Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI)
Listed on Orbital Diplomat 25 Aug 2026
Note: this position is advertised in Italian. Excellent written and spoken Italian and English are both mandatory. The Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) is an independent, private, non-profit think tank founded in 1965 by Altiero Spinelli, one of the most influential Italian institutions in the study of international politics, European integration, and multilateral cooperation. IAI's Defence, Security and Space Programme is one of Italy's leading research units on space policy, covering political, military, technological, industrial, and strategic dimensions at Italian, European, and transatlantic level. This Researcher position is being recruited with a primary focus on space — directly within IAI's space research portfolio. The postholder will produce analyses, articles, papers, reports, and publications on space and defence themes; develop and manage national, European, and international research projects; collaborate with institutions and international partners; organise events, workshops, and seminars; and participate as a speaker at national and international conferences. For early-career space policy researchers, this is one of the most substantive entry points into Italian and European space policy research — embedded within a think tank with strong relationships with Italian ministries, the European Commission, ESA, and NATO partners, and with an active publication and media profile. Start date is 1 October 2026. Interviews are scheduled for 11 September 2026 at IAI headquarters in Rome.
At least one year of relevant professional experience Master's degree or equivalent in space policy, space law, space economy, strategic studies, international relations, political science, diplomatic studies, law, economics, or foreign languages Excellent Italian and English, written and spoken (both mandatory) Strong and demonstrable interest in space, defence, and security topics Date of birth no earlier than 1 January 1993 French or German knowledge considered a plus Application materials: CV (max 3 pages, including date of birth, thesis title and grade, and relevant professional experience), motivation letter (max 1 page), optional reference letter, up to 2 publications, optional English language certification Applications submitted via IAI careers portal by 3 September 2026