Ghent University in Belgium is offering a PhD position in the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy as part of the interdisciplinary UNPACK project, which investigates fairness in asylum procedures. The research integrates perspectives from linguistics, anthropology, psychology, and law, focusing on the experiences of applicants, officials, interpreters, and lawyers. The successful candidate will conduct mixed-methods research on wellbeing and mental health in the context of asylum procedures, develop their research focus in collaboration with supervisors and co-researchers, and contribute to both academic and broader audiences. The project is a collaboration among 8 researchers and 4 professors, in partnership with the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS), and offers membership in CESSMIR – Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees.

Applicants must have an internationally recognised Master’s degree in social work, educational sciences, psychology, or related social sciences. High proficiency in Dutch or French and fluency in the other language, as well as fluency in academic English, are required. Candidates should demonstrate excellent analytical, writing, and presentation skills, a collaborative mindset, and affinity with refugees or asylum procedures. Assets include experience in mental health of refugees or migrants, qualitative and quantitative research methods, knowledge of relevant languages for refugee communities, experience with vulnerable populations, and interdisciplinary research experience.

The position is a full-time PhD fellowship, initially for 12 months and renewable up to 48 months, with a salary at 100% of the net salary of an AAP member (tax-free grant, amount depends on family status and seniority). Benefits include 36 days of annual leave, training opportunities, a bicycle allowance, and eco vouchers. The ideal start date is 1 September 2026. The application deadline is 15 March 2026. Applicants should submit a single PDF with all required documents to [email protected], following the specified naming convention. Selection includes notification by 3 April 2026 and in-person interviews in Ghent in April or May 2026.