The Centre for International Studies (CEI-Iscte) invites Expressions of Interest from researchers wishing to apply for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships, with CEI-Iscte as their Host Institution.

Recognised as Excellent by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, CEI-Iscte is the national reference for International Studies. Located in Lisbon, it offers a dynamic and international research environment, to promote academic excellence. As outlined in our strategic plan, CEI aims to become an international hub for research in International Studies, attracting top researchers and contributing significantly to the global knowledge landscape. Thus, we welcome applications from researchers working on thematics aligned with our research groups:

  • Global Politics and Security
  • Democracy, Activism and Citizenship
  • Sustainable Societies

CEI is dedicated to producing top-tier knowledge and conducting research of excellence, addressing global challenges. Our approach is based on local and sectorial analyses that can be adapted and applied globally, contributing to tackling these challenges effectively. From sustainability and climate change to transnational organized crime, threats to democracy, global security, and peace, CEI’s research provides insights and potential solutions to these critical issues. 

The Researchers awarded with the MSCA-PF are expected to take part on the daily activities of the centre, and will benefit from the integration in CEI-Iscte research groups and collaboration with senior researchers, integration into CEI-Iscte activities, trainings and research networks, and support during the implementation of the project.

As part of Iscte – Knowledge and Innovation, CEI-Iscte provides access to a wide range of research infrastructures and networks aligned with the institutional strategic priorities:

  • Research networks: CEI participates and/or is an Institutional member of several key international research networks;
  • SocioDigital Lab for Public Policy: an interdisciplinary laboratory which aims to analyse contemporary social challenges through the integration of different areas providing data-based solutions to policy-makers.
  • Observatories: dedicated to the study of pressing societal issues, contributing to methodological innovation, public policy evaluation, and the provision of analytical and consultancy services. CEI is a member of the Observatory for Palestine Studies
  • Central Library of African Studies (BCEA): a research infrastructure located within Iscte’s Library and managed by CEI-Iscte. BCEA is part of ELIAS (European Librarians in African Studies) and is included in MERIL’s database of excellent European research infrastructures. It supports research in the social sciences and humanities, offering comprehensive and up-to-date resources on all African subregions, with a particular emphasis on the post-colonial period;
  • Technological laboratories, as the DAViD Lab: a facility dedicated to the digitisation and advanced visualisation of historical archives, equipped with state-of-the-art technologies for interactive, multimodal, and immersive data visualization.

How to apply:

The closing date for the Marie-Sklodowska Curie PostDoctoral Fellowships 2026 HORIZON-MSCA-2026-PF-01-01 call is 9th September 2026. The candidates are advised to submit their Expression of interest to Iscte before 19th July 2026.

 The Expression of interest should explicitly identify the Centre for International Studies as Host Research Unit and include the following information:

  • Summary of the work plan with defined objectives (up to 500 words)
  • Scientific area
  • Curriculum vitae (covering the last 5 years)
  • Identification of one or more Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to be covered by the project proposal
  • Identify Centre for International Studies as Host Research Unit 

The Expression of interest should be submitted by email to gai@iscte-iul.pt with the subject “MSCA-PF-2026: name of the candidate- Expression of interest“.

Additional notes: 

In addition to the scientific and institutional support provided throughout the application and project implementation process, MSCA Fellows may also benefit from affordable accommodation in one of the university’s residence, with fixed and accessible rates within the Lisbon area. 

The additional advantages of applying for the MSCA Post-Doctoral Fellowship with Iscte-CVTT as the host institution include the additional funding within the WIDENING program provided by the European Commission: Fostering balanced brain circulation – ERA Fellowships