Postdoctoral Researcher Opportunity at the Geneva Graduate Institute in International Relations and Political Science, Switzerland

The Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, also known as the Geneva Graduate Institute, is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position in International Relations and Political Science under an SNSF-funded research project examining knowledge production, networks, and power in global education governance.

The position is based at NORRAG, the Global Education Centre of the Geneva Graduate Institute, and offers an opportunity for an experienced researcher to contribute to an internationally oriented and interdisciplinary research project examining the politics of expertise within major international organizations.

The successful candidate will work on the project “Knowledge Production, Networks, and Power in Global Education Governance: The Politics of Expertise in UNESCO, OECD, and the World Bank.” The project investigates how expert knowledge is produced, organized, mobilized, and circulated in global education governance, with particular attention to international organizations and the networks of experts surrounding them.

This is a maximum-duration contract running until August 2030, with an 80% activity rate. The expected starting date is February 2027, although the exact starting date will be agreed with the successful candidate.

The application deadline is October 21, 2026.

About the Geneva Graduate Institute

Founded in 1927, the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies is a world-renowned institution specializing in international relations and development.

Located in Geneva, Switzerland, the Institute provides a highly international, multicultural, and interdisciplinary academic environment. It brings together researchers and students from diverse academic and geographical backgrounds to study some of the world’s most important international and development challenges.

The Institute offers master’s and doctoral programmes and conducts research across a broad range of subjects related to international affairs, development, global governance, political science, economics, international law, and related disciplines.

Its location in Geneva also places researchers within an important international policy environment, surrounded by international organizations, diplomatic institutions, civil society organizations, research institutions, and other actors involved in global governance.

For a postdoctoral researcher interested in international organizations, global governance, education policy, expertise, and international relations, the position provides an opportunity to conduct research within a highly international academic setting.

About NORRAG

The position is hosted by NORRAG, the Global Education Centre of the Geneva Graduate Institute.

NORRAG is a global centre focused on advancing quality, equity, and justice in education and training around the world. The centre works to generate, strengthen, and amplify critical knowledge that can contribute to more inclusive and evidence-based education policy and decision-making.

A particularly important aspect of NORRAG’s work is its emphasis on knowledge and perspectives from the Global South. Through research, capacity-building initiatives, and engagement with international networks, NORRAG seeks to contribute to more equitable and effective education policies and practices.

The successful postdoctoral researcher will therefore join an environment that combines academic research with engagement in international education policy and global knowledge networks.

About the Research Project

The postdoctoral position is part of the SNSF-funded research project:

“Knowledge Production, Networks, and Power in Global Education Governance: The Politics of Expertise in UNESCO, OECD, and the World Bank.”

The project focuses on the role of expert knowledge in global education governance.

International organizations such as UNESCO, the OECD, and the World Bank play significant roles in shaping global education policies, producing reports and data, establishing policy frameworks, and influencing how governments and other stakeholders understand and respond to education challenges.

However, the production of policy knowledge is not simply a technical process. It also involves questions of power, professional networks, institutional practices, expertise, and access to decision-making processes.

The project therefore examines important questions surrounding the politics of expertise, including who produces global education policy knowledge, how experts and organizations are connected, and how knowledge moves through international policy networks.

What Will the Research Examine?

The research project investigates several interconnected dimensions of global education governance.

1. Production of Expert Knowledge

The project examines how international organizations produce expert knowledge that informs global education policies.

This includes understanding the actors involved in knowledge production and the institutional processes through which research, evidence, expertise, and policy recommendations are developed.

2. Networks of Expertise

A central focus of the project is understanding how networks of experts are structured.

The research will investigate relationships between experts, institutions, organizations, and other actors involved in global education governance.

3. Circulation of Knowledge

The project also examines how knowledge moves between organizations, experts, institutions, and policy communities.

Understanding these processes can help explain why certain forms of expertise become influential in global education policy while other forms of knowledge may receive less attention.

4. Organizational Practices

The project investigates how organizational practices influence the production and circulation of knowledge.

This means examining how institutional structures and practices within international organizations affect which knowledge is generated, recognized, shared, and used in policymaking.

5. Politics of Expertise

The broader project is concerned with the politics of expertise and the relationship between knowledge and power in global education governance.

