Postdoctoral Position in Democratic Resilience, Influence, Interference and Intimidation at ESSEC Business School ESSEC Business School in France

ESSEC Business School is inviting applications for a 2-year postdoctoral position in democratic resilience, with a focus on influence, interference, and intimidation. The researcher will join the project R-S3i (Resilience to Strategies of Influence, Interference & Intimidation), which studies how European democratic societies can better resist strategic influence operations and related threats.

The project is interdisciplinary and combines political science, international relations, social psychology, economics, and information studies. It bridges macro-level analysis of geopolitical strategy with micro-level mechanisms such as perception, persuasion, polarisation, belief formation, public opinion, and information ecosystems. The research also covers topics such as electoral interference, disinformation, digital politics, hybrid threats, and democratic resilience.

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the project’s analytical and conceptual work packages, conduct qualitative and comparative research, support survey-based and experimental studies, help with data collection and analysis, and contribute to publications, reports, and dissemination activities. The role is based at ESSEC Business School in Cergy, France, within a research-oriented and internationally connected environment.

Eligibility highlights: a PhD in Political Science or a closely related field is expected, though candidates from Social Psychology, Management, or Economics may also be considered if they have a strong and relevant research profile. Strong qualitative and/or quantitative methods skills are required, along with excellent English proficiency; French is an asset. Experience with large-scale datasets, surveys, experiments, or information-treatment designs is desirable.

Funding and conditions: the position is a fixed-term contract for 24 months and includes a competitive salary package, conference travel support, subsidized catering, partial public transport reimbursement, professional equipment, social security benefits, and professional development support.

Application deadline: 2026-06-26.

How to apply: submit a CV, a cover letter explaining your fit for the project, and a copy of your PhD diploma or graduation certificate/defense notification. Applications should be sent to the contact indicated in the post.