PhD Positions in Social Inequalities, Time Poverty, and Parental Time Investments at University of Lausanne University of Lausanne in Switzerland

The University of Lausanne (UNIL) is offering two fully funded PhD positions at the LIVES Centre, within the Institute of Social Sciences. These positions are part of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) project “The Social Stratification of Time: Investigating Inequalities in Time Use through a Swiss Diary Study (STRATUS)”. The project aims to collect and analyse time use data in Switzerland, focusing on social inequalities in time poverty and parental time investments.

Position 1 will focus on social inequalities in time poverty, supervised by Prof. Leen Vandecasteele. The research will investigate how the quantity, quality, and structure of free time differ between socio-economic groups and genders, and evaluate the consequences of time poverty for social connection and wellbeing. The project is cross-national, comparing time poverty across countries with different welfare state policies and labour market regulations.

Position 2 will examine social class differences in parental time resource investments into children, supervised by Prof. Michael Grätz. The doctoral student will analyse social inequalities in the amount, type, and timing of parental resources invested in children, with a focus on class-based differences.

Both positions require a Master’s degree in sociology, demography, social policy, economics, psychology, or a related social science with strong quantitative training. Applicants should have experience with statistical methods for survey data analysis and be familiar with R or Stata. Fluency in English and a collaborative attitude are essential. The working languages are English (mainly) and French.

The positions are fully funded for up to four years, with a starting salary of 58,898 CHF, rising to 61,016 CHF. The successful candidates will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary research environment at UNIL’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences and the LIVES Centre. They will benefit from ongoing supervision, specialised training, and funding for international conferences. UNIL is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and encourages applications from women and candidates with a migration history.

To apply, candidates must submit a motivation letter, CV, academic transcripts, an example of academic writing, and contact details for two academic referees via the official UNIL online portal. The application deadline is March 18, 2026, with interviews scheduled for March or April 2026. For further information, contact Prof. Leen Vandecasteele or Prof. Michael Grätz.

For more details, visit the official job postings and the LIVES Centre website.