The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies is recruiting a
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER (F/M/D)
CENTRE: Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding
CONTRACT: Maximum Duration Contract – 01.01.2027 - 30.06.2029
ACTIVITY RATE: 80% 32 h / w
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 01.10.2026
STARTING DATE: 01.01.2026 ( or uppon mutual agreement)
Presentation of the Institute:
The Geneva Graduate Institute, founded in 1927, is a world-renowned centre of excellence for the study of international relations and development. Located in Geneva, Switzerland, the Institute offers a stimulating, multicultural and interdisciplinary academic environment. It offers masters and doctoral programmes, and conducts cutting-edge research on major global challenges.
Overview:
The SNSF-funded research project Narrative Belonging: Memory Politics and NATO Enlargement in Europe, hosted by the Department of International History and Politics and the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding (CCDP) at the Geneva Graduate Institute, examines how memories of the past have shaped NATO enlargement and Europe's evolving security order since the end of the Cold War.
Moving beyond conventional military and strategic explanations of enlargement, the project places historical experiences, collective memory, and narratives of belonging at the centre of the analysis. It investigates how national memories interacted with NATO's own institutional narratives, symbolic practices, and representations of its history and identity.
The project focuses on successive phases of NATO enlargement, including the 1999 accession of the Visegrád countries, the 2004 enlargement involving the Vilnius Group, and the more recent accessions of Finland and Sweden. It combines archival research, media analysis, and oral history to examine the relationship between national memory politics and the evolution of the Alliance.
Key responsibilities:
The postdoctoral researcher will lead the project's research on NATO as an institution, examining how the Alliance has articulated, represented, and commemorated its evolving identity in the context of post-Cold War enlargement.
The main tasks of the postdoctoral researcher are:
- Examining NATO's institutional narratives and symbolic practices, including commemorations, anniversaries, strategic narratives, public diplomacy, and other forms of institutional self-representation.
- Investigating how NATO's understanding and representation of its own history interacted with the historical narratives and memory politics of new and aspiring member states.
- Conducting archival research, including in NATO archives in Brussels and relevant national archives, as well as research based on speeches, policy documents, and other primary sources.
- Contributing to the comparative and conceptual development of the project's broader research agenda on memory politics, international history, and European security.
- Developing high-quality single-authored and co-authored publications arising from the research.
- Presenting research findings at international conferences, workshops, and seminars.
- Contributing to the organization of project workshops and other dissemination activities.
- Working closely with the project's doctoral researchers and contributing to the development of shared research resources, including the project's open digital archive.
The postdoctoral researcher will be expected to develop an independent publication agenda while contributing actively to the collaborative objectives of the project.
To be successful in this role, you should have:
- PhD in international history or a related discipline, completed by the starting date.
- Demonstrated research expertise in one or more of the following areas: NATO and transatlantic relations; Cold War or post-Cold War Europe; memory studies; international history; European security; or related fields.
- Proven capacity to conduct research of the highest academic standards.
- Strong archival research skills; experience with oral history research is an asset.
- Excellent academic writing and publication skills.
- Ability to develop an independent research agenda while working effectively as part of a collaborative international research team.
- Excellent command of spoken and written English; additional European languages are an asset.
What you can expect from us:
- An 80% postdoctoral research position for 2.5 years, with salary and employment conditions in accordance with SNSF regulations.
- A stimulating and collaborative research environment within the Geneva Graduate Institute, including the Department of International History and Politics and the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding.
- Close intellectual collaboration with the Principal Investigator and the project's doctoral researchers.
- Opportunities to participate in international conferences, workshops, and archival research.
- Opportunities to develop an independent publication agenda alongside the project's collective research.
- An international research environment spanning the Geneva Graduate Institute and the University of Oxford, with opportunities to engage with the academic communities of both institutions.
How to apply
Interested applicants should submit a complete application in PDF format by 01 October 2026. The application should include:
- Letter of motivation
- Curriculum vitae, including publication list
- Research proposal (maximum [3] pages) outlining how the candidate's research interests and expertise would contribute to the project
- Writing sample (e.g. published article, dissertation chapter, or manuscript)
- Names and contact details of two referees
Interviews will be held in late October – early November. The position will start on 1 January 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter by mutual agreement.
Geneva Graduate Institute is committed to a safe and inclusive working environment. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, marital status, disability status, race, national origin, color, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
For more information, please contact the Principal Investigator, Professor Jussi Hanhimäki: ([email protected]).
