Assistant Professor in European Public Affairs

Welcome to Maastricht University! 
European public affairs is in constant flux, shaped by ongoing internal and external political, societal, and institutional developments. Understanding the actors, processes, and power dynamics of EU decision-making is essential to shaping Europe’s future. At Maastricht University, we contribute to this mission by advancing the professionalization of public affairs and democracy in Europe through research and education. As an Assistant Professor in European Public Affairs you will contribute to this shared pursuit by connecting policy and political insight with contemporary debates about Europe, its institutions, and its policies. 

Join a university that values curiosity, collaboration, and critical reflection in everything we do.

Assistant Professor in European Public Affairs

Our goal: We aim to strengthen our expertise in European public affairs, and to advance interdisciplinary research on European policies, politics, and political actors, including political parties, interest groups, think tanks, and European institutions. We welcome candidates whose research engages with emerging interdisciplinary policy fields and who can connect insights across policy domains and teach broadly within European public policy and politics. Expertise in areas such as climate and sustainability policy or digital governance and artificial intelligence would be considered an asset.

Your colleagues: You will join the Department of Political Science and the research program Europe: Society, Politics and Global Order at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS). Our academic community brings together political scientists, historians, philosophers, and international relations scholars who study European political actors and institutions through interdisciplinary, collaborative, and comparative research.

What you do
You will contribute to teaching in BA and MA programs at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, including the BA program in European Studies and the MA program in European Public Affairs, and potentially across other interdisciplinary programmes within the faculty that include a policy-related focus. Teaching tasks may include tutoring, coordinating, and lecturing courses; alumni engagement; supervising internships and BA and MA theses; and mentoring first-year BA students. At the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, academic duties follow the standard division of 60% teaching and management and 40% research. Research time may be extended through the acquisition of external funding.

What you bring 
We’re not looking for checkboxes; we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

• Expert in European Public Affairs. Your teaching and research focus on the politics and policies of the European Union and its member states, including the role of organized political and policy actors—such as political parties, interest groups, think tanks, and civil society organizations—decision-making processes, and EU institutions. Relevant themes include politicization and contestation in European politics, stakeholder involvement in policymaking, information and communication in EU public affairs, policy debates related to digitalization/AI and sustainability, the rise of radical parties and their effects on EU governance, and other contemporary political challenges shaping EU and national policymaking.
• Bridge builder between academia and policy: You connect academic research with policy practice by translating insights into policy-relevant outputs, such as policy briefs and advisory formats, and ideally draw on experience in political or policy settings in your teaching.
• Interdisciplinary thinker. You connect empirical research on European politics and policy with broader theoretical debates and ongoing political developments, and you enjoy working across disciplinary boundaries.
• Inspiring teacher. You have demonstrated experience in course coordination, teaching innovation, engagement with alumni or professional networks, and thesis supervision. You encourage active student participation and value team teaching within our Problem-Based Learning (PBL) system, including innovative and skills-oriented forms of assessment.
• Experienced researcher. You have a growing record of international, peer-reviewed publications and are motivated to further develop your research profile, including through collaborative grant proposals.
• Collegial and community-minded. You contribute to our academic environment through openness and collaboration, and you are willing to gradually take on shared responsibilities, including participation in academic governance and coordination roles in education (e.g. BA or MA thesis tracks), as well as engagement with student and alumni communities.
• Multilingual communicator. You are fluent in English (C2 level, written and spoken). Non-Dutch speakers are expected to acquire an intermediate level of Dutch within a reasonable timeframe. Proficiency in Dutch is considered an advantage, particularly with regard to supervising and teaching in Dutch at BA and MA level.

What we offer 
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer: 

• A 18-month contract with the prospect of a permanent contract based on mutual satisfaction.
• A gross monthly salary between €4.728 and €7.297 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours. 
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe. 

About the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS)
FASoS is a close-knit, international community of thinkers, doers, and connectors. We offer interdisciplinary education in cultural and social sciences, and our research focuses on societies in transition. Creativity and collaboration are central; ranging from European integration, digitalization, and culture to innovative educational projects. FASoS is small-scale, informal, and diverse, with room to follow your own path.

Interested?
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Prof. Dr. Esther Versluis at e.versluis@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

You can also apply directly using the button below.  

You are kindly invited to submit your application, which should consist of: 

1. A 2 to 3-page letter of motivation;
2. Your PhD degree certificate;
3. A full CV (including a complete list of publications with clear differentiation between peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications, an overview of funding acquisition, management experience, outreach activities);
4. Teaching evaluations;
5. A statement on teaching and how it relates to the BA and MA programs mentioned above;
6. A statement on research interests and plans and how these link to the research conducted within the Research Program ‘Europe: Society, Politics and Global Order’;
7. Two writing samples: published article(s) and/or book chapter;
8. The contact information of two referees (including e-mail, phone number, mailing address, and relationship to the applicant).

The deadline for submitting your application is 30 march 2026.
The first interview round is scheduled on 21 April 2026 (online) and the second interview round on 12 May 2026 (at FASoS).

We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow. 

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized. 

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.