Migrants’ social networks are often understood as important sources of support and are often researched as protective safety nets alongside formal welfare-state institutions.
This PhD project takes a different perspective. It starts from the idea that social networks can be supportive and, at the same time, generate social deficits: pressures, stigma, and misinformation (Offer 2021) that may undermine migrants’ economic prospects. Welfare states can play an important role by providing formal protection (Koning 2021), thus decreasing migrants’ dependency on social networks that produce social deficits (Bilecen & Barglowski 2015). Yet, little is known about the relationship between welfare states and social deficits. This project therefore asks: under what welfare-state conditions do migrants’ social networks become sources of support or deficit, and under what conditions do they reinforce economic vulnerability?
The PhD project combines comparative secondary analysis with original cross-national data collection. First, you will link data from the European Social Survey with MIPEX indicators to examine whether cross-national variation in migrant welfare rights is associated with migrants’ exposure to deficit-related economic outcomes.
Second, you will contribute to the development of a new two-wave survey in several countries. This survey will directly measure social network deficits across multiple migrant groups and enable systematic migrant-group comparisons.
Supervision Team
The project will be supervised by Verena Seibel and Tobias Stark at Utrecht University. The project is embedded in the Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science and is part of the ERC Starting Grant project “The shadow of migrants’ social networks: Towards a new theory of how social networks can increase migrants’ economic vulnerability.”
Your tasks
-
Together with your supervisory team, you will design and conduct novel empirical studies;
-
You will integrate new insights across disciplines, including sociology, political science, and economics;
-
You will contribute to the theoretical development of the concept of social network deficits;
-
With our support, you will be in charge of all aspects of data collection (from recruiting participants to the design and implementation of a new two-wave cross-national survey);
-
You will use advanced statistical methods to process and analyze data;
-
You will write international peer-reviewed scientific papers;
-
You will work in a collaborative environment that seeks to improve one another’s research;
-
You will present your work at international conferences for academics, policy makers, and educators.
-
You hold a master’s degree in sociology, political science, or an associated field, or you will obtain such a degree this academic year;
-
You have experience with conducting quantitative research;
-
You are motivated to design and conduct your own quantitative research;
-
You have excellent English writing and presentation skills;
-
You have great organizational skills.
-
a job for 1 year with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment
-
a working week of 36 - 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between €3,059 and €3,881 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU);
-
8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
-
a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.
In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.
A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is one of the leading faculties in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology, educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences, psychology, and sociology. Almost 7,000 students are enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has some 1,100 faculty and staff members, all providing their individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues.
The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park near the historical city centre of Utrecht.
For more information, please contact Verena Seibel ([email protected]) or Sheida Novin ([email protected]).
Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.
As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.
Knowledge security screening can be part of the selection procedures of academic staff. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology.
To apply, please send via the ‘apply’ button:
- your curriculum vitae;
- a letter of motivation (in English) where you explain why you are interested in this position and where you refer to the qualities listed above;
- the contact information of two referees;
- an overview of the courses you took and the grades you received during your master programme.
Interviews will take place on August, 24th, 2026. Our preferred start date is September 15th, 2026 (negotiable).
