within the Research Project « Youth Goals in Earth Politics » (FRS-FNRS Funding)
Application Deadline October 20, 2023
Position Category: Post-Doctoral Researcher Grant
The Université Saint-Louis – Bruxelles (USL-B) is recruiting a one-year post-doctoral researcher in the context of the PDR FRS-FNRS research project « Youth Goals in Earth Politics. » For more information about the project, visit: https://www.crespo.be/youth-earth/
Position Details:
- 1 Equivalent Full-Time Position
- Fixed-term post-doctoral researcher grant
- Application Deadline: October 20, 2023
- Position Start Date: January 1, 2024
Position and Eligibility: The position will open on January 1, 2024. It is a full-time one-year research grant. The post-doctoral research will be supervised by Amandine Orsini, promoter of the « Youth Goals in Earth Politics » project.
Candidates must hold a PhD in Political Sciences, obtained less than 6 years ago (with a one-year extension for each maternity period or adoption) at the time of recruitment. They must also meet the criteria of « international research mobility, » entitling them to a tax-exempt grant and social security benefits. To satisfy the « international research mobility » requirement, candidates should not have resided or pursued their primary activity (work or studies) in Belgium for more than 24 months within the last 3 years immediately preceding the commencement of the post-doctoral researcher grant.
While the grant is for a one-year period, opportunities to apply for additional post-doctoral funding at USL-B after the initial year will be explored, including programs such as Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and FNRS.
About the « Youth Goals in Earth Politics » Project and Prospects at USL-B:
The FRS-FNRS project « Youth Goals in Earth Politics » is an innovative project of 4 years from January 2021 to December 2024. It aims precisely at exploring beyond the limits of today’s research by uncovering, assessing and explaining the conditions under which youth become actors in their own rights and change the political game. The project revolves around three key research questions:
- How is youth represented in global environmental politics?
- What are the priorities of youth actors and their potential for inducing change?
- Under what conditions do they translate these priorities into political influence?
The project employs innovative mixed methods and a comparative empirical perspective. It seeks to construct a comprehensive database encompassing all youth actors within three global environmental politics domains—climate change, biodiversity, and overarching architecture. Additionally, the project will conduct detailed case studies of their activities. By considering youth actors as pivotal evaluators of global crises, the project aims to redefine our comprehension of the transformative potential embodied within the younger generation.
The project unfolds through three phases:
- The creation of a database of youth participation in the international negotiations on climate change (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), biodiversity (Convention on Biological Diversity), and overarching architecture (High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development) since 1992, and assessment of their autonomy (analysis of resources and network analysis);
- The analysis of the discourses of about 200 youth actors involved in these processes (lexicometry, interviews);
- An analysis of the influence of these actors on negotiation processes (participatory observations have been conducted during the conferences of parties to the corresponding negotiations: COP26, COP27 climate; COP15 biodiversity; HLPF2021, 2022, 2023).
USL-B offers a stable, internationally-focused research environment, fostering a work-life balance. Situated in the heart of Brussels, the university supports the post-doctoral researcher through training provisions and additional financial resources for research facilities, software, publication expenses, research stays, and more.
Post-Doctoral Research Focus: The recruited individual will:
- Actively contribute to the final stages of the research project: database completion and dissemination, data analysis finalization (potentially involving discourse coding and survey analysis).
- Collaborate closely with the project promoter, interacting with a team of senior and junior researchers.
- Participate in and organize team meetings, seminars, and workshops within the project framework.
- Disseminate project findings through scientific publications and other channels.
Candidate Profile:
Applicants for this position should demonstrate keen interest and specialized competencies in the « Youth Goals in Earth Politics » subject matter. A PhD or previous post-doctoral experience in fields related to youth in international relations or youth studies would be advantageous.
Ideal candidates should be well-equipped to finalize the research project, showcasing the ability to assimilate data generated in earlier project phases and integrate them into planned publications.
Candidates should exhibit an inclination toward interdisciplinary collaboration and a history of integrating research within collective dynamics. Given the project’s emphasis on both scientific excellence and human interaction, regular presence at USL-B is expected.
Applicants should possess:
- Strong academic background and proficiency in international research environments.
- Collaborative teamwork skills.
- Experience in diverse publication formats.
- Proficiency in research methods employed in the project, such as social network analysis, discourse analysis, and survey analysis.
- Advanced proficiency in spoken and written English (French proficiency is an asset).
Application Process:
Applications in either English or French should be submitted via email to Amandine Orsini (amandine.orsini@usaintlouis.be and amandine.orsini@uclouvain.be). Preselected candidates will be invited for interviews in October.
Applications should include the following in a single file, in this order:
- A cover letter outlining how the candidate fulfills the job description requirements (maximum 2 pages).
- A curriculum vitae (CV).
- A list of publications, with a maximum of 3 publications considered most significant by the candidate.
- The PhD thesis manuscript, including the relevant defense report if applicable.
- Contact information for two academic referees who can provide additional information on the candidate.