Doctoral scholarship International Relations and Conflict Studies

Vacancies for Academic Staff

​On this page you will find vacancies for Academic Staff. Only vacancies in English are shown. For a complete list of all vacancies currently open at the university, please consult the vacancy pages in Dutch.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Save your search and create a job alert on the online application module to be automatically notified of interesting future job openings.More information can be found here.


Department: Faculty Social Sciences
Regime Full-time

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape. 

The Department of Political Science in the Faculty of Social Sciences is looking for a full-time doctoral scholarship holder in the field of International Relations and Conflict Studies.

Position

  • You will work actively on the preparation and defense of a PhD thesis in the field of International Relations and Conflict Studies. You will write your thesis in the context of the research project ‘Tracing the Realities of Algorithmic Warfare: From Innovation to Deployment and its Impact on Civilian Harm,’ funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). Our project conducts independent academic research and delivers original data on how algorithmic technology in warfare is made and made actionable by an increasingly diverse group of actors (involving, e.g., computer programmers and data scientists, military startups, technology firms) and how it leads or has led to new and compounding forms of civilian harm in Ukraine and Gaza. It is co-led by Dr. Marijn Hoijtink (University of Antwerp), who will act as the principal supervisor, and Dr. Lauren Gould, who will act as co-promotor (Utrecht University).
  • As a PhD researcher in the project, you will conduct independent and collaborative field research to analyze the work and experiences of various actors involved in the innovation and use of algorithmic technology across recent theaters of war. You will also focus on defining and tracing the reverberating and compounding civilian harm effects concerning these cases.
  • You will collaborate with supervisors and peers in research and international scientific publications.
  • You will participate in providing academic services: you will represent the research project at conferences, workshops, seminars, and other scholarly activities, maintain and expand our network of stakeholders and civil society partners, and contribute to science communication.
  • You will carry out a limited number of teaching and support tasks for the International Politics research group and the Department of Political Science at the University of Antwerp and the Realities of Algorithmic Warfare program at Utrecht University.

Profile

  • You hold a Master's degree in International Relations, Conflict Studies, Anthropology, or a related field, or you will have obtained it by the time you start work. We are also inviting candidates with a Master’s degree in AI politics and governance to apply.
  • You can demonstrate excellent study results.
  • “You have relevant experience conducting interviews, doing participant observation or open-source investigation in military or conflict contexts. Having knowledge of the design or use of algorithmic-based technologies in warfare and civilian harm is an advantage”.You are highly motivated to collaborate with policy stakeholders and civil society partners and communicate your research results to a broader public.
  • You have a clear interest in collaborative and inter and transdisciplinary research activities
  • You excited to represent the Realities of Algorithmic Warfare program and realize its research and societal objectives through public engagement activities, including media appearances, maintaining the website, writing op-eds, creating infographic and podcasts
  • You can speak and write fluently in English, fluency in Dutch, Ukrainian and/or Arabic is an advantage .
  • Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
  • Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
  • You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
  • Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
  • Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
  • You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.

What we offer

  • We offer a doctoral scholarship for two years. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed once for another two years.
  • The planned start date is 1 September 2025 or as soon as possible after that date.
  • Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders
  • You will receive eco cheques, an Internet connection allowance, a bicycle allowance, or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
  • You will do most of your work at the Stadscampus in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
  • Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

  • You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 10 April 2025. Click on the 'Apply' button and complete the online application form. Be sure to include the following attachments:
  • a motivation letter (max. 2 pages)
  • your academic CV
  • The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. We will notify you as soon as a decision is made. Short-listed candidates will be sent the research project description and asked to write a short research proposal based on it (max. 3 pages). Short-listed candidates will be interviewed in the week of 26-30 May 2025.
  • If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Dr. Marijn Hoijtink, marijn.hoijtink@uantwerpen.be; or Dr. Lauren Gould, l.m.gould@uu.nl.

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.

Apply