Wouter Van Dooren

The University of Antwerp is recruiting a full-time doctoral scholarship holder in political science and public administration within the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Political Science. The PhD project has a historical focus on how citizen-state relationships and encounters have changed over time as bureaucratization and digitalization have increased. The successful candidate will prepare a PhD thesis, publish scientific articles connected to the research project, and undertake a limited number of teaching and research support tasks. This opportunity is well suited to candidates with training in Public Administration, Political Science, History, Sociology, or a closely related field. The project calls for an affinity with public sector organizations and bureaucratic complexity, and an interest in historical approaches is considered an advantage. Strong academic performance is expected. Because fieldwork is part of the project, C-level Dutch is required, and French is an added strength. The scholarship is initially offered for one year and may be renewed once for a further three years after a positive evaluation. The planned start date is 1 October 2026. The monthly scholarship is calculated according to the University of Antwerp’s doctoral scholarship-holder rates. Additional benefits include eco cheques, an internet connectivity allowance, a bicycle allowance, or full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs. Doctoral researchers also have access to courses and educational credit through the Antwerp Doctoral School. The work will mostly take place at the City Campus in Antwerp in a dynamic and stimulating environment. Applications must be submitted online by 17 August 2026 (midnight Brussels time). Applicants should include a motivation letter, academic CV, and a brief 2-page research proposal outlining a theoretical and methodological approach to studying bureaucratization and the state. For questions about the application platform, contact jobs@uantwerpen.be. For questions about the position, contact Professor Wouter Van Dooren or Dr. Bjorn Kleizen.