"Postdoc EU Economic Governance"

Job Summary

Join us for a postdoctoral position on the politics of European Union economic governance. The position involves studying the major political dynamics shaping Europe’s reform capacities, focusing on fiscally conservative member states. It is part of the project "Towards a Resilient European Union? Post-pandemic Economic Governance Amidst Politicization", funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The project examines member state compliance with EU reform recommendations and the impact of the European Recovery and Resilience Fund on reform efforts.

Responsibilities

• Conduct innovative research through theoretically informed (comparative) case studies on socio-economic and/or fiscal policies.
• Analyze factors such as public opinion, actor preferences, coalitions, politicization strategies, and bargaining dynamics, particularly regarding fiscally conservative member states like Germany and the Netherlands.
• Use research methods including process tracing, document analysis, and interviews with key actors from the EU and member states.
• Undertake research visits to Brussels and fieldwork in relevant member states.
• Work in close collaboration with Prof. Dr. Markus Haverland and supervise a junior research assistant.
• Present findings at international conferences and co-author journal articles in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to activities aimed at increasing the societal impact of the project’s results.
• Reserve 10 percent of time for teaching activities.

Qualifications and Requirements

• PhD in political science, political economy, or a related discipline.
• Research focus and/or interest in EU socio-economic and/or fiscal governance.
• Track record in publishing in leading academic journals.
• Willingness to engage in social impact activities.
• Strong language skills in English and in either Dutch or German.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team setting.

What the Employer Offers

• A full-time position (1 fte) starting 1 October 2025 or earlier, based in the Team Policy, Politics and Society at Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB).
• Contract for 1 year, extendable by seven months if suitable.
• Salary ranging from €4,537 to €6,209 gross per month, based on experience (Scale 11, CAO-NU).
• Excellent working conditions including 41 days of paid leave (for a 40-hour contract), 8% holiday pay, 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and discounts on various benefits.
• Sustainable, inclusive, and diverse work environment with opportunities for development, such as a personal career budget and access to university resources.
• Good pension scheme, collective insurances, and compensation for travel and other expenses.
• Support for parental leave and relocation if applicable.