Postdoctoral Researcher Position – Project KNOWPOLIS: Knowledge for Policy: Evidence and Participation in Evolving Policy Advisory Systems

Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals; España; Presencial; EUR 34.000 - 41.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Full-time contract

International research environment

Postdoctoral Program access

Interdisciplinary training

Descripción de la vacante

Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (IBEI) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position within the KNOWPOLIS project, funded by MICIU, AEI and ERDF. The successful candidate will join IBEI's vibrant research environment in Barcelona, with an expected start date in November 2026 and an initial contract through 31/08/2028.

The position offers a full-time postdoctoral contract, access to IBEI's Postdoctoral Program, and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and

Formación

• PhD in Political Science, Public Policy, Sociology, Economics, Public Administration, or related fields.
• Research experience with an empirical and multidisciplinary approach.
• Proficiency in quantitative methods and survey data analysis.
• Excellent command of English and Spanish (oral and written).

Responsabilidades

• Contribute to data collection, organization, and analysis (surveys, interviews, document corpus).
• Support the preparation of academic publications, research reports, and policy briefs.
• Participate in scientific dissemination (academic publications, conferences, seminars, workshops).

Conocimientos

Quantitative methods

Survey data analysis

Multidisciplinary approach

English and Spanish

Educación

PhD in Political Science, Public Policy, Sociology, Economics, Public Administration, or related fields

Herramientas

R

Python

Descripción del empleo

Organisation/Company Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals Research Field Political sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 30 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract To be defined Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Position Overview
IBEI invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position within the project
KNOWPOLIS – Knowledge for Policy: Evidence and Participation in Evolving Policy Advisory
Systems (PID2024-162888NB-I00), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation
and Universities (MICIU) and the State Research Agency (AEI), with co-funding from the
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF/EU).
The position is offered under the framework of the Proyectos de Generación del
Conocimiento 2024.
The successful candidate will be fully integrated into IBEI’s vibrant research environment.

• Expected start date: November 2026
• Duration: until 31/08/2028
• Annual Salary: 37.500 €
• Location: Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals (IBEI), Barcelona

About the Project
KNOWPOLIS aims to advance our understanding of policy advisory systems (PAS) — the
networks of actors, institutions, and mechanisms that provide expert knowledge to inform
public policymaking. Despite growing emphasis on evidence-based governance, the
evolution and functioning of PAS remain underexplored in most advanced democracies.
KNOWPOLIS combines large-scale data analysis, surveys, and case studies to examine how
expertise, diversity, and participation shape policy advice and decision-making in Spain and
other countries.

Main Objectives

1. Mapping policy advisory actors and networks: Identifying advisory bodies in Spain (ministerial units, think tanks, research centers, advocacy groups) and analyzing how knowledge circulates among them.
2. Assessing diversity and inclusion in PAS: Evaluating whether advisory systems in Spain have become more pluralistic, with particular attention to gender balance and the representation of underrepresented voices in policy advice.
3. Developing comparative analysis across countries and policy domains: Examining how advisory systems function in different national contexts, with a special focus on
   the governance of artificial intelligence (AI). The project will compare regulatory and advisory structures in Spain and other European countries to assess how governments incorporate scientific expertise into AI policymaking and ethical oversight.
4. Analyzing formal and informal advisory mechanisms: Understanding how different
   types of advice are produced, mediated, and used in policymaking.
5. Developing policy recommendations: Proposing reforms to enhance transparency,
   legitimacy, and effectiveness in evidence-informed policymaking.

The project employs a mixed-methods design, combining quantitative and qualitative
techniques. It will use structural data analysis (Q-Dem, CONESPOL-PUB), a national survey of
4,500 experts, elite interviews, and document analysis, complemented by in-depth case
studies on AI governance and ministerial advisory structures. This comparative and
empirical approach aims to generate robust evidence on how advisory systems evolve,
integrate expertise, and influence decision-making in Spain and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to data collection, organization, and analysis (surveys, interviews,
  document corpus).
• Support the preparation of academic publications, research reports, and policy
  briefs.
• Participate in scientific dissemination (academic publications, conferences, seminars,
  workshops).

Candidate Profile

a) Essential Requirements

• PhD in Political Science, Public Policy, Sociology, Economics, Public Administration, or
  related fields.
• Research experience with an empirical and multidisciplinary approach.
• Proficiency in quantitative methods and survey data analysis.
• Excellent command of English and Spanish (oral and written).

b) Desirable Qualifications

• Skills in quantitative data analysis and software (e.g., R, Python).
• Experience in qualitative research (interviews, document analysis).
• Interest in governance, participation, science advice, or public policy analysis.

What We Offer

• A full-time postdoctoral contract at IBEI.
• Participation in a dynamic, international, and interdisciplinary research environment.
• Full access to the Postdoctoral Program at IBEI.
• Tailored training in interdisciplinary research methods

Contact and Further Information
For questions about the position or the project, please contact:
[e-mail]
Join IBEI and be part of a team that advances research on evidence-informed governance
and policy advice in a rapidly changing world.

About IBEI
The Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals (IBEI) is a leading inter-university research
institute established in 2004 to promote advanced education and research in international
affairs, political science, and public policy. Founded by the five public universities of
Barcelona (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat
Pompeu Fabra, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and Universitat Oberta de Catalunya),
IBEI combines the academic strengths of these institutions to foster interdisciplinary,
globally oriented research and postgraduate training. Located on the Ciutadella Campus in
the heart of Barcelona, IBEI brings together an international community of scholars,
postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students. The institute’s research addresses major
global and regional challenges, including governance and democracy, global development,
international security, European integration, and urban and environmental transformations.
IBEI is recognized for its strong research performance and academic excellence,
participating in competitive European and national research projects (including ERC, Horizon
Europe, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and the Spanish State Research Agency programs).
The institute also plays a key role in knowledge exchange and public engagement, providing
policy-relevant insights to governments, international organizations, and civil society.
IBEI offers a portfolio of master’s programs in international relations, international
development, public policy, and international security, attracting students from more than
40 countries. English is the main working language at the institute, and its multicultural
environment fosters intellectual exchange and collaboration across disciplines and borders.

Through its research, teaching, and outreach, IBEI aims to contribute to a better
understanding of the interconnections between global and local governance, and to
promote informed, inclusive, and effective public policy responses to the challenges of an
increasingly complex world.