Postdoctoral Fellow in Comparative Education

Centre for Skills Development and Vocational Education in Moscow, Russia, invites applications for postdoctoral research positions in the field of comparative education and political economy of skill formation.

Requirements

The general requirements for the postdoctoral fellowship positions are the following:

• Candidates must hold a recent PhD in the field of Education, Sociology, Political Economy or related areas which was awarded over the last 5 years or received before starting work at HSE in a relevant field by an internationally recognized university and has been assessed by external reviewers as having the potential to pursue research that is publishable in leading peer-reviewed journals;
• Candidates should have a strong background in comparative education, sociology of education, and the political economy of skill formation. They must demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary teams and conduct robust conceptual as well as empirical research, employing both quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods. Researchers with an interest in comparative vocational studies are particularly encouraged to apply, though interest need not be limited to this area;
• Fluent English is an obligatory condition as research and other activities are conducted in English. Knowledge of Russian is not required;
  
• Relevant experience will be an asset although not required.

The position involves:

• working under the direct supervision of Prof. Vera Maltseva (director of the Centre);
• participants are encouraged to pursue their own research along with working on the Centre’s research projects such as:

o  CERE Observatory on Education, an international research and expert platform, which focuses on the research of education and skills development in emerging contexts.
o  Contribution of education to the development of human capital.
o  Merge of vocational and higher education (vocationalization of HE and tertiarization of VET).

• writing research papers for international peer-reviewed journals in co-authorship with the members of the Centre;
• participation in the events of the Centre and other contribution to the Centre’s development;
• public presentations of candidate’s own research to the academic community;
• some teaching is encouraged, though not required.

Conditions

Appointments are made for one year. Postdoctoral fellows have high opportunity of renewal of the contract (no more than two times) in case of outstanding performance.

HSE University offers postdoctoral fellows a competitive salary, the standard medical insurance plan; a working space equipped with a computer and free Internet access at the University.

The Centre offers access to its databases and analytical software, as well as unique access to the network of the CERE Observatory on Education.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted online. Please provide a CV, a statement of research interest and a recent research paper submitted via the online application form. At least two letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the International Faculty Recruitment Office at fellowship@hse.ru before the application deadline. Please note that direct applications to the hiring Centre may not be reviewed.

Read more about the application process here.

The deadline for the applications is January 31, 2026

Apply now

For more information:

• about Postdoctoral Fellowship -Frequently Asked Questions
  
• about HSE university –official web-site
  
• about the Centre for Skills Development and Vocational Education– official web-site of the Centre or contact Prof. Vera Maltseva (vamaltseva@hse.ru) directly
  
• about international specialists' life in Moscow -International Faculty Support page

If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact the International Faculty Recruitment Office at fellowship@hse.ru