The Leuven International and European Studies research unit (LINES) at KU Leuven is offering a postdoctoral assistant position embedded within its Jean Monnet Centre for EU External Action in a World in Transition (EU ExAct). LINES is a vibrant, internationally oriented research group within the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, dedicated to innovative and societally relevant research on European and international politics and governance. The group’s research spans European political processes, global relations, and external perceptions of Europe, with a focus on justice, responsibility, contestation, and cooperation across diverse regions including Africa, the Balkans, the USA, China, and international organizations.

EU ExAct provides a hub for developing new theoretical and empirical approaches to EU external action, addressing topics such as geopolitics, European strategic autonomy, EU diplomacy, parliamentary diplomacy, institutional adaptation to crises, and new forms of bilateral and multilateral cooperation (BRICS+, East Asia, transatlantic relations, etc.).

The successful postdoctoral candidate will contribute to ongoing research and teaching activities, collaborate on developing competitive research proposals (especially for European Framework Programmes like Horizon Europe), and help shape the future research agenda of LINES. Responsibilities include conducting high-quality research aligned with LINES and EU ExAct core themes, organizing academic service and outreach activities (workshops, conferences, research sessions), fostering dialogues between practitioners and researchers, and supporting junior researchers and PhD students. Occasional teaching at BA and MA levels (in English and/or Dutch) is expected.

The position also involves research management duties, such as developing research policy, writing collective proposals, and coordinating projects in close dialogue with the head of the research unit. Candidates are encouraged to apply for individual postdoctoral projects (e.g., via Research Foundation Flanders, FWO) and to develop their own research agenda within the group.

Applicants must have recently obtained a PhD in Political Science and/or International Relations (after 1 October 2024), with an excellent academic record (at least three publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and ongoing submissions). Experience with qualitative and quantitative methods, theory-building, successful grant applications, and collaboration is essential. Strong organizational, project management, and communication skills (English C1/C2) are required, as is experience in university-level teaching. Three academic letters of recommendation must be provided.

The offer includes a 2-year contract (0.8 to 1.0 FTE) starting around April 2026, with salary and benefits according to KU Leuven’s postdoctoral staff scales (salary scale 44). KU Leuven provides a wide range of training opportunities for young researchers, including language, personal, and managerial skills development. The university is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, and offers support for accessibility and individual needs.

For further information, contact Prof. dr. Kolja Raube at [email protected]. Applications should be submitted via the KU Leuven job portal before 20 January 2026. More details about working at KU Leuven can be found on their website.