Brigitte Pircher

Since February 2022, I have been an Associate Professor at Linnaeus University. Previously, I have held posts at the University of Vienna, Linnaeus University, and Copenhagen Business School. I lead research projects on public procurement and EU institutions and their policy-making. Moreover, I am part of a work package on fair working conditions through labour market policies in the EU Horizon 2020 project 'EuSocialCit', coordinated by the University of Amsterdam (https://www.eusocialcit.eu/). In 2016, I defended my PhD with the highest distinction at the University of Vienna. I have a master's degree in European Studies (University of Vienna) and a master's degree in political science (University of Innsbruck). 

I have nine years of work experience outside academia in publication and communication management, conflict management, and community work in social housing in Vienna. Furthermore, I worked as head of an office and policy adviser in the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg. 

Research
As a political scientist specialising in European Studies, my research focuses on policy-making in the EU institutions and implementing these policies at the national level. What are the motivations of actors to draft and adopt specific policies, and how are they set into practice?  Specifically, I focus on the internal market (public procurement) and social policies (labour markets, parental leave, gender equality). 

Research interests include - but are not limited to - policy implementation, compliance with EU law, crisis politics, Europeanisation, European integration, and voting behaviours and decision-making processes in the EU institutions. 

Methods: I use all different research methods, often mixing them in mixed-methods designs, but my main specialisation is in-depth qualitative analyses. 

Teaching: I have teaching experiences from Linnaeus University and the University of Vienna at all levels of education and supervise bachelor's, master's, and doctoral theses in my research areas.