This fully funded PhD position at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) focuses on the role of emotions in regulatory politics, as part of the VIDI research project "Emotion-Infused Risk Regulation: Rethinking the Fundamentals of Regulatory Governance for Citizen-Centric Rulemaking," funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The project, led by Associate Professor Dovilė Rimkutė, investigates how emotions such as anger, fear, anxiety, and trust influence regulatory decision-making, legitimacy perceptions, and citizen–regulator interactions within EU regulatory systems.

The successful candidate will employ a mixed-methods approach, including survey experiments, elite interviews with EU and national regulators, and both quantitative and qualitative analyses. The research will contribute to understanding affective regulatory governance, emotional dynamics in rule-making, and the legitimacy of regulatory authority. The PhD candidate will write a cumulative dissertation based on journal articles, publish in international journals, present at academic conferences, and produce policy briefs and reports.

Applicants should hold or expect to obtain a Master’s degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Psychology, Cognitive/Social Psychology, or a related field. Essential skills include experimental research, statistical analysis (e.g., R), elite interviewing, mixed-methods research, strong academic writing, proficiency in English and at least one EU language, and the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams. A commitment to societal impact and inclusive governance is highly valued.

The position offers a 4-year contract with a competitive salary (€3,059–€3,881 gross/month), 8% holiday allowance, 8.3% end-of-year bonus, pension and commuting allowances, flexible benefits, generous paid leave, access to sports facilities, and graduate school training. The interdisciplinary research environment and international academic network at VU Amsterdam provide an excellent setting for doctoral research at the intersection of psychology, governance, and public policy.

To apply, candidates must submit a single PDF including an academic CV (max 2 pages), motivation letter (max 2 pages), BA & MA transcripts, and contact details for two referees by 15 April 2026. Interviews will be held in May–June 2026, with a flexible start date from September 2026. For more information, visit the official VU Amsterdam vacancies portal.