PpFor more than 50 years, the bVrije Universiteit Brussel /b has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike. /p pAt the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all bpeople who are 100% their authentic selves /b. With some b4,000 employees /b, we are bthe largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels /b; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located. /p pAdd to this our principle of bfree research /b - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: bthe VUB all over again /b. /p pMoreover, the VUB is a member of bEUTOPIA /b, an alliance of like‑minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves. /p pThe bFaculty Social Sciences Solvay Business School /b, Department bSociologie /b, Research Group bBrussels Institute for Social and Population Studies /b is looking for a bPhD‑student with a doctoral grant /b. /p pMore concretely your work package, bfor the preparation of a doctorate /b, contains: /p pThe position is designed as a six‑year doctoral trajectory including a teaching component of approximately 30% of the workload and a research component of approximately 70%. /p pYou will contribute to the department’s teaching activities, primarily by supporting and assisting statistical and quantitative courses within the Bachelor of Sociology. A strong affinity with quantitative methods is therefore essential. As the program is taught in Dutch, proficiency in Dutch, at the beginning of the appointment, is required. Furthermore, you will take part in the day‑to‑day functioning of the department. /p pThe research part of this vacancy is situated at the intersection of sociology, artificial intelligence, and social inequalities. The PhD project is expected to engage with how AI systems shape, reproduce, or challenge inequalities across domains such as public services, labour markets, education, or migration governance. Topics may include but are not limited to algorithmic bias and fairness, trust in AI, data‑driven decision‑making in public institutions, the societal implications of AI deployment and the ethically and socially responsible use of AI for socio‑political challenges. Both quantitative and computational approaches are welcome, with a strong openness to mixed methods designs. /p pYou will be expected to develop a PhD research topic at the start of the appointment. This topic should be submitted to the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) as part of an application for a ‘Fellowship fundamental research’. You will receive guidance throughout this process from the supervisor and experienced colleagues. /p pYou will be supervised by prof. dr. Tuba Bircan, within a dynamic research environment focusing on digitalisation and society. /p pFor this function, our bBrussels Humanities, Sciences Engineering Campus (Elsene) /b will serve as your home base. /p h3b3 - Profile /b /h3 pWhat do we expect from you? /p ul liYou hold a Master's degree in sociology or a related social science (e.g. statistics, demography, economics, data science, political science, communication science, computational social science). /li liYou have an excellent knowledge of Dutch and English. You feel comfortable to teach, to supervise students and to communicate in writing and orally in both languages. /li liYou have a solid quantitative mindset and are comfortable working with statistical analysis, or are strongly motivated to further develop these skills, while looking forward to teaching about them with enthusiasm. /li liYou are a motivated and intellectually curious researcher, with interest in the societal implications of artificial intelligence, data, and digital technologies. Prior experience with scientific research is an asset, but not a requirement. /li liCandidates who recently graduated are encouraged to apply. /li liYou have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months. /li liAs a b(non-)EEA national /b, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. /li /ul pThe VUB wants to be ba reflection of the society /b where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity. /p h3b4 - Offer /b /h3 pYou’ll be offered a bfull‑time PhD‑scholarship /b, for b12 months /b (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date b15/09/2026 /b. /p pYou’ll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government. /p pbIMPORTANT: /b The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university. /p pAt the VUB, you’re guaranteed an bopen, involved and diverse workplace /b where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career. /p pAs well as this, you will also enjoy various other bbenefits /b: /p ul liExtensive bhomeworking options /b, a btelework allowance /b of 50 euros per month OR an binternet fee /b of 20 euros per month. /li liAn bopen and informal working environment /b where attention is paid to bwork‑life balance /b, and exceptional holiday arrangements with b35 days of leave /b (based on a full‑time contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days. /li liCost‑free bhospitalisation insurance /b. /li libFull reimbursement of your home‑to‑work commute /b with public transport according to VUB policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike. /li liA wide selection of meals in our bcampus restaurants /b at attractive prices. /li liExcellent and affordable bfacilities for sport and exercise /b, a range of discounts via (in all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks…) and bEcocheques /b. /li libNursery /b near campus, discount on bholiday camps /b. /li liThe space to form your job content and to bcontinuously learn /b through our VUB learning platforms and training courses. /li liAnd finally: bgreat colleagues /b with a healthy drive. /li /ul h3b5 - Interested? /b /h3 pIs this the job you’ve been dreaming of? /p pThen apply,b at the latest on 15/06/2026 /b, bvia jobs.vub.be /b and upload the following documents: /p ul liyour CV; /li liyour diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni) and transcripts; /li lialso include a brief outline (approximately one page) of a potential research topic related to this position. /li /ul /p #J-18808-Ljbffr