WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND CONTEXT (structure hosting the post)
The CIENS is a teaching and research platform devoted to nuclear defense and strategic issues in the broadest sense, with an interdisciplinary approach. It is run by a team of 4 full-time researchers and 1 project manager, and works in cooperation with associate researchers and experts, as well as external practitioners specializing in strategic issues.
The ambition of the CIENS is to study inter-state relations from a strategic point of view and the various forms of conflict between powers, always with a view to the possibility of a rise to the extremes, in other words of a nuclear confrontation that deterrence is designed to avoid.
The CIENS’ research agenda has three main strands (available in PDF format at this link):
1. a reflection on the relationship between Europe and nuclear deterrence, against the backdrop of the highly topical issue of European strategic autonomy;
2. an analysis of the status of strategic knowledge, between academia and expertise, involving a reflexive approach to what the CIENS is trying to do at the junction of these two worlds;
3. lastly, a reflection on the emergence of new domains of conflict, with a particular focus on the cyber dimension.
The CIENS’ research activities are carried out in cooperation with renowned international partners.
The CIENS courses are taught as part of the ENS curriculum and are structured into a minor entitled “International Relations and Contemporary Strategic Issues – Diplomacy, Security, Defense”. The objective is to offer a multidisciplinary approach to the political and strategic dimension of international relations, including both introductory and more in-depth courses, enabling students to familiarize themselves with strategic issues in the broadest sense – nuclear deterrence, cyber defense, arms control and disarmament, strategic thinking, outer space, information warfare and AI, etc. – while benefiting from the dual input of academics and practitioners specializing in these issues.
The work of the CIENS is part of an original partnership between the ENS and three institutional actors, the Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), the French Ministry of Defense (DGRIS), and the Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information (ANSSI), which contribute to the funding of CIENS activities, in order to promote the development of excellent, independent and internationally recognized scientific research in the fields of defense and strategic issues.
The doctoral student will be welcomed in the CIENS’ offices, located on the ENS-PSL campus, 45 rue d’Ulm.
For a fuller presentation of the CIENS: https://ciens.ens.psl.eu/en/our-center/
RESEARCH MISSION
To conduct a thesis on issues relating to nuclear deterrence and strategic issues, in line with the research areas developed by the CIENS (‘Europe and nuclear deterrence’; ‘Strategic knowledge: between academia and expertise’; ‘New domains of conflict’; available here in full).
DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
The doctoral supervision arrangements envisaged by the candidate will be specified in the application form, taking into account the following information:
– the candidate’s thesis director may be from outside ENS-PSL;
– co-supervision with a CIENS member is recommended, but not compulsory;
– co-supervision arrangements with a foreign university may be considered.
For further information, please contact the CIENS Director, frederic.gloriant@ens.psl.eu.
TEACHING MISSION
A teaching assignment could be envisaged (“doctoral mission”).
INFORMATION ON THE CANDIDATE’S PROFILE :
Candidates must hold a Master’s degree already obtained (or to be obtained by July 2025 at the latest) in one of the Humanities and Social Sciences disciplines relevant to the CIENS research themes: political science, strategic studies, contemporary history, law, philosophy, geography, economics, science and technology studies, international relations, sociology.
An ability to work in a team and within a multidisciplinary project is expected, as well as a command of English (written and spoken).
OTHER INFORMATION
Position to be filled : Start of academic year 2025 (Sept)
Place of work: 45 rue d’Ulm / ENS
Quota of work (50% or more) :
– Type: 36-month fixed-term contract
– Quota : 100%
The ENS-PSL is a disabled-friendly establishment and is committed to diversity.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applications must be submitted by 15 May 2025 at the latest.
Documents to be provided:
– CV
– Copies of examination results of relevant degrees obtained
– An application letter detailing the applicant’s motivations for joining the CIENS research team and the suitability of his or her profile
– A detailed research proposal (6 to 10 pages, Times New Roman 12, 1.5 line spacing), including: research question, hypotheses, state of the art, corpus studied, methodology, objectives of the dissertation, how the dissertation fits into one of the CIENS’ research areas and the different stages envisaged in its completion, bibliographical references.
– A written sample of scientific production (e.g. master’s thesis).
This application should be sent as a single PDF file by email to frederic.gloriant@ens.psl.eu (CIENS director) and stephanie.braquehais@ens.psl.eu (project manager).
One or two letters of recommendation may be sent in addition to the PDF file, directly to frederic.gloriant@ens.psl.euand stephanie.braquehais@ens.psl.eu, by the referees requested.
