PhD Opportunity in Political Science – University of Amsterdam

PhD Opportunity in Political Science – University of Amsterdam

• Institution: University of Amsterdam

• Faculty: Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

• Department: Department of Political Science

• Research Institute: Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR)

• Programme Group: Political Institutions and Identities (PII)

• Project: Democratic Institutions and Violence Network in Europe (DIViNE)

• Position: PhD Candidate in Political Science

• Vacancy Number: 15555

• Working Hours: 38 hours per week

• Appointment Type: Temporary, Full-Time

• Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Expected Start Date: January 2027

• Initial UvA Appointment: 1 year, extendable after positive assessment up to a maximum of 3 years at UvA

• Planned Further Extension: 1 year at the Max Planck Institute for Political and Social Science in Göttingen

• Salary: EUR 3,204–4,051 per month, approximately INR 3.39–4.29 lakh per month

• Application Deadline: November 11, 2026

Overview of the Opportunity

The Department of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam invites applications for a PhD position within the HORIZON MSCA-funded DIViNE Doctoral Network.

The project, Democratic Institutions and Violence Network in Europe (DIViNE), brings together 10 PhD researchers across five European universities to investigate political violence in democratic systems.

The successful candidate will be supervised by:

• Dr. Ursula Daxecker – University of Amsterdam / Max Planck Institute for Political and Social Science

• Dr. Hanne Fjelde – Uppsala University

At the University of Amsterdam, the candidate will be based within the AISSR programme group Political Institutions and Identities.

About the DIViNE Network

DIViNE brings together research environments at:

• University of Amsterdam

• University of Essex

• University of Milan

• Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

• Uppsala University

The network also works with partner organisations, including the new Max Planck Institute for Political and Social Science.

Its research integrates:

• Quantitative conflict research

• Behavioural and experimental methods

• Historical and archival research

• Institutional theory

• Normative theory

• Applied policy engagement

The broader aim is to develop a coherent research programme explaining political violence within democratic systems.

PhD Research Focus

This PhD position is part of Work Package 2: Democratization and Conflict Resolution.

The project investigates how political violence may persist even after democratic transitions.

The research focuses on how democratization can reshape:

• Rent-seeking incentives

• Decentralisation bargains

• Relationships between national political incumbents and local elites

• Electoral competition

• Ethnic violence

• Criminal violence

The project will examine why formal democratic reforms do not always eliminate violence and how institutional arrangements may unintentionally create new incentives for violent political behaviour.

Research Methods

The PhD project will combine:

• Cross-national statistical analysis

• Subnational mixed-methods studies

• Process tracing

• Survey research

• Survey experiments

• Quantitative analysis of administrative datasets

• Fieldwork interviews

Empirical research will focus particularly on Global South contexts.

Key Responsibilities

The doctoral researcher will:

• Conduct PhD research on democratization and persistent political violence.

• Analyse quantitative datasets.

• Conduct surveys and survey experiments.

• Undertake fieldwork interviews.

• Produce a doctoral thesis.

• Co-author academic publications with project members.

• Participate in DIViNE training activities.

• Attend PhD colloquia and research workshops.

• Participate in secondments.

• Take part in AISSR and PII seminars and research activities.

• Teach Bachelor-level courses where appropriate, up to a maximum of 10%.

• Assist with project-related administration.

• Help organise workshops, conferences, and academic events.

Secondment & Mobility

The doctoral trajectory includes a 3-month secondment at Uppsala University and IDEA in Sweden.

This component will provide applied exposure to:

• Democratization policy

• Institutional design

• Violence prevention

• Comparative policy analysis

The position also envisages a 1-year extension at the Max Planck Institute for Political and Social Science in Göttingen after the initial UvA period.

Applicants should therefore be prepared for significant mobility during the doctoral programme.

Essential Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in Political Science or a closely related discipline by the start of employment.

• Strong social-science research-methods training.

• Advanced quantitative-methods skills.

• Experience with methods such as:

  • Panel regression

  • Large administrative datasets

  • Survey data

  • Causal inference

  • Statistical programming in Stata, R, or similar software

• Interest in conducting fieldwork in the Global South.

• Excellent written and spoken English.

• Strong independent analytical skills.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Desirable Qualifications

The following are considered advantageous:

• Knowledge of South Asia.

• Knowledge of Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Experience with qualitative methods.

• Experience with mixed-methods research.

• Previous research on political violence.

MSCA Mobility Rule

Applicants must satisfy the MSCA mobility requirements.

For this position, candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the Netherlands for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the recruitment date.

The programme also requires mobility across institutions and partner organisations within the DIViNE network.

Residence Requirement

For the initial three years of the project, the successful candidate is expected to make:

Amsterdam, or a location within commuting distance, their primary residence.

For the planned one-year Max Planck extension, the candidate is expected to reside in:

Göttingen, or within commuting distance.

The University states that assistance will be provided with:

• Finding suitable housing

• Visa applications

• Residence permits

Salary & Employment Conditions

The advertised salary range is:

EUR 3,204–4,051 per month

Approximately:

INR 3.39–4.29 lakh per month

The position is for 38 hours per week and operates under MSCA Doctoral Network employment conditions.

The initial contract is for one year, with the intention to extend it by a maximum of two additional years following a positive assessment and subject to circumstances.

The employment is intended to lead to the award of a PhD.

Application Checklist

Applicants must combine the required materials into one PDF document, including their name and vacancy number in the file title.

The application must contain:

1. Curriculum Vitae

2. Cover Letter

   • Preparation

   • Motivation to pursue the PhD

3. Two-Page PhD Proposal

   • Aligned with the project parameters

4. Unofficial Undergraduate and Graduate Transcripts

5. Contact Details of 2 Academic References

6. Writing Sample

   • Maximum 10 pages

   • May be an excerpt from a longer work

Applicants are specifically instructed not to submit additional materials at this stage.

Recommendation letters will only be requested from shortlisted candidates.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: November 11, 2026

• Expected Interview Period: Week of November 23, 2026

• Intended Start Date: January 2027

Applicants should ensure they are available for online interviews during the week of November 23.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the University of Amsterdam online recruitment portal.

Vacancy Number: 15555

Official Vacancy:
https://werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies/phd-position-in-political-science-netherlands-15555

Further information about the DIViNE network is available at:

https://divine.unimi.it/

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