantitative research and data science skills, experience with survey research * Excellent English skills (German and French is an asset) * Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams. * Chinese and/or Russian language skills are an asset, as is demonstrated interest in the politics of those two countries To apply for these positions, please submit to franziska.keller@unibe.ch<mailto:franziska.keller@unibe.ch> one PDF file with a letter of motivation including research interests and ideas, a current CV including a list of publications (if available), a writing sample (e.g. MA thesis), a copy of university transcripts and degrees, and a letter of recommendation by July 14th, 2025. Late submissions will be considered until the position is filled. Contact Franziska Keller if you have questions regarding this position. The interviews will take place on Monday 28th / Tuesday 29thof July 2025. Franziska Keller, PhD Institute of Media and Communication Studies (icmb), University of Bern www.fbkeller.net<http://www.fbkeller.net/> Recent Publications: "China Watchers" in PS: Political Science & Politics (forthcoming): https://www.chinaexpertsurvey.net/documents/China_Watchers.pdf