Open positions

    

Visiting researchers and post-docs

We are regularly hosting visiting researchers and post-docs.

Visiting scholars are invited to Tartu to pursue their own work while collaborating with the ERA Chair of e-governance and digital public services and Centre of IT Impact Studies’ researchers and students. Visiting scholars are expected to devote time to collaborative ERA Chair endeavors, to attend ERA Chair events, and contribute to the ERA Chair’s research activities, including co-publishing. Visiting scholars will be listed on our website, will benefit from access to the University of Tartu library and databases, and may be provided with desk space at the ERA Chair, subject to availability.

Visiting scholars are usually appointed for a period of 3-6 months, but exceptions will be considered.

Qualifications

We are particularly interested in candidates who have a research focus on or work-related experience in digital transformation and topics such as the e-taxation, e-voting, e-justice, and cross-border governance.

We welcome applications from PhD researchers, recent PhD recipients or equivalent degrees in the social sciences or in a related field. We particularly encourage applications from women, minorities, and citizens of all countries.

Stipend Information

All visiting stays at the ERA Chair of e-governance and digital public services are currently non-stipendiary appointments.

Application Requirements

• CV/ resume
• Letter of motivation stating clearly how the visiting scholar’s work fits the ERA Chair’s research focus.
• 1-page research plan that the visiting researcher plans to work on during their stay in Tartu, including planned outcomes.

Please submit your applications via email to eceps@ut.ee.

Potential Funding
Visiting scholars and post-docs are responsible for applying for funds for their stay. Please note that funds listed here are only few of available international programmes and are all funded independently of the University of Tartu, thus you should check the websites individually for information pertaining to eligibility, requirements, etc. If applications require institutional contact on our part, we will happily collaborate, however we will reserve the right to pre-screen applicants. 

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Research Fellowship Programme.  We are ready to help promising applicants prepare competitive applications but reserve the right to pre-select candidates based on academic excellence and the suitability of the proposed project. 

Fulbright U.S. Scholar Programs (open to U.S. citizens only).  Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies at the University of Tartu has hosted a number of visiting scholars supported by the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Programs, funded by the U.S. Department of State. The Scholars Programs offer fellowships for research and/or teaching to faculty and administrators at colleges and universities, in addition to journalists, scientists, lawyers, artists, independent scholars, and other professionals for an academic year. 


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WHY JOIN AN ERA CHAIR ON E-GOVERNANCE AND DIGITAL PUBLIC SERVICES IN ESTONIA?!

Estonia is an excellent location for developing a high-level research team on e-governance and digital public services.

Estonia is a frontrunner in the digital provision of public services and has one of the highest shares (92 %) of e-government users in Europe (based on EU Digital Scoreboard). Furthermore, X-road, the backbone of e-Estonia, is a digital information infrastructure that securely connects over 900 organisations daily. A well-established X-road infrastructure allows seamless interoperability of all national data registries and online information systems. All citizens have digital ID-cards for secure authorization and authentication, for digital signatures and for using various services. As of August 2019 there were 1 308 666 active ID cards, which have produced 743 271 864 e-signatures over the years and there have been 5 036 500 817 X-Road transactions (id.ee). This digital infrastructure (along with skills and habits to use it) provides a unique context for research on big data, related services and behavioural practices. In addition, the Estonian government has recently started to actively develop its open/linked data policy and interoperability of all related information systems and databases.

University of Tartu has the modern technological and research infrastructure necessary for e-governance research, including the High-Performance Computing Centre and BigData Research Infrastructure. In 2015, Skytte institute formed the Center of IT Impact Studies (CITIS), which by now has developed into an effective workgroup that is actively participating in EU projects and collaborating with the government and companies developing 2^nd generation e-service solutions. Additionally, the CITIS team contributes directly to the development of the e-state by creating and testing prototypes for new e-services, based on the cross-usage of existing data. Skytte/CITIS also has a good track record providing technical assistance and consultation on developing good governance to countries such as Ukraine and Georgia – this can be built upon with a stronger e- governance component.

The Skytte Institute is very internationalized, with 48.4% of its research and teaching staff coming from outside Estonia, bringing diverse perspectives on important topics and accounting for an inclusive organizational culture.

Estonia with its fast-developing digital infrastructure and use habits and University of Tartu with its modern infrastructure, long-term expertise and involvement in e-governance and digital public services research and development offers a unique and fruitful soil for the ERA Chair development.