Call for applications: Sciences Po Paris PhD Position 2026, ERC GREENLOSS Project [Funded]

The Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics at Sciences Po Paris has officially opened applications for a three-year doctoral contract (PhD position) under the European Research Council (ERC) funded project GREENLOSS (2026–2031), led by Dr Diane Bolet. The position is based in Paris, France, and invites candidates interested in European politics, climate policy, and electoral behaviour to join an international research team.

About the GREENLOSS Project

The project titled “Lost in the Green Transition: Local Collective Greenloss Identity, Anti-Climate Attitudes and Radical Right Support” studies how climate policies affect communities that depend on fossil-fuel industries.

Researchers will examine political attitudes and voting patterns in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Poland. The project combines multiple research approaches, including:

• Interviews and focus groups

• Surveys and survey experiments

• Quantitative text analysis

• Electoral and local-level datasets

The selected PhD researcher will work closely with the principal investigator and contribute to both qualitative and quantitative research.

Role and Responsibilities

The doctoral researcher will be involved in both independent research and collaborative project work.

Key duties include:

• Writing a PhD dissertation connected to the GREENLOSS themes

• Organising and conducting interviews and focus groups in European countries

• Designing and analysing survey datasets

• Working with electoral and contextual data

• Presenting findings at international conferences

• Helping organise workshops and research activities

There is also an optional teaching opportunity (a 24-hour module).

Eligibility Requirements

Academic background

• Strong training in comparative politics or electoral behaviour

• Interest in European climate politics or policy research

Research skills

• Experience with qualitative interviews or fieldwork

• Basic knowledge of R and/or Stata

• Familiarity with surveys and data analysis methods

• Ability to work with statistical or geospatial data (maps)

Languages

• Excellent English required

• German or Polish is helpful but not mandatory

Professional qualities

• Independent research ability

• Team collaboration skills

• Intellectual curiosity and initiative

What the Program Offers

Selected candidates will receive:

• Full-time doctoral employment at Sciences Po Paris

• Internationally competitive salary (first 24 months)

• Funding to attend international conferences

• Workspace in Paris

• Collaboration with an international academic network

• Possibility to teach

• Support for co-authored publications

Application Process

Applicants must apply through the Sciences Po doctoral admissions platform and then confirm their submission.

Required materials:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Cover letter explaining fit and research skills

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: 17 May 2026

Contact Details

Application queries: [email protected]
Project questions: [email protected]

Official Notification

Why You Should Consider It

Climate policy is one of the most debated political topics in Europe today. This PhD position offers the chance to study real-world political change while building academic expertise in elections, public opinion, and environmental politics. Working within an ERC-funded project also gives early career researchers international exposure and collaboration opportunities.

Follow this page for more opportunities