Postdoctoral Fellow in Organizational Behavior and SME Studies

The Higher School of Economics International Center for the Study of Institutions and Development (ICSID) in Moscow, Russia invites applications for postdoctoral research positions in the field of organizational behavior and SME studies.

Understanding the factors that influence the organizational performance of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in international markets has become increasingly important. Key elements, such as knowledge management capability, workforce diversity, and organizational commitment, significantly impact the success and sustainability of SMEs operating abroad. Of particular interest are comparative studies between countries in the post-Soviet space and BRICS.  The center's current research includes an analysis of official statistics, surveys of small businesses, and survey experiments in Russia.

Current ICSID projects concentrate on a variety of topics, including empirical studies of political elites, collective action, trust, and cultural norms, and their link to economic development, institutional quality, and the historical roots of institutions. Candidates are welcome to participate in ongoing projects or offer other topics of research that will be of mutual interest. 

The ICSID offers the unique databases needed for this type of research. Among them are:

• A survey of small businesses in 2022 on strategies for adapting to external shocks.
• An online survey of more than 10500 respondents in 100 Russian cities in 2024 and 23,000 respondents in 61 Russian regions was conducted in November 2020 to study norms, values, attitudes, and behavior during the pandemic.
• Surveys of approximately 35,000 individuals in the majority of Russian regions conducted between 2000-2011 and containing rich information about the norms, preferences, and quality of institutions.
• Detailed statistics of economic and social life at regional and municipal levels.

Current ICSID projects concentrate on a variety of topics, including empirical studies of political elites, collective action, trust, and cultural norms, and their link to economic development, institutional quality, and the historical roots of institutions. Candidates are welcome to participate in ongoing projects or offer other topics of research that will be of mutual interest. 

Requirements

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

• Candidates must hold a recent PhD in economics, sociology, political science, public policy, or government 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 and an established research record in economics, sociology, political science, public policy, or government;
• Fluent English  is an obligatory condition as research and other activities are conducted in English. Knowledge of Russian is not required;
  
• A strong interest in the field of the political economy of development;
• Ability to work as a team;
• Quantitative skills, ability to carry out research using Python/R/Stata/similar software to meet standards of academic journals;
• Peer-reviewed publications, working papers, or job market papers in the field will be a strong advantage;
• Submission of at least one paper related to the project in peer-reviewed journal;
• Full-time research with at least two presentations of results during the year;
• Relevant experience will be an asset although not required.

The position involves:

• working under the supervision of  Dr. Anton Kazun

• possibility to collaborate with the ICSID team
  
• taking part in the ICSID’s research projects/pursuing independent research
• publishing papers in peer-reviewed academic journals in economics, political science, regional studies, public policy, history, sociology
• presenting research results at seminars and conferences
• participation in the organization of ICSID events
• public presentations of candidate’s research to the academic community
• successful candidates are encouraged to pursue their research (up to 50% of the time) in parallel with the ongoing research at ICSID

• some teaching is encouraged, though not required.

Conditions

Appointments are normally made for one year (since September 2026). Postdoctoral fellows have an opportunity to renew the contract (no more than two times).

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 Center offers access to its unique databases on socio-economic indicators of the Russian regions, political elites and historical roots of institutions in Russia. ICSID also provides all necessary support for research such as up-to-date analytical software, funding for attendance at international conferences and research assistantship. Moreover, the HSE library provides access to a large collection of academic journals.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted online. Please provide a CV, a statement of research interest and a recent research paper submitted via an 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 thehiring center 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 International Center for the Study of Institutions and Development (ICSID)  – official website of the Centre or contact Rosalia Sultimova, a manager of the center, rsultimova@hse.ru
  
• 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.