This makes the position particularly relevant to researchers working at the intersection of political science, international relations, global governance, education policy, and international organizations.

Research Methodology

The project uses a mixed-methods research design, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Two particularly important methodological components are:

• Social network analysis
• “Network-cued” interviews

Social network analysis will be used to investigate relationships and structures within networks of expertise.

The network-cued interview component will provide qualitative insights into the actors and relationships identified through the research, helping the project investigate how experts understand and navigate the networks in which they participate.

Candidates with experience in social network analysis will therefore be particularly well positioned to contribute to the empirical research activities of the project.

Postdoctoral Researcher Responsibilities

The selected postdoctoral researcher will join a collaborative research team led by Professor Chanwoong Baek.

The researcher will contribute to the empirical research and broader activities of the SNSF-funded project.

Key responsibilities include:

Data Collection

The postdoctoral researcher will participate in collecting research data relevant to the project’s investigation of global education governance, expertise, and international organizational networks.

Data Analysis

The successful candidate will contribute to the analysis of data collected during the project.

Given the project’s methodological emphasis, experience with social network analysis will be particularly important.

Fieldwork

The researcher will also contribute to fieldwork activities associated with the project.

This may involve engaging with relevant research participants, institutions, networks, and other actors connected to the project’s focus on global education governance.

Collaborative Research

The postdoctoral researcher will work as part of an international research team led by Professor Chanwoong Baek.

The ability to contribute independently while also collaborating effectively with other researchers will therefore be important.

Project Administration

In addition to research responsibilities, the postdoctoral researcher will assist with project-related administrative tasks.

The role therefore combines empirical research, methodological work, fieldwork, collaboration, and selected administrative responsibilities associated with the successful implementation of the project.

Required Qualifications

Applicants should have a strong academic and methodological background relevant to the research project.

The required qualifications include:

• A doctoral degree in political science, international relations, comparative and international education, education policy, or a related social science discipline.
• A strong background in the politics of expertise.
• Knowledge and research experience related to global governance.
• A strong understanding of international organizations.
• Training and practical experience in social network analysis.
• The ability to work independently.
• The ability to collaborate effectively within an international research team.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate that their academic background and research experience are relevant to the project’s focus on expertise, networks, international organizations, and global education governance.

Evidence of Social Network Analysis Experience

Social network analysis is an important methodological requirement for this position.

Applicants are expected to provide evidence demonstrating their proficiency in this area.

Acceptable examples may include:

• A research paper demonstrating the use of social network analysis.
• A certificate showing completion of a relevant workshop.
• A certificate from a social network analysis training course.
• Similar evidence demonstrating appropriate methodological training or experience.

Applicants should therefore ensure that their application clearly demonstrates their experience and/or training in social network analysis.

Contract and Working Arrangement

The position offers a maximum-duration contract until August 2030.

Key employment details include:

Position Detail	Information
Position	Postdoctoral Researcher
Field	International Relations and Political Science
Research Project	Knowledge Production, Networks, and Power in Global Education Governance
Centre	NORRAG
Institution	Geneva Graduate Institute
Location	Geneva, Switzerland
Contract	Maximum duration contract until August 2030
Activity Rate	80%
Expected Start	February 2027, to be agreed
Application Deadline	October 21, 2026

Benefits of the Position

The Geneva Graduate Institute indicates that the successful candidate can expect several professional and academic benefits.

Competitive SNSF-Aligned Salary and Welfare Benefits

The postdoctoral researcher will receive a salary and other welfare benefits in line with the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) range for postdoctoral researchers.

International Academic Environment

The researcher will become part of a diverse and internationally oriented academic community at the Geneva Graduate Institute.

Mentoring and Supervision

The position provides opportunities for mentoring and supervision within the research team and beyond.

This can support the researcher’s continued academic and professional development.

Conference and Workshop Opportunities

The successful researcher will have opportunities to participate in international and European conferences and workshops.

Such opportunities can provide valuable exposure to current research, academic networking, knowledge exchange, and dissemination of research findings.

International Research Travel

The position also provides opportunities for international research travel, supporting fieldwork and other research activities associated with the project.

Application Documents

Applicants must submit a complete application in PDF format through the Institute’s official job portal.

