Call For Applications: Institute of Political Studies PAS Summer 2026 Postdoctoral Position in EU Foreign Policy (3-Year Contract, Warsaw) FUNDED

The Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences has officially announced a call for applications for a 3-year full-time Postdoctoral Position (Assistant Professor) under the NCN OPUS-funded project “Engineering policy change (ENTRE)”. The position is based in Warsaw, Poland, with an expected start date of 1 July 2026 and applications open until 30 March 2026.

The project is hosted by the Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences within its Department of European Studies and is funded by the National Science Centre Poland (NCN).

About the ENTRE Project

The ENTRE project studies how policy change happens in European Union foreign and security policy. It looks at how policy entrepreneurs influence decisions across national, EU and international levels.

The research combines:

• Public policy analysis

• Political science

• International Relations

It focuses on security and defence policy and uses methods such as:

• Process tracing

• Comparative case studies

• Elite surveys

• In-depth interviews

The project is led by Prof. Monika Sus and aims to better understand how political actors drive change inside the EU’s multilevel governance system.

Position Details

Title: Assistant Professor (Postdoctoral Researcher)
Field: Political and Administrative Sciences
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Contract: Full-time employment (36 months)
Salary: PLN 8,000–9,700 gross per month (approx. €1,900–2,300)
Start Date: 1 July 2026
Working Mode: Flexible (on-site / hybrid)

The selected candidate will actively contribute to the empirical and analytical work of the project. A key responsibility will be designing and conducting an elite survey on foreign and security policy preferences.

The researcher will also:

• Participate in project meetings and workshops

• Present findings at international conferences

• Publish research results

• Contribute to the academic life of the Institute

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Hold a PhD in Political Science, Security Studies, European Studies, or a related field

• Have obtained their doctorate in 2026 or within 12 years prior to 1 January 2026

Required Skills and Experience

• Experience in survey design (especially elite or expert surveys)

• Strong quantitative and statistical analysis skills

• Experience in empirical research and data collection

• Knowledge of EU foreign and security policy and NATO

• Strong academic publication record

• Excellent written and spoken English

• Ability to work independently and in international research teams

Additional experience in combining quantitative and qualitative methods or conducting elite interviews will be an advantage.

Application Process

Applicants must submit documents electronically to: [email protected]
Email subject line: "Recruitment: ENTRE PROJECT"

Required documents include:

• Cover letter

• Academic CV with publication list

• Contact details of two referees

• Two key publications (or explanation if unavailable)

• Doctoral diploma or confirmation of degree completion

• Signed declarations as specified in the call

Application Deadline: 30 March 2026
Official Call Published: 19 February 2026

Detailed competition rules are available on the Institute’s official website.

Why This Opportunity Matters

This position offers early-career researchers the chance to work on a major EU-focused research project in a respected public research institution. The role provides stable funding for three years, international academic exposure, and the opportunity to publish high-impact research in the field of European foreign and security policy.

Researchers interested in EU governance, defence policy, and political decision-making processes will find this role especially relevant.

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