The STRATEGO Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at the University of Antwerp invites applications for its Visiting Researchers Programme 2026. Specifically, the programme is targeted at early-career researchers working within STRATEGO’s areas of research and wishing to conduct a short research visit at University of Antwerp.
STRATEGO aims to develop a joint research agenda on sustainability, trust and European multi-level governance with the purpose of generating knowledge and insights in support of EU policymaking. In this context, STRATEGO is committed to hosting external early-career researchers for short research visits of up to 2 months at the University of Antwerp. There will be a two-way transfer of knowledge between the visiting scholars and the STRATEGO Centre, benefiting from each other’s expertise. Visiting scholars will be hosted by one of the participating research groups. STRATEGO will fund travel and accommodation costs up to € 1.600,00 for each of the selected candidates. STRATEGO will also offer office space and full access to campus facilities. Up to 5 candidates will be selected for a research visit.
Profile
- Applicants should (a) either be in the final two years of their PhD trajectory (proven record of 2 years prior PhD research), OR (b) have obtained their doctoral degree (PhD) at the time of submission and have obtained their PhD not earlier than 2017.
- You are preparing OR have obtained your PhD in one of the disciplines of the participating research groups (law, social science, political science, public administration, economics, biology, or health and medicine).
- Your current research activities are related to STRATEGO’s theme of “Sustainability and Trust in EU Multilevel Governance” and matches the research agenda of one of the participating research groups.
- You are proficient in English.
- You have experience with interdisciplinary research.
Expectations
- You commit to presenting your current research in at least one seminar for the STRATEGO consortium and/or one guest lecture for students.
- You actively participate in the activities of STRATEGO and the hosting research group.
- You choose a supervisor that is part of the STRATEGO consortium (https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/projects/stratego/consortium/). Preferably, you have contacted the supervisor of your choice before submission.
- You reside in Antwerp for a consecutive period of up to 2 months between January and October 2026.
- You acknowledge STRATEGO in any publications (partly) resulting from the Visiting Scholars Programme.
Our offer
- Travel and accommodation costs refunded up to € 1.600,00.
- Facilities to conduct your research at University of Antwerp (desk space, log-in, library access, etc.).
- The possibility to fully participate in the activities of STRATEGO and the hosting research group.
- The possibility to communicate your own research to the members of STRATEGO and of the research groups involved.
How to apply?
The deadline for applications is October 31, 2025 (23:59 CET). To apply, please complete the online application form.
The online application form requires you to provide the following information:
- Your personal details
- Short bio (max. 1000 characters incl. spaces)
- Your motivation (max. 3000 characters incl. spaces) explaining why you want to be a visiting researcher at University of Antwerp and why STRATEGO and the hosting research group would be a good fit for your work.
- An activities proposal (max. 3000 characters incl. spaces) outlining the goal of and proposed activities during the research visit.
- The envisaged period of the research visit (arrival and departure date), which should take place between January and October 2026 (max. 2 months).
- Name of the supervisor you envision for your research visit and the STRATEGO-related research group you intend to join. Please see an overview of STRATEGO supervisors here.
- Upload an academic CV, including publication list (PDF format)
Complete the online application form before the deadline of Friday, October 31st, 2025 at 23:59 CET (Brussels time). Review of applications will be completed and invitations sent by end-November 2025 at the latest.
For further information, please contact STRATEGO’s project manager Sophie Op de Beeck by e-mail at sophie.opdebeeck@uantwerpen.be.