Postdoctoral researcher in sociology

Offer Description

The CNRS-Centre Maurice Halbwachs is recruiting a Postdoctoral researcher in sociology. This postdoctoral position is part of the TRIBECA research program (Tackling the Responsibility of International Business as a Transnational Cause), which was awarded funding under the Franco-German FRAL grant program, jointly funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) and the German Research Foundation (DFG) for a three-year period beginning September 1, 2026.

Coordinated by Marieke Louis (Sciences Po Lille/Marc Bloch Center) and Marie Huber (University of Leipzig), the TRIBECA consortium brings together three institutional partners: the Marc Bloch Center in Berlin (Marieke Louis, Sandrine Kott), the CNRS-Centre Maurice Halbwachs in Paris (Laure Bereni), and the University of Leipzig (Marie Huber, Dmitri van den Bersselaar).

It is particularly interested in how large corporations, employer organizations, and other private-sector coalitions have become “cause entrepreneurs” who have helped establish CSR as the dominant framework for understanding the relationships between the state, civil society, and the market.

The postdoctoral fellow will conduct their research in close collaboration with members of the French team of the TRIBECA program, and primarily with Laure Bereni at CNRS-Centre Maurice Halbwachs in Paris.

The selected candidate will conduct research on transnational corporate networks specifically dedicated to CSR. These networks—which vary greatly in size, level of organization, and scope—share a common commitment to promoting “responsible” business practices, whether environmental or social, at the industry and/or regional level. These networks have emerged over the past thirty years, spurred by multinationals, organizations traditionally representing employer interests, national governments, and international institutions such as the European Union and the United Nations.

Alongside reviewing the literature on the research topics, the postdoctoral researcher will conduct two closely related fieldwork studies: the first on a European business network focused on corporate social responsibility (CSR Europe); a second on a transnational business network aiming to develop responsible initiatives in the clothing industry (e.g., The Fashion Pact, The Sustainable Apparel Coalition).

Using interviews, observations, and the analysis of documentary sources as primary methods, the postdoctoral researcher will examine the history of these business networks, their members, their organizational structures, their day-to-day practices, and their relationships with regulatory political institutions and other national and transnational actors. Research will be conducted in close collaboration with other members of the French TRIBECA team.

The successful candidate will work closely with other members of the TRIBECA team to analyze materials, prepare and present papers, and write articles based on this research.

The successful candidate is also expected to participate in the TRIBECA team's collective activities (such as helping to coordinate the team, organizing academic events, and collectively disseminating research findings, etc.).

The successful candidate will be part of two distinct work environments. On a day-to-day basis, they will work in Paris at the Centre Maurice Halbwachs (CMH), where their primary point of contact will be Laure Bereni, and where they will be able to participate in scholarly activities related to their research interests (seminars and other academic events).

A workspace (shared office) will be provided at the CMH, 48 boulevard Jourdan, 75014 Paris.

The Centre Maurice Halbwachs is a research center located in Paris, affiliated with four French academic institutions: CNRS, École des Hautes Études en Science Sociales, École Normale Supérieure, and INRAE. It has approximately fifty permanent researchers and about one hundred doctoral students. With a broad-based approach, the Centre Maurice Halbwachs explores the recomposition of social relations through interdisciplinarity (members are primarily sociologists and political scientists, but also include historians and anthropologists) and methodological openness (ranging from longitudinal analyses of databases to ethnographic studies).

The successful candidate will also become part of the Franco-German TRIBECA research team. They will interact closely with other members of the consortium, particularly those on the French team: Laure Bereni (Research Professor, CNRS-CMH), Marieke Louis (HDR Associate Professor, Sciences Po Lille/Marc Bloch Center), Sandrine Kott (Honorary Professor at the University of Geneva and Global Distinguished Professor at New York University), Ivàn Ladoux-Martinez (Ph.D. candidate, CERAPS, Marc Bloch Center), and another researcher currently being recruited (postdoctoral fellow, Marc Bloch Center). The successful candidate will participate in scientific meetings and events organized periodically by the team in France, Germany, or other European countries

Where to apply

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR8097-ARLMOL-007/Default.aspx

Requirements

• Research Field: Political sciences
• Education Level: PhD or equivalent
• Research Field: Sociology
• Education Level: PhD or equivalent
• Research Field: Cultural studies
• Education Level: PhD or equivalent
• Languages: FRENCH
• Level: Basic
• Research Field: Political sciences
• Years of Research Experience: None
• Research Field: Sociology
• Years of Research Experience: None
• Research Field: Cultural studies
• Years of Research Experience: None

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

A sociologist or political scientist with a solid understanding of political and economic sociology, particularly the sociology of large corporations and interest groups, and familiarity with the literature on CSR. Expertise in the sociology of employer organizations at the transnational level is a plus.

• Excellent command of qualitative social science methods: in-depth interviews, observations, and analysis of documentary sources.
• Ability to conduct fieldwork in challenging contexts (built on prior research experience in such settings).
• Ability to develop and work with databases (organizations, individuals).
• Ability to analyze research materials with regard to empirical and theoretical contributions to the relevant research fields;
• Proficiency in social science writing;
• Ability to work in English, both for field research and for interactions with an international team, as well as for communicating and publishing results. Proficiency in German is not required but may be an asset.

Website for additional job details: https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR8097-ARLMOL-007/Default.aspx

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: Centre Maurice Halbwachs
• Country: France
• City: PARIS 14

Contact

• City: PARIS 14
• Website: http://www.cmh.ens.fr/