Postdoctoral Researcher in Cybersecurity, Illegal Behaviour and Data Protection in the Agricultural Industry ESSEC Business School in France

ESSEC Business School is offering a full-time postdoctoral researcher position based at its Cergy campus in France. The appointment is part of a Horizon Europe-funded research project titled Leveraging cybersecurity to detect illegal behavior and enforce data protection policies in the agricultural industry. The project sits at the intersection of cybersecurity, public policy, ethics, regulation, and organizational analysis, with a particular focus on the illegal trade in vegetable seeds and the prevention, detection, and deterrence of illegal activities across EU supply chains.

The postdoctoral researcher will work within ESSEC’s Law, Political Science & Society Department, with strong links to the Economics Department. ESSEC Business School is internationally recognized and has a strong commitment to research quality, sustainability, and social change. The successful candidate will contribute to a multidisciplinary project involving partners from across Europe and will examine the industry characteristics that enable or constrain illegal behavior, especially how power, authority, and structural positions among industry actors influence such behavior.

Core responsibilities include a systematic review of scientific and professional literature on the illegal reproduction of plant material protected by intellectual property rights; development of a database of the main categories of illegal behavior in the sector; and qualitative interviews with stakeholders across the agricultural and seed value chain, such as farmers, nurseries, agronomists, and sector associations. The interviews will explore economic and practical incentives, organizational and market factors, and ethical and cultural dimensions linked to illicit practices.

Applicants should hold or be close to completing a PhD in sociology, political science, organizational theory, public administration, or a related field. The role requires strong qualitative research skills, intellectual curiosity, and a clear interest in public policy, ethics, and regulation. Professional English proficiency is required, and the selected candidate must reside in France and work from the Cergy campus.

The position is funded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe framework programme. The gross monthly salary is €2,400. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and the application deadline is 9 October 2026 at 23:59 CET. Interested candidates should apply online and submit a cover letter, CV, copy of PhD diploma, and a working paper. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview during the week of 12 October 2026.