LINC - PhD researcher (100%) - Serious and organised crime

KU Leuven; Belgique; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

KU Leuven in Belgium invites applications for a full-time PhD researcher in criminology to conduct doctoral research on serious and organised crime. The project will combine empirical study with qualitative methods and examine organisations, networks and activities across local, national and international contexts.

In addition to the research, the role includes limited teaching duties such as supervising master theses and contribution to other research tasks within the team.

Qualifications

• You hold a master's degree in criminology with an excellent academic record (distinction).
• Strong interest in actors, networks and activities within organised crime and its development locally, nationally and internationally.
• Familiar with criminological literature and qualitative research methods; preferably experience with qualitative data collection.
• Excellent scientific writing skills and publications as a (co-)author.
• Didactic qualities; ability to work well in a team; strong organizational skills to plan research independently.
• Excellent spoken and written Dutch and English.

Responsibilities

• Conduct doctoral research on serious and organised crime.
• Carry out empirical research with qualitative methods; focus on organisations and networks, locally to internationally.
• Provide limited teaching support (supervision of master theses, helping with tasks/exams) and collaborate on other projects within the research team.

Skills

Qualitative research methods

Literature review

Scientific writing

Teamwork

Didactic abilities

Dutch language

English language

Education

Master's degree in criminology

Master's degrees in related humanities considered

Job description

Organisation/Company KU LEUVEN Department Faculty of Law and Criminology Research Field Criminology » Other Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 13 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country Belgium Type of Contract To be defined Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number BAP-2026-639 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

• Your main assignment will be to conduct doctoral research in the field of serious and organised crime.
• In particular, it concerns empirical research into organised crime in a local, national and international perspective, with a particular focus on the organisations, networks and criminal activities involved. The concrete topic will be determined in mutual consultation.
• The research will mainly use qualitative research methods and will mainly be carried out in Belgium.
• In addition to the main assignment, the researcher will also provide limited assistance with teaching (e.g. supervision of master's theses, helping with improvement of tasks or examinations and with examination supervision) or with other research projects within the research team.

You have a master's degree in criminology. Master's degrees in other humanities (e.g. political science or sociology) will be considered provided that you have a clear and demonstrable work or research experience within the criminological domain. You obtained an excellent study curriculum (at least one (great) distinction). You have a strong interest in the actors, networks and activities within organised crime and in the way in which these phenomena develop and manifest themselves in local, national and international contexts. You are already partly familiar with the criminological literature on organized crime. You have demonstrable knowledge of qualitative and possibly quantitative methods of empirical scientific research. Preferably, you already have experience with qualitative data collection, such as conducting interviews, conducting focus groups or other forms of fieldwork. You have excellent scientific writing skills and preferably already have one or more (international, peer-reviewed) scientific publications as a (co-)author. You have the necessary didactic qualities. You like to work together and function smoothly in a team. You have strong organisational skills and can plan and coordinate research activities independently. You have excellent oral and written skills in Dutch and English. We offer an appointment as a full-time PhD researcher. The mandate is initially for one year, but is renewable. For more information please contact Prof. dr. Letizia Paoli, mail: [e-mail] .

We offer an appointment as a full-time PhD researcher. The mandate is initially for one year, but is renewable.

Eligibility criteria

You have a master's degree in criminology. Master's degrees in other humanities (e.g. political science or sociology) will be considered provided that you have a clear and demonstrable work or research experience within the criminological domain. You obtained an excellent study curriculum (at least one (great) distinction). You have a strong interest in the actors, networks and activities within organised crime and in the way in which these phenomena develop and manifest themselves in local, national and international contexts. You are already partly familiar with the criminological literature on organized crime. You have demonstrable knowledge of qualitative and possibly quantitative methods of empirical scientific research. Preferably, you already have experience with qualitative data collection, such as conducting interviews, conducting focus groups or other forms of fieldwork. You have excellent scientific writing skills and preferably already have one or more (international, peer-reviewed) scientific publications as a (co-)author. You have the necessary didactic qualities. You like to work together and function smoothly in a team. You have strong organisational skills and can plan and coordinate research activities independently. You have excellent oral and written skills in Dutch and English.