PhD Position in ERC Project EXPULSE: Urban Expulsion Regimes (Thessaloniki) Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Belgium

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) invites applications for a PhD position within the ERC-funded project EXPULSE, focusing on Urban Expulsion Regimes in Thessaloniki. The project is hosted by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Department of Sociology, and the Brussels Institute for Social and Population Studies. The research investigates how urban expulsion regimes—particularly housing evictions—shape housing trajectories, urban citizenship, and socio-spatial inequalities in four European cities: Brussels, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Thessaloniki.

EXPULSE conceptualizes urban expulsion regimes as the dynamic interplay between state policies, housing market regulations, public discourses, and the everyday practices of street-level bureaucrats and private actors involved in eviction processes. The project employs a comparative mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of eviction court data with qualitative interviews and ethnographic fieldwork involving institutional actors and residents at risk of eviction.

The successful candidate will conduct in-depth research in Thessaloniki, actively engaging with the project’s comparative framework. Key responsibilities include:

• Studying urban expulsion regimes “from above”: analyzing state policies, legal frameworks, housing regulations, and public discourses shaping eviction governance.
• Studying urban expulsion regimes “from below”: examining how eviction governance is enacted in everyday practices by street-level bureaucrats and private actors (e.g., landlords, welfare offices, judicial courts, police, bailiffs).
• Exploring lived experiences of housing insecurity: investigating housing trajectories, notions of home, coping strategies, and access to urban citizenship among residents at risk of eviction.

The position is based at the Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene), offering a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive academic environment. VUB is committed to freedom, equality, and solidarity, and is a member of the EUTOPIA alliance of European universities.

Eligibility and Requirements: Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in sociology, urban studies, geography, anthropology, or a related field. They should demonstrate an excellent academic track record, strong motivation, intellectual curiosity, and a rigorous work ethic. Fluency in English and proficiency in Greek are required, along with proven experience in qualitative research methods (interviews, ethnography, discourse analysis). Assets include prior research on housing insecurity, vulnerable populations, or street-level bureaucrats, and existing networks with housing movements or urban actors in Thessaloniki. Applicants must not have worked as an assistant paid from operating resources for more than 12 months. Non-EEA nationals must meet permit and residence requirements for VUB.

Funding and Benefits: The position offers a full-time PhD scholarship for 12 months, extendable up to 48 months upon positive evaluation. The grant is linked to government scales. Additional benefits include telework allowance, cost-free hospitalisation insurance, full reimbursement of public transport commute, affordable campus meals, sports facilities, nursery discounts, and extensive leave arrangements.

Application Process: Apply online via the provided link by 15 May 2026. Required documents include your CV (with two referees), motivation letter, a writing sample in English, and course transcript/diploma. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview in early June 2026 and must present a draft research proposal aligned with the EXPULSE project objectives.

For questions about the job content, contact Prof. Eva Swyngedouw at [email protected]. For more information about VUB and EUTOPIA, visit the provided links.