Call for Applications: Postdoctoral Researcher in European Governance and Democracy

Project: BRIDGE – Building Research and Innovation in Identity, Diversity, and Governance in Europe
Institution: Özyeğin University, Istanbul, Türkiye
Duration: 18 months (full-time)
Start Date: 1 January 2026
Application Deadline: 1 December 2026

About the Project

BRIDGE is a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence funded under the Erasmus+ Programme. It addresses Europe’s pressing challenges—migration, digital transformation, climate change, and democratic resilience—through interdisciplinary research, innovative teaching, and strong policy engagement. At its core, BRIDGE will establish The Democracy Lab, an interdisciplinary hub for research, policy dialogue, and civil society engagement on issues of identity, diversity, and governance in Europe.

Position Description

We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the BRIDGE Democracy Lab at Özyeğin University. The position is designed for an early-career scholar eager to contribute to cutting-edge research on democracy, governance, and inclusion in Europe, while gaining hands-on experience in project coordination and policy engagement.

The Postdoctoral Researcher will:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research on democratic resilience, polarization, exclusion, and governance innovation.
• Contribute to the production of policy briefs, journal articles, and other project outputs.
• Support the coordination of lab activities, including meetings, workshops, and public events.
• Assist in grant applications, project documentation, and dissemination activities.
• Supervise research assistants and mentor junior scholars.
• Engage with policymakers, civil society organizations, and international academic partners.
• Collaborate with faculty to integrate research findings into new teaching materials.

Qualifications

• PhD in Political Science, International Relations, Sociology, Anthropology, or related fields (completed within the last three years, or to be awarded by December 2025).
• Research record in democracy, governance, migration, or digital transformation (publications in peer-reviewed outlets preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to employ mixed methods research, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches.
• Experience in interdisciplinary and/or policy-oriented research.
• Excellent command of English (both written and oral); Turkish language skills are an asset but not required.
• Strong organizational and communication skills; ability to manage multiple tasks and work collaboratively in an international, multi-stakeholder environment.

What We Offer

• A dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment at one of Türkiye’s most innovative universities.
• Mentorship by senior scholars (Prof. Deniz Sert, Prof. Evren Balta, and colleagues).
• Opportunities to publish in peer-reviewed outlets and co-author policy briefs.
• Access to Özyeğin University’s research infrastructure, library resources, and networks with EU institutions and civil society actors.

Application Procedure

• Interested candidates should submit the following as a single PDF to deniz.sert@ozyegin.edu.tr:
• Cover letter (1–2 pages) outlining research interests, relevant experience, and motivation.
• Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications.
• A writing sample (article or dissertation chapter).
• Contact information for two academic referees.

Deadline for applications: 1 December 2025

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview.