Sciences Po is calling for outstanding applications from around the world for visiting faculty funded by the Open Institute for Digital Transformations1.
Through the Open Institute for Digital Transformations, Sciences Po seeks to promote a new institutional approach to research and teaching based on reaffirming the importance of social sciences and humanities for the study of digital technologies as well as collaboration between the social sciences and humanities and the natural and computer sciences.
In the 2027-2028 academic year (Fall 2027, Spring 2028), Sciences Po will open two visiting faculty positions on the transformative role of AI in society and its potential impacts on democracy for up to a semester-long stay.
Research proposals may focus on, but are not limited to, the following themes:
- The economic impact of AI technologies, including on productivity, markets, and the structure and history of technology companies;
- AI and society: the transformation of work in various industries (health, insurance, news, creation, entertainment, science and education, etc.) including the fairness and inequality issues machine learning-based technology may rise;
- Digital law and governance: including regulation of AI technologies, algorithms and their use in social media, digital surveillance, rule of law and constitutional freedoms, challenges and opportunities of AI decision-making in government, geopolitics and global governance of AI, legal issues of generative AI productions, digitalisation of public services and governance, etc;
- Algorithms and politics, including the impact of social media on political competition and partisanship; political communication and discourse; political participation, public consultations, and elections; democratic innovations;
- AI and the information ecosystem, including misinformation, narrative manipulation, microtargeting, and media system transformation;
- Technology and public participation, including measurement of public opinion online, harmful online discourse (hate speech), online social mobilization, etc;
- Social sciences and AI: new methods and data sources for the humanities and social sciences including: machine learning for social sciences, in silico sociology, digital humanities, etc.
Sciences Po is an international research university, both selective and open to the world, ranking among the finest institutions in the fields of humanities and social sciences. According to the 2026 QS Rankings by subject, Sciences Po is among the top three international universities around the world for studying politics and has remained the leading university in the European Union in this discipline for the past 11 years.
Sciences Po stands out for combining approaches and confronting different worldviews. This tradition of diversity and its multidisciplinary approach makes Sciences Po a reputed player in academic research through its scientific production, an internationally recognized teaching university, an active participant in public debate, and a forum where thought meets action.
Detailed information about our research units, Undergraduate College and Graduate Schools can be found on our website.
Visiting faculty will receive a gross monthly stipend of 5 160 euros (before mandatory social security contributions and income taxes are deducted).
Visiting faculty are expected to teach one full course (12 x 2 hour sessions) with a digital/technological focus over the semester. They are also expected to contribute actively to the research community they will join, and to deliver at least one academic lecture or seminar presentation during their stay in line with the activities organized by the Open Institute for Digital Transformations.
Visiting faculty will be given access to an office space on campus, in the heart of Paris, to the Sciences Po library and other university facilities and to the research activities and events programme driven by the research unit in which they will be hosted.
The stay is to be scheduled between September 2027 and December 2027 or February 2028
and May 2028.
Applicants must be current full-time permanent faculty members of their home university or research institute, hold a doctorate (or equivalent university degree), and have teaching experience.
Application materials include the following and must be submitted in English or in French:
- A statement of interest for the position, including research project to be undertaken at Sciences Po and specificities (ex: semester for residence)
- A proposed course to be taught in English or French, including a twopage, session-by-session description of each session’s content, for Sciences Po’s Undergraduate College or one of the graduate schools;
- An up-to-date CV, including list of publications;
- An invitation letter from the Sciences Po research center that wishes to host the applicant;
- A letter of support from the relevant head of department or dean of the applicant’s home institution confirming their agreement for a one-semester residence at Sciences Po.
Applications should be submitted by email to Carly Hafner, Secretary General of the Open
Institute for Digital Transformations, carly.hafner@sciencespo.fr.
Sciences Po is a bilingual university (English and French); French is therefore not required in
order to apply for this position.
Important: Please note that you should contact the relevant department/research centre at
least 6 weeks prior to the deadline for applications to secure a letter of invitation in due time.
A selection committee composed of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Open Institute for Digital Transformations will meet after the submission deadline, and decisions will be communicated to applicants by Sciences Po shortly thereafter.
QUESTIONS?
● For the program conditions: Carly Hafner, Secretary General of the Open Institute for Digital Transformations, carly.hafner@sciencespo.fr
● For information about the research interests of the Open Institute, Jean-Philippe Cointet, Director of the Open Institute for Digital Transformations: jeanphilippe.cointet@sciencespo.fr
● For information about the research units: Vincent Morandi, Secretary General of the
Research Division: vincent.morandi@sciencespo.f