PhD student in Information Society, with focus on Agent-Based Simulation of Social Behaviour Stockholm University’s Department of Computer and Systems Sciences in Sweden

Stockholm University’s Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV) is offering a PhD fellowship for a Doctoral Candidate in Information Society with a focus on Agent-Based Simulation of Social Behaviour. The position is part of the EU Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network Acting in Crisis: Understanding Social Complexity to improve Crisis Preparedness (SoCRISP), an international research and training network aimed at improving crisis preparedness through agent-based social simulation and complementary methods.

The doctoral project, titled Citizens as social beings in a pandemic crisis, will combine social science concepts, theories, and models with epidemiological modelling to create realistic and holistic simulation models for pandemic preparedness and policy support. The work is interdisciplinary and involves cooperation with academic and non-academic partners, participation in consortium meetings, PhD courses, and two one-month internships in Sweden and Austria.

DSV is a dynamic and international research environment at Stockholm University’s campus in Kista, north of central Stockholm. The department’s research connects technology with the humanities, social sciences, and behavioural sciences, making it a strong setting for work at the intersection of computational methods and society. The doctoral candidate will join a vibrant community with opportunities for seminars, scientific exchange, and collaboration across academia and industry.

Funding includes a competitive salary, wellness benefits, and support for books, conference travel, and professional development. The appointment is a fixed-term doctoral studentship corresponding to up to four years of full-time doctoral education.

Eligibility requirements are specific and important. Applicants must have a second-cycle degree or equivalent, meet the general doctoral admission criteria, and have completed at least 60 higher education credits at second-cycle level in a relevant subject area such as computer and systems sciences, behavioural science, psychology, humanities, education, health care services, or communication studies. A degree project/thesis of at least 15 credits is required. English proficiency equivalent to CEFR B2 is mandatory. In addition, MSCA Doctoral Network mobility rules apply: applicants must not have lived or carried out their main activity in Sweden for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the start date, and applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree.

The expected start date is 1 February 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter. The application deadline is 15 October 2026. Applicants should submit their materials through Stockholm University’s recruitment system and ensure that the application is complete and written in English.