Call for Applications for a PhD Scholarship - 3CoBe : COntraceptive COst Coverage in BElgium

Karlstad University; Louvain-la-Neuve; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research institution in Belgium is inviting applications for a PhD scholarship focused on the 3CoBe project analyzing contraceptive cost coverage. The candidate will conduct research at the intersection of history, political science, and sociology. Responsibilities include historical analysis, data collection, and stakeholder interviews. Candidates should have a Master’s in social sciences, skills in qualitative methodology, and proficiency in French and English. Apply online by submitting your CV, motivation letter, and academic diplomas.

Prestations

Train subscription for commuting

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (120 ECTS) in social sciences (history, sociology, political science, or related disciplines) with distinction.
• Proven skills in qualitative methodology (interviews, thematic analysis).
• Ability to work with historical sources.

Responsabilités

• Establish a social and political history of contraceptive cost coverage in Belgium.
• Analyze historical and sociological aspects of contraceptive costs.
• Conduct semi-structured interviews and analyze findings.

Connaissances

Qualitative methodology

Historical analysis

Collaboration

Oral proficiency in French

Writing skills in English

Formation

Master’s degree in social sciences

Description du poste

Call for Applications for a PhD Scholarship - 3CoBe : COntraceptive COst Coverage in BElgium

The Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) is internationally recognized for research and teaching quality in many different fields of expert...

The 3CoBe project (COntraceptive COst COverage in BElgium), funded by the National Fund for Scientific Research (F.R.S.–FNRS), aims to analyze policies regarding contraceptive cost coverage in Belgium through the lens of “contraceptive autonomy,” understood as the ability to make an informed, full and free choice about contraception. Using a multidisciplinary approach and mixed methods, the project seeks to shed light on the tensions between public health and reproductive justice, drawing on concepts such as biopower and body governance.

The project is structured around three Work Packages (WP):

• WP1: Social and political history of contraceptive cost coverage in Belgium from 1973 to the present day.
• WP2: Quantitative analysis of trends in contraceptive use.
• WP3: Qualitative study of contraceptive trajectories among women from diverse backgrounds.

As part of this project, the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Families and Sexualities (Cirfase ) at UCLouvain is recruiting a PhD researcher for a full-time, four-year scholarship (2 years + 2 years). The successful candidate will carry out their own doctoral research at the intersection of history, political science, and sociology within the framework of the 3CoBe project, particularly focusing on WP1.

Responsibilities

The PhD candidate will work under the supervision of Mireille Le Guen, Principal Investigator (PI) of the 3CoBe project. Their main task will be to establish a social and political history of how the Belgian social security system has covered the cost of contraceptives, from the legalization of contraception in 1973 to the present day.

By combining historical and sociological approaches, the recruited PhD researcher will analyze how the coverage of contraceptive costs has been conceived, negotiated, and implemented in Belgium, taking into account power relations and institutional logics that have shaped these processes.

The PhD candidate will define their research question so that it fits within the framework of the 3CoBe project while reflecting their own academic interests. They will develop theoretical approaches to analyze their fieldwork and interpret their findings.

Main Tasks

• Collect and analyze diverse corpora (archives, institutional documents, grey literature).
• Conduct and analyze semi-structured interviews with key political, institutional, and civil society stakeholders in French and in either Dutch or English.
• Contribute to the dissemination of results (conferences, scientific publications, public outreach) in both French and English.
• Participate in team meetings and collaborate with researchers involved in the other WPs of the 3CoBe project.
• Integrate a gender perspective throughout all analyses.
• Contribute to the academic life of the research center and the affiliated institute.

Candidate Profile

• Master’s degree (120 ECTS) in social sciences (history, sociology, political science, or related disciplines) with distinction.
• Proven skills in qualitative methodology (interviews, thematic analysis).
• Ability to work with historical sources.
• Oral proficiency in French and in either Dutch or English.
• Strong writing skills in both French and English.
• Autonomy, rigor, and ability to work collaboratively.
• Research experience in gender studies, reproductive health, or public policy is an asset.

Conditions

• Contract: Four-year PhD scholarship (conditional upon passing the confirmation exam after two years).
• Supervision: Interdisciplinary team of the 3CoBe project within the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Families and Sexualities (Cirfase) at the Institute for the Analysis of Change in Contemporary History and Societies (Iacchos), UCLouvain.
• Start date: From April 2026.
• Remuneration: According to UCLouvain’s PhD scholarship scale.
• Additional benefits: Train subscription provided for commuting if necessary.

Application

Candidates are invited to submit their application online via: https://jobs.uclouvain.be

The application should include the following documents:

• Detailed CV.
• Motivation letter (maximum 2 pages).
• Copy of official Master’s degree diploma and transcripts.
• Master’s thesis with a summary (maximum 2 pages).
• Contact details of two referees.

The selection process will take place in two stages:

• Stage 1: Pre-selection based on the application file.
• Stage 2: Final selection based on an interview scheduled for the week of February 23, 2026.

Job details

Title

Call for Applications for a PhD Scholarship - 3CoBe : COntraceptive COst Coverage in BElgium

Published

2025-12-23

2026-01-25 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)
2026-01-25 23:59 (CET)

Closing on: 2026-01-25 (Europe/Brussels)

Closing on: 2026-05-01 (Europe/Brussels)