PhD student in Information Society, with focus on Agent-Based Social Simulation for Crises Preparedness 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, starting 1 February 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is part of the EU Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Doctoral Network Acting in Crisis: Understanding Social Complexity to improve Crisis Preparedness (SoCRISP), a multinational consortium training 15 doctoral candidates in advanced methods, theory, and transferable skills for crisis preparedness research.

The project focuses on Governmental communication and citizen crisis preparedness. It combines social science theory, empirical case studies from Italy and Sweden, and computational modelling to study how social identities, trust in institutions, and socio-cultural contexts shape citizen responses to crises. A key output will be an agent-based social simulation model capturing how crisis communication is perceived and acted upon, with citizens and decision-makers involved in the design and validation process. The project includes cooperation with academic and non-academic partners, two one-month internships in Sweden and Italy, and participation in consortium meetings and PhD courses across different countries.

DSV is an international and interdisciplinary research environment at Stockholm University, located on the campus in Kista, Stockholm. The department works at the intersection of technology, humanities, social sciences, and behavioural sciences, with a strong focus on how information and communication technologies can benefit people, organisations, and society. The successful candidate will join a vibrant doctoral community with opportunities for seminars, scientific exchange, and collaboration in academia and industry.

The fellowship includes a competitive salary and wellness benefits, together with support for books, conference travel, and professional development. The position is fixed-term and normally corresponds to up to four years of full-time doctoral education, with possible departmental duties to a limited extent.

Eligibility is strict. Applicants must meet Stockholm University’s general and specific doctoral entry requirements, including a second-cycle degree or equivalent, at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits in a relevant subject area, and a degree project of at least 15 credits. English proficiency at CEFR B2 level is required. Applicants must also satisfy MSCA Doctoral Network mobility rules and must not already hold a doctoral degree at the start of employment. Prior experience in social simulation, human behaviour, crisis communication, interdisciplinary work, and quantitative/qualitative methods is particularly meritorious.

Applications must be submitted via Stockholm University’s recruitment system by 15 October 2026. The recommended application language is English.