The Royal Military Academy of Belgium is offering a prestigious, fully funded postdoctoral fellowship for a qualified candidate to join their DEML-EMPORIA-PhD project (HFM/24-03). This is your chance to propel your career forward while making a significant impact on global maritime security.
The Royal Military Academy (RMA) is seeking a full-time doctoral researcher for the EMPORIA research project, focusing on promoting diversity and gender equality.
Main Tasks
You will perform the following tasks:
- The person is in charge of overseeing younger colleagues, reporting progress regularly to academic supervisors and project sponsors, and managing the day-to-day academic and operational aspects of a research project.
- Conducting interdisciplinary conceptual and empirical research in maritime security
- Gathering and analyzing policy documents, technical documents, and research papers
- Interviewing informants, including policymakers and industry representatives
- Disseminating the research findings through academic publications, policy papers, and media contributions
- Establishing close contacts with stakeholders in the Belgian Defense, other relevant government departments, and industry
- Establishing close collaboration with various national and international research groups
- Participating in meetings and activities of the Geoeconomics Group
- Organizing and participating in international conferences and workshops
Profile
The ideal candidate should be interested in security studies, familiar with emerging powers like China, and explore maritime security. They will collaborate with researchers from The Geoeconomics Group, aiming to develop a center of excellence in policy and academia.
Skills/Qualifications
Technical skills
The candidate:
- Holds a PhD in Maritime Economics, Security Studies, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Area Studies, or other relevant field
- Can conduct interdisciplinary academic research and produce high-level scientific outputs (peer-reviewed publications in international journals, participation in key scientific conferences, etc.)
- Can use qualitative and/or quantitative research methodologies
- Is capable of synthesizing information coherently
- Can organize scientific activities, including conferences and seminars
- Basic expertise in maritime security is recommended; expertise at an intermediate or higher level is an added advantage
- Experience in writing project proposals is an added advantage.
Personal skills
- Leadership skills (prioritizing tasks related to project goals, guiding collaborators in the performance of their tasks, acting as liaison with project hierarchy)
- Keen interest in geo-economics, geopolitics, or security studies as evidenced by the candidate’s academic track record
- Critical thinking skills
- Ability to read, comprehend, and process substantial amounts of material
- Analytical and synthetic skills, coupled with a critical and creative approach
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in Dutch and/or French
- Ability to engage in policy discussions about maritime security and to explain research findings to a broader audience
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a group
- Demonstrated organizational skills, decisiveness, and ability to take initiative
- Ability to adapt research strategies based on the evolving nature of the project and emerging findings
Application
You will be employed in a military environment. For this reason, every employee undergoes security verification. Please attach to your application the completed document which can be downloaded from the RMA site:
http://www.rma.ac.be/nl/aanvraag-veiligheidsverificatie
Your application should include:
- Motivational letter
- Full CV
- A scan of your ID card (both sides)
- The completed security document
Send your application by e-mail to
- Dr. Helena BRUYNINCKX (erm-deao-rswo@mil.be) of the RSWO department of the RMA
- Prof. Cind DU BOIS (cindy.dubois@mil.be) and Dr Sara VAN HOEYMISSEN (sara.vanhoeymissen@mil.be) of DEML of the RMA
- Prof Jonathan HOLSLAG (jonathan.holslag@vub.be) of the Department of Political Science of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The deadline for application is 17 May 2024.
Please clearly indicate the project reference: “DEML-EMPORIA-PhD – HFM/24-03“.
The interviews will take place at the Royal Military Academy, Hobbemastraat 8, 1000 Brussels. The date and time of the interview will be communicated to the preselected candidates.
