What is the Academic Careers Observatory?
The Academic Careers Observatory (ACO) provides practical information and resources to help early-career researchers understand and navigate academic career paths across different countries and disciplines. It brings together guidance on career structures, recruitment practices, funding opportunities, salaries, working conditions, and academic job markets, supporting researchers in making informed decisions about their next career steps.
Developed within the Max Weber Programme, the ACO also highlights relevant funding schemes, job portals, research institutions, and professional resources, offering an accessible overview of the opportunities and challenges researchers may encounter when pursuing an academic career internationally.
While many of its resources are applicable across academia more broadly, the ACO places particular emphasis on the four principal disciplines represented at the EUI: Economics, History, Law, and Political and Social Sciences.
Postdoc Funding & Jobs
Explore funding opportunities, academic job markets, and career resources for postdoctoral researchers in Europe and beyond. Find information on major funding programmes, academic job platforms, discipline-specific resources, research mobility, and researchers’ rights to help you navigate the next steps in your academic career.
Strategies
Find practical guidance for navigating competitive fellowships and research grants across Europe and the UK. Learn about eligibility, application timelines, choosing a host institution, and developing a strong application for your next career step.
Careers by country
Discover how academic careers are structured across different countries. Explore information on career paths, recruitment, salaries, working conditions, job security, funding opportunities, research institutions, and resources for researchers looking to work internationally.
Contacts
Discover the team and contributors behind the Academic Careers Observatory (ACO). Find contact information and learn how you can get in touch with us about academic careers, resources, collaborations, or contributions to the Observatory.