PhD in Social Network Deficits, Welfare States, and Migrants' Economic Vulnerability
PhD opportunity at Utrecht University
in
sociology / political science / economics / statistics
focused on
welfare states, migrants, social networks, and economic vulnerability
.
The project, part of the ERC Starting Grant
SHADOW
, asks when and how migrants’ social networks can create
social deficits
such as pressure, stigma, dependency, and misinformation, and how welfare-state institutions shape these dynamics. The research combines
comparative secondary analysis
with
original cross-national data collection
, including linking the European Social Survey with MIPEX indicators and contributing to a new two-wave survey across several countries.
The successful candidate will be embedded in the
ICS Graduate School
and the
European Research Centre on Migration and Ethnic Relations (ERCOMER)
at Utrecht University, and supervised by
Verena Seibel
and
Tobias Stark
.
Eligibility highlights:
a master’s degree in sociology, political science, or a related field (or expected completion this academic year), strong quantitative research experience, motivation to design and conduct original quantitative research, excellent English writing and presentation skills, and strong organizational skills.
Funding:
this is a paid PhD employment position for 1 year initially, extendable to 4 years, with a gross monthly salary of €3,059–€3,881 plus holiday pay, year-end bonus, pension, and other employment benefits.
Deadline:
16 August 2026. Interviews are scheduled for 24 August 2026, and the preferred start date is 15 September 2026 (negotiable).
How to apply:
submit your application through the official Utrecht University application link only. Do not apply by email. Prepare a CV, an English motivation letter, contact details for two referees, and an overview of your master’s courses and grades.
