Bibi van den Berg

Leiden University is offering a PhD Fellow position in Governance of Cybercrime within the Research Group Governance of Cyber Security at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA), based in The Hague. The project focuses on the governance of victimization in online environments, with particular attention to online sexual offences such as sextortion, harassment, and cyber stalking. The successful candidate will study predictors of victimization and examine how interventions can be made more effective for protecting people at higher risk of repeat victimization. This PhD position is embedded in a multidisciplinary research environment at the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs (FGGA). The work combines doctoral research, training, and teaching, and includes supervised and collaborative research leading to a dissertation. The student will collect and analyse data, work with a multidisciplinary team, and assist with teaching and grading in master-level courses, including the MSc in Crisis and Security Management. The appointment is for 6 years on a full-time basis (1.0 fte / 38–40 hours). The salary ranges from €3,546 to €5,538 gross per month on scale 10, with a holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, pension scheme, commuting reimbursement, laptop, and other employment benefits. PhD students are also embedded in the Graduate School of Governance and Global Affairs, which provides professional courses, skills training, and personal effectiveness training. Applicants should hold an MSc or MA degree in governance studies, criminology, cyber security, or a related field. The role asks for prior supervised research experience, interest in multidisciplinary work, some experience with research methods, and a commitment to linking academic research with policy and societal impact. Strong written and verbal proficiency in Dutch and English is required, and applicants must be resident in the Netherlands or willing to relocate. The application deadline is 31 August 2026 . Applications are processed immediately. For more information about the role, contact prof.dr. Bibi van den Berg at b.van.den.berg@fgga.leidenuniv.nl . To apply, use the Leiden University application portal and submit the requested PDF documents, quoting vacancy number 16776 .