Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is an independent policy institute and leading think tank based in London. It conducts in-depth research and analysis on global affairs, aiming to help governments, businesses and the public make informed decisions.

The Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership and the Next Generation at Chatham House empowers aspiring young leaders to address global challenges and influence a better world. We are now looking to welcome PhD students to the Chatham House research community to offer aspiring researchers an enriching working experience in a leading policy institute.

Established in 2022, the UK in the World programme at Chatham House provides a hub for long-term, in-depth thinking about the UK’s foreign policy choices. The team focuses on a range of topics, but the top themes include:

• How the UK navigates between the EU, US and China;

• How the UK invests in economic and societal resilience, science and tech, and defence to enhance its global power; and

• How the UK builds strategic relationships with the Global South.

The UK in the World Programme produces independent research on these issues, focused on practical and timely recommendations, and convenes discussions with experts and decision-makers to share relevant experience, analysis and ideas.

The UK in the World Programme is looking to offer a three-month, full-time placement for a PhD student interested in UK foreign policy. The student will work under the supervision of the director of the programme with whom the student will have regular check-ins.

The student will:

• Work on and contribute to a research project – either a paper, series of convenings, or other similar work – for the duration of the placement from October 2025 until the end of the year. This could include but is not limited to desk research and literature reviews, helping with drafting publications, designing and undertaking research interviews and collating feedback; designing, developing and delivering a research roundtable(s); synthesising high-level workshop and conference discussions, etc.;

• Support the programme in responding to important international developments related to the programme’s focus by undertaking research, writing briefs or monitoring issue(s) in a timely fashion;

• Where appropriate, collaborate with colleagues from across other regional and thematic research areas to draw together complementary research and explore avenues for potential collaboration;

• Working with the team, identify and pursue opportunities for developing research and grant proposals. With support from the programme, you will contribute to research proposals for submission to a breadth of potential funders, including governments, businesses and foundations;

• As appropriate, gain experience in drafting, monitoring and reconciling project reports and budgets; and

• As appropriate, support with Chatham House events including identifying topics, suggesting speakers, and planning.

In addition to their work in the UK in the World team, the student will take part in The Queen Elizabeth II Academy’s Leadership Masterclass Programme for the duration of the placement. The programme takes place every Thursday, and it includes skills workshops, thematic sessions, and leadership training. The student will also gain access to Chatham House’s wider networks, library, and busy events schedule featuring world-leading experts.

The student should have: 

• Strong research skills in a relevant field, particularly the ability to synthesise complex information;
• Demonstrable interest in UK foreign policy and international affairs broadly;
• Excellent, professional written and verbal communication skills, particularly the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly;
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to work under tight timeframes whilst balancing various tasks; 
• A collaborative approach, able to form positive working relationships with people at all levels, internally and externally; and
• Good IT skills and familiarity with Office 365 suite (inc. MS Teams, Word and Outlook).

Contract: 3 months full-time for approximately 35 hrs a week.

Location and working arrangement: St James's Square, London. This is a hybrid role based in our London office. The student will be expected to work onsite at least 2 days per week.

Closing date: Monday 18 August 2025. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as applications are assessed on a rolling basis.

Expected start date: Wednesday 1 October 2025 (there is an option to start the placement later, subject to agreement between the student and Chatham House).

Please avoid using AI for your application. We want to hear from you! We can tell the difference between a genuine answer and an AI-generated one. Using AI will run the risk of your application being disqualified.

The Job Description as outlined above will not be available once the closing date has passed. Please ensure you keep a copy for your own record.