Maja Povrzanovic Frykman

Malmö University’s Malmö Institute for Migration Studies is recruiting a doctoral student for a fully funded PhD position in International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER) as part of the ERC Starting Grant project GIVE RIGHTS. The position is based in the Department of Global Political Studies and involves comparative research on undocumented migrants’ rights across Europe, with a particular focus on fieldwork in the Netherlands and collaboration with a multidisciplinary project team. The doctoral programme is four years full-time (240 credits) and includes coursework and an independent research project culminating in a doctoral thesis. The research environment is highly international and interdisciplinary, drawing on sociology, political science, anthropology, and related fields. The GIVE RIGHTS project investigates the politics of undocumented migrants’ rights, focusing on the interplay between migrants’ rights-claims and welfare professionals’ attitudes and practices. The project uses mixed methods, including surveys, policy mapping, qualitative media analysis, participant observation, focus groups, and expert interviews, to compare experiences in Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the UK. Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent (240 credits, with 60 at advanced level) in IMER or a relevant discipline, and demonstrate independent analytical skills, methodological maturity, and problem formulation in previous work. Project-specific expertise in undocumented migration, sanctuary cities, migrant rights, welfare/social rights, activism, human rights, unions, or social movements is required. Ability to conduct research interviews is essential, and proficiency in Dutch is an advantage. The successful candidate will be expected to participate actively in the research centre MIM, attend seminars, and collaborate with other researchers in the GIVE RIGHTS project. The position is fully funded, with salary according to Malmö University regulations, and is supported by an ERC Starting Grant. The application deadline is 18 January 2026, and the start date is 1 September 2026. Applications must be submitted via Malmö University’s recruitment system, with all required documents prepared according to the job advertisement. For further information, contact Principal Investigator Jacob Lind ([email protected]), Professor Maja Povrzanovic Frykman ([email protected]), or Professor Mona Lilja ([email protected]). More details about the project and doctoral studies at Malmö University are available through the provided links.

Malmö University is inviting applications for a fully funded PhD position in International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER) within the ERC Starting Grant project GIVE RIGHTS. The doctoral student will join the Faculty of Culture and Society, Department of Global Political Studies, and be part of the Malmö Institute for Migration Studies (MIM). The research will focus on the rights of undocumented migrants and the role of welfare professionals, with fieldwork conducted in the Netherlands. The GIVE RIGHTS project investigates how undocumented migrants’ rights and welfare professionals’ collective contestations interact, especially as migration control is increasingly delegated to various societal actors. The project compares experiences across Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the UK, using methods such as surveys, policy mapping, qualitative media analysis, participant observation, focus groups, and expert interviews. The doctoral student will contribute to media studies of Dutch news outlets and support survey distribution in the Netherlands, collaborating closely with the project team. Applicants should have a strong academic background, with a Master’s degree or equivalent in IMER or a related field, and demonstrate independent analytical skills, methodological maturity, and a clear research interest in topics such as undocumented migration, sanctuary cities, migrant rights, welfare/social rights, activism, human rights, unions, or social movements. Experience with research interviews is required, and proficiency in Dutch is an advantage. The position is fully funded for four years, with salary and social benefits according to Swedish regulations. The doctoral programme consists of 240 credits (four years full-time), including coursework and an independent research project leading to a doctoral thesis. The student is expected to participate actively in the research environment at MIM and attend seminars, project meetings, and common activities. The application deadline is January 18, 2026, and the position starts on September 1, 2026. Applications must be submitted via Malmö University’s recruitment system. For more information, contact Principal Investigator Jacob Lind ([email protected]), Professor Maja Povrzanovic Frykman ([email protected]), or Head of Department Mona Lilja ([email protected]). Further details about the project and doctoral studies at Malmö University can be found on the university’s website. Keywords: International Migration, Ethnic Relations, Undocumented Migrants, Human Rights, Welfare Professions, Social Movements, Political Science, Sociology, Fieldwork Netherlands.