PhD Candidate in Quantitative Social Science with a Focus on Civil Registration

The Department of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is looking for a PhD candidate to conduct research in the project 'CitizenGap - Legal Identity for All'. The project is funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and led by Dr. Imke Harbers. The PhD candidate will be embedded in the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR) at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

Citizenship grants access to the rights enjoyed by all members of the political community of a given state. Although we often think of undocumented persons as migrants or non-citizens, globally one in seven people have not had their birth registered, and thus do not possess official documents to prove their legal identity. The share of people who hold identity documents, but whose documents are deemed insufficient or inconclusive to prove citizenship, is even higher.

For millions of people, the threat to their fundamental rights derives not from their legal status, but from their inability to prove this status. What accounts for this gap between citizenship as a legal status and the ability of citizens to document their claim to citizenship? If civil registration is not universal, who is left out? Why is access to civil registration uneven across societal groups?

To answer these questions, the project conceptualizes civil registration as a tool used by political elites to include or exclude societal groups. The project uses a multi-method approach, combining quantitative demographic and spatial (GIS) datasets with fieldwork, archival sources, interviews and focus groups.

The PhD candidate selected for this position will conduct quantitative, cross-national research on access to civil registration based on demographic data. Further information about the project may be found here.

What do we require

Your experience and profile:

Essential:

• a Master, Research Master or equivalent degree in the social sciences, global health, or a closely related discipline. The degree must have been obtained by the start of your employment;
• excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
• excellent command of quantitative research methods, including familiarity with R;
• experience working with demographic and/or survey data;
• a commitment to academic integrity and transparency;
• independent thinking and critical analytical skills;
• the ability to work independently;
• the ability to collaborate in an interdisciplinary team.

Desirable:

• experience with research on civil registration;
• experience with qualitative research methods or conducting fieldwork;
• experience as research assistant or enumerator in the field;
• oral and written communication skills in another language.
•  Job application

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application by 15 March 2022. You may apply online by using the link below.

Applications in .pdf should include:

• a CV;
• a two-page cover letter that outlines your motivation to pursue this degree and your qualifications and experience;
• unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts;
• the contact details of two academic references;
• a writing sample of max. 10 pages (this can be an excerpt from longer written material).

Please combine transcripts, the contact details of the references, and the writing sample and upload this as one pdf. Additional materials such as recommendation letters, longer writing samples, and a short draft PhD proposal will be requested only for short-listed candidates. Please do NOT send these materials with the initial application. The selection committee expects to notify short-listed candidates in early April. The committee expects interviews to take place (via Zoom) in late April 2022.

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.