Postdoctoral Researcher in Intelligence and Security; fte

Postdoctoral Researcher in Intelligence and Security (0.8-1.0 fte)

Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is one of Europe’s leading international research universities.

Applying is possible until: 15 februari 2026

The Intelligence and Security Research Group at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA) is looking for a postdoctoral researcher (1.0 fte, 36-month position) with research and teaching expertise in intelligence and security. Our group examines intelligence organisations and practices not only in their own right but as instruments that shape governance, legitimacy, and power. Intelligence and security communities operate amid overlapping crises –geopolitical instability and democratic pressures to information manipulation, emerging technologies, and systemic risks.

These dynamics are reshaping how intelligence organisations anticipate threats, collaborate with partners, and contribute to governance. We welcome research projects that use intelligence as a lens to understand political and social transformation in an era of complexity and uncertainty. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary and methodologically innovative proposals that connect intelligence studies with broader phenomena and disciplines.

The successful candidate will conduct research aligned with the agenda of the Intelligence and Security Research Group and assist with teaching across several programs within the institute, including the MSc in Crisis and Security Management.

Conduct independent and collaborative research with the research group on one or more of the following topics:

• Anticipatory Intelligence and Systemic Risk:How do intelligence organisations anticipate and manage complex, cascading risks under uncertainty? How can analytic and organisational methods contribute to the governance of risk and resilience?
• Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI):How do intelligence and political systems adapt to information disorder? Possible directions include comparative analyses of FIMI responses in democracies and autocracies, cooperation with private and civil actors, and the governance of truth in contested information environments.
• Transnational Repression (TNR):How and why do states project and countercoercion, surveillance, and influence beyond their borders?
  
  Directions include comparative analyses of national TNR practices, from surveillance to coercion via criminal and extremist networks, and assessments of state responses.
• Other promising research ideas that align with the group’s focus.
• Collect and analyze dataon one or several of the topics mentioned above.
• Produce high-quality co-authored outputs for both academic and non-academic audiences, with a focus on international, peer-reviewed journals.
• Work within a multidisciplinary team across the Intelligence and Security research group and other research groups within the Institute, supporting the development and implementation of the Institute’s research strategy.
• Assist in teaching and grading within courses in minor, bachelor and master programs within the institute, including the MSc in Crisis and Security Management.
• Supervise theses and capstone projects.

Our priority is to hire an excellent candidate who can contribute to the Intelligence and Security Research Group by enhancing and complementing its research agenda, while also assisting in teaching. This opportunity will help the candidate prepare for the next step in their academic career.

If you recognize yourself in this profile, or do not quite meet all the requirements but believe this is the right job for you, please do apply. We look forward to your application.

The mission of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs (FGGA) is contributing to society. The faculty does this through high-quality interdisciplinary education and (new) scientific knowledge. Whether it is terrorism, security, artificial intelligence or a governance solution to the housing crisis, contemporary issues are comprehensively addressed  the heart of The Hague, where important decisions are made, students and professionals come together to gain knowledge and…