PhD Position in Political Science on Democratization and Political Violence at the University of Amsterdam University of Amsterdam in Netherlands

PhD position in Political Science at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, within the HORIZON MSCA Doctoral Network DIViNE (Democratic Institutions and Violence Network in Europe).

The project focuses on democratization, political violence, governance, and policy studies. The selected PhD candidate will work on how political violence persists in democracies, with a project examining transitions, rent-seeking incentives, decentralization bargains, and relationships between national incumbents and local elites. The research combines quantitative analysis, survey data, survey experiments, mixed methods, and fieldwork interviews, with empirical work in Global South contexts.

The candidate will be supervised by Dr. Ursula Daxecker (University of Amsterdam / Max Planck Institute for Political and Social Science) and Dr. Hanne Fjelde (University of Uppsala), and will join a network of 10 PhD candidates across five universities. At UvA, the PhD researcher will be part of the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR) and the programme group Political Institutions and Identities (PII).

Funding and conditions: This is a funded PhD employment position under MSCA Doctoral Network conditions. The appointment is initially for one year, with extension up to three years at UvA and a further one-year extension envisioned at the Max Planck Institute in Göttingen. The role includes training, secondments, teaching up to 10%, and participation in workshops, colloquia, and network activities. No stipend amount is stated.

Eligibility highlights: Applicants need a Master’s degree or equivalent in political science or a closely related discipline, strong quantitative methods skills (panel regression, large administrative data, causal inference, Stata/R), excellent English, and the ability to work independently and in teams. Interest in fieldwork in the Global South is required; experience with South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, qualitative methods, mixed methods, and political violence research is desirable. MSCA mobility rules apply: candidates must not have lived or worked in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months before recruitment.

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands, with a later one-year extension in Göttingen, Germany.

Deadline: 11 November 2026.

How to apply: Submit one PDF with CV, cover letter, two-page project proposal, transcripts, two academic references, and a writing sample (max 10 pages) via AcademicTransfer. Additional materials such as recommendation letters are only requested for shortlisted candidates.