The application package should include the following documents:

1. Cover Letter
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
3. Academic Transcripts
   • Translations should be provided where necessary.
4. Proof of proficiency in social network analysis
   • For example, a research paper, certificate of workshop completion, training certificate, or similar evidence.
5. Two Reference Letters
6. One Writing Sample
   • This is optional.

Applicants should ensure that the application is complete before submission because the Institute specifically requires a complete application package.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the Geneva Graduate Institute’s job portal.

Application deadline: October 21, 2026

Interested candidates should prepare their application materials in PDF format and submit them through the Institute’s online recruitment system before the deadline.

Apply through the Geneva Graduate Institute Job Portal

Please note that offers/applications received by post or direct email will not be considered. Candidates must use the Institute’s designated job portal to submit their application.

Informal Inquiries

Candidates who require further information or wish to make an informal inquiry about the position may contact:

Professor Chanwoong Baek
Email: chanwoong.baek@graduateinstitute.ch

Informal inquiries should not be treated as a substitute for the formal application process. Applicants are still required to submit their complete application through the official job portal.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Geneva Graduate Institute states that it is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity.

The Institute does not discriminate on the basis of:

• Age
• Marital status
• Disability status
• Race
• National origin
• Color
• Gender
• Sexual orientation
• Religion

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to consider the opportunity if they meet the academic and methodological requirements.

Who Should Apply?

This postdoctoral opportunity is particularly relevant for researchers whose academic and professional interests fall within areas such as:

• International relations
• Political science
• Comparative and international education
• Education policy
• Global governance
• International organizations
• Politics of expertise
• Global education governance
• Social network analysis
• International development
• Related social science disciplines

The strongest candidates will be those who combine relevant doctoral-level academic training with research experience in global governance, international organizations, expertise, and social network analysis.

Why This Opportunity Is Significant

This position provides an opportunity to participate in research addressing an important question in contemporary global governance: how knowledge and expertise influence international policymaking.

International organizations have a major role in shaping policy discussions around education worldwide. Their reports, research, data, indicators, policy recommendations, and expert networks can influence national education systems and international development agendas.

By examining the networks and institutional processes behind this knowledge production, the research project seeks to provide a deeper understanding of how global education policy knowledge is created and circulated.

For a postdoctoral researcher interested in the relationship between knowledge, power, expertise, networks, and international institutions, the project offers a strong environment for conducting internationally relevant empirical research.

Application Checklist

Before submitting an application, prospective candidates should make sure they have prepared:

• Cover letter
• Updated curriculum vitae
• Academic transcripts
• Translations of transcripts where necessary
• Evidence of social network analysis proficiency
• Two reference letters
• Optional writing sample
• All documents compiled/prepared in PDF format
• Application submitted through the official Geneva Graduate Institute job portal
• Submission completed before October 21, 2026

Applicants should also verify that their academic background satisfies the doctoral-degree requirement and that their research experience demonstrates sufficient relevance to the project’s subject matter.

Important Deadline

The application deadline is October 21, 2026.

Candidates should avoid waiting until the final day to submit their materials. Since a complete application is required, applicants should allow sufficient time to obtain reference letters, prepare evidence of social network analysis proficiency, organize academic transcripts, and upload all required documents to the online recruitment portal.

Conclusion

The Postdoctoral Researcher position in International Relations and Political Science at the Geneva Graduate Institute presents an opportunity for an appropriately qualified researcher to contribute to an SNSF-funded project examining the politics of expertise in global education governance.

Based at NORRAG, the Global Education Centre of the Geneva Graduate Institute, the researcher will contribute to empirical research examining how international organizations such as UNESCO, the OECD, and the World Bank produce and mobilize expert knowledge.

The position combines data collection, data analysis, fieldwork, social network analysis, collaborative research, and project-related activities. It also offers access to an international academic environment, mentoring and supervision, international conferences and workshops, and opportunities for research travel.

Applicants with a doctoral degree in political science, international relations, comparative and international education, education policy, or a related social science discipline, together with relevant experience in global governance, international organizations, the politics of expertise, and social network analysis, are encouraged to consider applying.

The position is offered at an 80% activity rate, with a maximum-duration contract running until August 2030, and an expected start date of February 2027, subject to agreement.

Interested candidates must submit their complete application through the official online job portal by October 21, 2026. Applications or offers received by post or direct email will not be considered.

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