Research Fellow (Postdoc) in Quantitative Sociology of Education and/or Work

27 Oct 2025
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Institute of Philosophy and Sociology

Department

ProSkills2Work

Research Field

Sociology » Sociology of labour
Sociology » Educational sociology
Sociology » Socio-economic research
Sociology » Social changes

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Positions

Postdoc Positions

Country

Bulgaria

Application Deadline

11 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Sofia)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Offer Starting Date

1 Apr 2026

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe

Reference Number

IPS-PS2W-04-2025

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Related to its ongoing EU-funded European Research Area (ERA) Chair project “Promoting Promising Skills to Work in Bulgaria” (ProSkills2Work, 1 Mar 2025 - 28 Feb 2030), the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology (IPS) at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) is looking for a motivated and open-minded Research Fellow (Postdoc) with advanced quantitative methodological skills to join, for the duration of the project, our international ProSkills2Work Team led by IPS Deputy Director Prof. Vassil Kirov and ERA Chair Holder Prof. Christian Imdorf. 

This full-time position is available from April 2026 on a fixed-term employment contract up until February 2030. The role involves close interaction with the ERA Chair Holder and other members of the ProSkills2Work ERA Chair team.

ProSkills2Work is a Horizon Europe action aiming to strengthen the research excellence and capacity of the IPS by further developing its strong focus on sociology of education and work and by advancing scientific knowledge on the Bulgarian vocational skills formation system, continuous skills enhancement, individual transitions to work, alongside the respective methodological challenges. 

The increase of research capacity through the ERA Chair endeavour shall promote collaborations between research teams at the IPS and international research groups, aimed at high quality research outcomes (publications and data analyses), and at transfer of the research results into policy recommendations and innovative models of vocational skills formation in Bulgaria and South-Eastern Europe. 

Besides conducting excellent, highly visible research on project-related topics, the incumbent will be required to engage in the other ProSkills2Work activities, including enhancing research capacity through seminars and workshops, PhD supervision, and taking part in grant proposal preparation on relevant topics. These responsibilities will account for 20% of the workload. 

The incumbent will be expected to live and work in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Where to apply

E-mail

proskills2work@ips.bas.bg

Requirements

Research Field

Sociology » Sociology of labour

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Sociology » Educational sociology

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Sociology » Socio-economic research

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Sociology » Social changes

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• Robust theoretical and empirical research skills;
• In-depth knowledge and experience in advanced quantitative social science methods and/or computational social sciences;
• Topical knowledge on sociology of education and/or work; focus on vocational education and training and/or youth in South-Eastern Europe is an asset;
• Proven publication record in peer-reviewed journals during the last five years; the successful candidate is expected to regularly publish in international peer-reviewed journals;
• Adeptness at working independently as well as collaboratively;
• Efficiency in handling deadlines;
• Capability of managing competing research and project work responsibilities.

Specific Requirements

• Readiness to fulfil academic tasks according to the ProSkills2Work Grant Agreement
• Openness to international research and living experience in South-Eastern Europe
• Bulgarian language skills would be an asset but not a must

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Sociology » Sociology of labourSociology » Educational sociologySociology » Socio-economic researchSociology » Social changes

Years of Research Experience

1 - 4

Additional Information
Benefits

Fixed-term (April 2026 - February 2030) employment contract per the Bulgarian legislation 

Competitive salary 

Health insurance, paid sick leave, 20 days of paid annual leave plus the Bulgarian public holidays

Enjoy the autonomy and encouragement to explore your scholarly passions in the above-mentioned research fields, working innovatively across disciplines to produce internationally impactful research

Access opportunities to present your research findings to audiences both domestically and internationally, with financial backing to attend international conferences, workshops and meetings 

A unique opportunity for both professional and personal development

Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of highly skilled researchers who are dedicated to their fields and appreciate a transparent, cooperative work atmosphere

Gain work experience on a project funded under Horizon Europe: Widening participation and spreading excellence

Workplace at the premises of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Work and live in Sofia, a city renowned for its vibrant social and cultural scenes, and its vicinity to nature

Eligibility criteria

Relocation to and on-site work in Sofia, Bulgaria are prerequisites.

Candidates should have no more than 5 (five) years of research experience since earning their PhD. This limit does not include periods of parental leave, long-term sick leave, or military service.

No previous contractual links to the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at any point in time.

PhD or equivalent in Sociology, Social Sciences, Educational Science, Political Science, Social Psychology, or Education Economics.

Candidates of any nationality (Bulgarian and/or other) are encouraged to apply. 

Selection process

Selection process

Before submitting your application, you must contact Prof. Christian Imdorf at christian.imdorf@ips.bas.bg to discuss the role, your interest, and your suitability for the position - at least two weeks in advance of the application deadline. This is part of our short-listing procedure.     

    

Application deadline: 11:59:59 PM (Sofia) on 11 January 2026

Please submit your application by email to: proskills2work@ips.bas.bg

Your application must include:

• an up-to-date academic CV detailing your education and qualifications, employment history, publications, and any other relevant information;
• copies of your Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD academic transcripts and degree certificates. If your PhD degree is pending, please provide an interim certificate;
• a convincing motivation letter (1000 words) explaining why you are interested in this position and how your background, experience, skills as well as how your research plans align with the research described above;
• two examples of your recent academic writings, published or under review (if submitting chapters from your PhD thesis, please include an abstract or introduction outlining the context, aims, and research questions of the study);
• one academic reference letter (1 page) from somebody who can assess your suitability for the position, specifically relating their feedback to your previous academic work and the advertised project.

Two-stage online interviews with the shortlisted candidates are expected to take place from mid-February 2026 onward. A one-hour written assignment may be required.

For technical or administrative queries regarding the application process and required documents, please contact: proskills2work@ips.bas.bg

Additional comments

About the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences:

The Institute of Philosophy and Sociology (IPS) is one of the currently over 40 autonomous scientific units of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), the leading national scientific and applied research centre. The IPS conducts complex theoretical and empirical research in the philosophical and sociological fields, and delivers post-graduate training, expert, and consultancy services. The IPS publishes in-house scientific journals, and is a party and/or leader of multiple nationally and internationally funded projects.

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

The IPS is fully committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. While applicants will be assessed based on merit alone, we actively encourage applications from individuals with diverse career paths and backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, nationality, and religion.

Website for additional job details

https://proskills2work.eu/
https://ips-bas.org/en/home/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

2

Company/Institute

Institute of Philosophy and Sociology / Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Country

Bulgaria

City

Sofia

Postal Code

1000

Street

Moskovska Street 13А

Contact

City

Sofia

Website

https://ips.bas.bg/
https://proskills2work.eu/

Street

13A Moskovska Street

Postal Code

1000

E-Mail

proskills2work@ips.bas.bg
christian.imdorf@ips.bas.bg

STATUS: EXPIRED

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