Mirna Safi

The Centre for Research on Social Inequalities (CRIS) at Sciences Po, Paris is recruiting a PhD candidate to join the ERC-funded project DISEQUAL: The Discrimination-Inequality Cycle , led by Prof. Mirna Safi . The project examines how discrimination and inequality reinforce one another across countries, regions, and workplaces, with a particular focus on gender and ethnoracial groups, and on settings such as hiring and rental housing. DISEQUAL combines sociology, economics, political science, and social psychology to study three major themes: the relationship between discrimination and inequality using experimental and observational data; the social-psychological mechanisms that sustain unequal outcomes; and the role of policies in disrupting these cycles. The doctoral researcher will develop an independent dissertation project while contributing to the wider research agenda of the team. Responsibilities include preparing complex datasets, conducting advanced quantitative analyses, contributing to experimental design and data collection, drafting and revising journal articles, presenting findings at conferences and workshops, and supporting project reporting and administration. The position is full-time and offered as a 3-year doctoral contract starting during the 2026–2027 academic year, as soon as possible. Applicants should hold a master’s degree or equivalent , preferably in sociology or economics, and have very strong quantitative skills, including causal analysis and advanced programming. Experience as a research assistant in data collection and analysis is an advantage, as is a strong interest in social inequality and discrimination research. Fluency in English is required. Applications are open until 17 September 2026 . Candidates must submit a cover letter, CV, and academic transcripts as a single PDF via the online application form. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed online in mid-September, and the selected candidate will then need to apply to the relevant PhD programme at Sciences Po School of Research. This opportunity is based at Sciences Po in Paris, France , within a renowned interdisciplinary research environment committed to empirical, policy-relevant work on inequality and social change.