Vacancy: PhD Position
We are seeking an enthusiastic and well-qualified PhD candidate in computational social science / (social) network science at Leiden University! This position is part of the newly established Macroscope national research infrastructure project funded by the Dutch Science Foundation (NWO) to study complex societal dynamics at an unprecedented scale.
In this 4-year fully funded PhD position, you will conduct frontier research to develop novel measures of structural (in)equivalence in social networks for obtaining an interpretable understanding of how social network structure differs between different subgroups of a population. Moreover, when applied to two entirely different populations, these methods of comparing network structure should facilitate cross-country comparative analyses of population-scale social network structure, enabling an understanding of similarities and differences in the social fabric of countries. This work will be part of producing an article-based PhD thesis and peer-reviewed publications.
The ideal candidate has a (nearly) completed master’s degree in a relevant discipline and is eager to work in an interdisciplinary setting. You should have proficiency in scientific programming, preferably Python, and experience with large-scale network analysis. Excellent communication skills in English are required. We are looking for a creative, curious, and collaborative researcher who can work independently as well as part of a team.
The PhD will be employed at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), which is the computer science and AI institute of the Faculty of Science of Leiden University. Of course, as part of the interdisciplinary inter-university PLANET-NL, we offer a supportive and inclusive work environment, with opportunities for professional development and collaboration across multiple institutes and universities. You will have the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research with real-world impact, while enjoying flexible work arrangements and competitive compensation.
If you are excited by the prospect of advancing computational social science and generating research with meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply by 12 November, 2026. You can learn more and submit your application on this page.
