Postdoctoral Fellow in Sociology and Political Science in Université de Strasbourg – France

Summary

The Université de Strasbourg is offering a 24-month postdoctoral position in Sociology and Political Science, starting December 1, 2026. The role is part of the Infiltrates project, funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, which studies the influence of financial elites and wealth inequality in Germany, France, and the UK. The successful candidate will focus on Work Package 5, examining the 'revolving doors' between finance, consulting, and government. Applicants must hold a PhD in sociology or political science obtained less than three years ago, possess strong quantitative methods skills, and have a very good command of French and English. Key responsibilities include independent and collaborative research, data collection and analysis, and writing academic articles. The application deadline is October 9, 2026.

Key Facts

Department	Direction des ressources humaines
Position Type	Postdoctoral Fellow
Discipline	Sociology, Political Science
Research Area	Revolving doors of European and national political elites, finance and strategic consultancy sectors, wealth inequality
Degree Required	PhD in sociology or political science
Experience	PhD obtained less than 3 years ago, experience in compiling and analysing prosopographic databases (advantage)
Funding	Volkswagen Foundation (Infiltrates project)
Contract Duration	24 months
Language	French, English
Deadline	2026-10-09
Required Documents	CV, cover letter, diploma
Employer Address	SAGE Joint Research Unit UMR, 4 rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Employer Contact	Sébastien Michon, [email protected]

About the Project

The Infiltrates project, funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, investigates the influence of financial elites, their trajectories, socialisation, values, and the repercussions of wealth in Germany, France, and the UK. It brings together researchers from five partner institutions and employs both qualitative and quantitative comparative methods. The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to Work Package 5, which specifically examines the 'revolving doors' phenomenon, analyzing patterns of movement between government spheres and the finance and consulting sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct independent and collaborative research into the career paths of European and national political elites
• Study and analyse the subsequent careers of individuals who have held high-profile positions at EU or national level
• Develop methodological considerations for indicators capturing the flow of people between political positions and finance/consultancy sectors
• Collect data on professional and political career paths and create databases
• Process and analyse data
• Draft summary notes and activity reports
• Write academic articles

Required Skills

• PhD in sociology or political science
• Expertise in subject areas, issues, and methods relevant to the project
• Good knowledge of French and European politics
• Proficiency in the use of quantitative methods
• Data collection, processing, and analysis skills
• Very good command of French and English
• Experience in compiling and analysing prosopographic databases (advantage)
• Ability to work independently
• Good organisational skills
• Good communication skills
• Teamwork skills

Who Should Apply

This position is suitable for researchers with a recent PhD in sociology or political science who have expertise in European and national politics, quantitative methods, and an interest in studying the career paths of political elites and their movement between government, finance, and consulting sectors. Candidates should be able to work independently and collaboratively within an international research team.

About the Employer

The Université de Strasbourg is the host institution for this postdoctoral position. The successful candidate will be based at the SAGE Joint Research Unit (UMR) at the Inter-University Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences of Alsace in Strasbourg. SAGE is a joint research unit involving researchers from the University of Strasbourg, CNRS, the University of Haute-Alsace, Engees, and INRAE, focusing on European society, public action, knowledge production, local area relationships, power relations, and environmental issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the duration of this postdoctoral contract?

The contract is for a period of 24 months.

What is the required educational background for this position?

Applicants must have a PhD in sociology or political science, obtained less than three years ago.

What are the language requirements for this role?

A very good command of both French and English is required.

What is the main focus of the research project?

The research project, Infiltrates, studies the influence of financial elites and wealth inequality, with this specific postdoctoral position focusing on the 'revolving doors' between government, finance, and consulting sectors.

Who will supervise the successful candidate?

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Sébastien Michon, a researcher at UMR SAGE and co-leader of Work Package 5 of the Infiltrates project.

What documents are required for the application?

Applicants must submit a CV, cover letter, and diploma.