Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow - Health, Pharma and Biotech

CEPS - Centre for European Policy Studies

Brussels, Belgium

CEPS is seeking an outstanding Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow to strengthen its research and policy engagement activities on European and global health, the pharmaceutical sector, and biotechnology.

The successful candidate will contribute to CEPS’ mission of providing independent, evidence-based policy analysis and recommendations to European and international decision-makers. They will play a leading role in developing research agendas, building partnerships, acquiring research funding and contributing to high-level policy debates on the future of Europe's economy, society and technological development. Depending on their specialisation and seniority, CEPS considers appointing the selected candidate directly in a position of Head of Programme.

Main tasks

You will become a member of CEPS’ staff and contribute to the intellectual leadership and strategic development of the organisation.
You will conduct high-quality policy research and analysis in the following fields: European and global health policy and governance; pharmaceutical policy (EU pharmaceutical regulation and industrial policy, access to medicines, intellectual property); biotechnology policy and governance of emerging health technologies.
You will lead and contribute to research projects funded by the European Commission, national governments, international organisations, foundations and private-sector partners.
You will develop new research initiatives and contribute to the expansion of CEPS’ activities in strategic policy domains.
You will publish policy briefs, reports, commentaries and academic outputs and contribute to shaping policy debates at European and international level.
You will represent CEPS in high-level policy discussions, conferences, advisory groups and stakeholder dialogues.
You will engage with policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, researchers and civil society organisations across Europe and beyond.
You will actively contribute to fundraising, proposal writing and the acquisition of new research projects and partnerships.
You will mentor junior researchers and contribute to the development of research excellence across CEPS.
You will contribute to CEPS’ visibility and influence through public speaking, media engagement and thought leadership activities.

Your background and qualifications

You hold a PhD in economics, political science, public policy, international relations, law, public health, innovation studies, science and technology studies, engineering, or another relevant discipline. In exceptional cases, we could consider candidates not holding a PhD but having significant comparable research experience.
You have a minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience in research, policy analysis, public administration, international organisations, consulting, industry or related fields.
You possess recognised expertise in at least one of the following areas: European and global health policy and governance, pharmaceutical policy, biotechnology policy, and governance of emerging health technologies.
You have a strong record of publications and policy-relevant analytical work.
You have experience leading complex research projects and multidisciplinary teams.
You have a strong understanding of European policymaking and governance.
You have experience engaging with senior policymakers, regulators, business leaders, researchers and other stakeholders.
You have a proven track record in acquiring externally funded research projects, building partnerships and developing research networks.
You have excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Knowledge of additional languages is an asset.

Profile of the ideal candidate

You combine intellectual excellence with a strong commitment to policy impact.
You are capable of identifying emerging policy challenges and developing innovative research agendas.
You can connect developments in technology, innovation, health, industry, competitiveness and geopolitics into coherent policy analysis.
You are entrepreneurial and able to build new activities, partnerships and funding opportunities.
You are an effective leader, mentor and team player.
You are comfortable working across disciplines and engaging with diverse stakeholder communities.
You can manage multiple priorities while maintaining high standards of analytical quality.
You are kind with a deep respect for diversity, and a strong sense of empathy towards colleagues.
You enjoy teamwork and are open to giving and receiving feedback.
You are enthusiastic about contributing to CEPS’ role as a leading independent voice in European and global policy debates.