MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Laboratory for Political and Institutional Theory and the History of Ideas

The Laboratory for Political and Institutional Theory and the History of Ideas (Department of History and Philosophy of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens) invites expressions of interest from excellent postdoctoral researchers to jointly apply for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are prestigious awards that enhance the creative and innovative potential of PhD-holding researchers through advanced training and international mobility. The 2026 MSCA-PF call opened on April 9, 2026 and will close on September 9, 2026. We seek outstanding early-career researchers with strong research track records who wish to further their career in a vibrant and supportive academic environment.

Research proposals should align with the Laboratory’s core research themes. Priority will be given to proposals that closely align with our focus areas (outlined below) and can be supported by at least one member of the Laboratory. The fellowship allows the researcher to be hosted at our Laboratory in Athens for 12-24 months (European Fellowships) or for the 12-month return phase of a Global Fellowship. For Global Fellowships, an initial 12-24-month outgoing phase at a host institution outside Europe is required, followed by the return phase in Europe.

This call supports two types of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships:

• European Postdoctoral Fellowships: Open to researchers of any nationality moving to or within Europe to pursue research. The fellowship is carried out at the host institution in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country (e.g. Greece) for a duration of 12-24 months.
• Global Postdoctoral Fellowships: Open to European nationals or long-term residents who wish to conduct research outside Europe. The fellowship includes an outgoing phase of 12-24 months in a Third Country (non-European), followed by a mandatory 12-month return phase hosted at a European institution. Our Laboratory can host the researcher during this return phase.

Research Areas of Interest

We welcome project proposals in the social sciences and humanities, particularly in areas that reflect the Laboratory’s strengths in intellectual history (18th-19th centuries), legal, political, and constitutional history, and the history and theory of institutions.

Key research areas include:

History of Ideas (18th-19th centuries)

• Enlightenment and intellectual history: The history of political, constitutional, and institutional ideas in the Enlightenment era (18th century Europe), including the Greek Enlightenment.
• Revolution and nation-building: The ideas and ideologies of the Age of Revolutions – with emphasis on the Greek War of Independence (1821), the American, the French, the Haitian, and the Mediterranean Revolutions (1820-1821) – and their impact on the formation of modern states and constitutions.
• 19th-century political and social thought: Intellectual and political developments in 19th-century Europe and Greece, such as the rise of liberalism, constitutionalism, the rule of law, and early movements for rights and democracy.
• Legal and constitutional history: The development of legal systems, constitutional frameworks, and judicial institutions in Europe and Greece, including the interaction between legal ideas and political transformations.
• Society, gender, and the public sphere: The role of the press, literature, education, and women’s contributions in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century public discourse and social change (e.g. the history of the press during the Greek Revolution, women’s correspondence and writings in the 19th century, Romantic literature and history).

Political, Legal and Institutional Theory and History

• Institutional theory and development: Theoretical and historical perspectives on political and legal institutions, constitutionalism, and institutional change (including interdisciplinary approaches such as law and economics, network theory, and related analytical frameworks).
• Philosophy of law and governance: Legal and political theory related to concepts of liberty, justice, rights, and the rule of law, especially as they inform institutional design and policy.
• Modern political thought: The evolution of major political ideas (e.g. liberalism, republicanism, nationalism) and their influence on contemporary governance and society.
• Historical institutional analysis: The evolution of political and legal institutions over time, including state formation, administrative structures, and governance practices in Europe and the Mediterranean.
• Law, institutions, and society: The relationship between legal norms, institutional frameworks, and social change, including the role of courts, legislation, and regulatory systems in shaping political and economic life, as well as the production, circulation, and justification of knowledge within institutional contexts.

Keywords: Age of Revolutions; Liberalism; Constitutionalism; Rule of Law; Liberal Democracy; Political Theory; History of Political Ideas; Legal History; Constitutional History; History of Institutions; Comparative Legal History; European public sphere and press; Enlightenment; History of Modern Greece; Free Speech; Free Expression; Freedom of the Press; Personal Autonomy; Self-Ownership; 18th century; 19th century; Literature and Intellectual History

Proposals that bridge theoretical and historical approaches are especially encouraged. Interdisciplinary proposals combining legal history, political theory, institutional analysis, and related approaches (including network-based and epistemic perspectives) are particularly welcome. We encourage applications proposing innovative research in these and related areas.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships eligibility requirements:

• Doctoral degree: Hold a PhD by the call deadline (September 9, 2026). Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally graduated are also eligible, provided the defense is completed and unconditional before the deadline.
• Research experience: Have no more than 8 years of full-time equivalent research experience after the award of the PhD by the call deadline. Career breaks and time outside research do not count towards this 8-year limit. For nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries applying to reintegrate from a third country, research experience outside Europe is also excluded from the 8-year cap.
• Mobility rule: Must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Greece (the host country) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before September 9, 2026. For Global Fellowships, a similar rule applies: the researcher must not have spent over 12 months in the prospective outgoing Third Country in the 36 months before the deadline.
• Proposal resubmission: Applications to MSCA-PF that scored below 70% in the 2025 call are not eligible for resubmission in 2026.
• One proposal per researcher: An individual researcher may submit only one MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal to the 2026 call. If a researcher submits multiple proposals, only the last submitted one will be evaluated.

Please consult the official MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 call page for full details on eligibility criteria and rules. All candidates are responsible for ensuring they satisfy all eligibility conditions before applying.

Expressions of Interest – Application Requirements

Interested researchers who meet the above criteria and wish to apply with our Laboratory should send an Expression of Interest (EoI) by email. The EoI must include the following documents:

• Research Proposal Summary: A concise summary (max 2 pages) outlining the proposed research project, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.
• Curriculum Vitae: A short CV (max 2 pages) highlighting your academic achievements, publications, and any other relevant experience.
• Motivation & Fit Statement: A brief statement (up to 1 page) explaining how your proposed project aligns with the Laboratory’s research areas and how you envision integrating into our research team.
• Eligibility Confirmation: A clear declaration that you meet all MSCA eligibility criteria (as listed above), including your PhD award date and compliance with the mobility rule and experience requirement.

Deadline: Please submit the above documents via email no later than June 10, 2026. All Expressions of Interest should be sent to labpolhnsthist@gmail.com with the subject line “MSCA Postdoc 2026 – Your Last Name”.

The Laboratory will pre-select proposals based on internal evaluation of quality, fit with our research, and availability of suitable supervisors. You will be notified of the outcome of your EoI on June 18, 2026.

Early submissions are encouraged, and high-quality applications may be notified of acceptance before June 18, 2026.

Prospective applicants are welcome to contact us in advance for informal inquiries or to discuss potential supervision. As the preparation of the full application materials can be time-consuming, we encourage interested candidates to first submit a brief initial inquiry. This should consist of a short email expressing your interest, including a concise paragraph outlining your research idea and a brief academic profile. Candidates who receive a positive response will then be invited to prepare and submit a full Expression of Interest (EoI). We aim to respond to all initial inquiries within three working days.

Selected candidates will receive support from our team to co-develop the full proposal for submission to the European Commission by the final deadline on September 9, 2026. (Please note: the MSCA application is ultimately submitted jointly by the fellow and the host institution via the EU portal.)

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and our Laboratory adhere to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR 2016/679) in handling applicants’ personal data.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability in its evaluation and recruitment processes.