PhD Candidate / Doctoral Researcher (100%)

NZZone; Schweiz; Remote; CHF 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Zug Institute for Blockchain Research at the University of Lucerne is seeking a PhD candidate to join the ERC Starting Grant REPAIR project on Welfare State Transformation in the AI era. The position is fully funded for four years and starts 1 January 2027 or by mutual agreement.

You will conduct independent doctoral research, help develop cross-national indicators, publish in international journals, and collaborate with an international team; English proficiency and strong quantitative skills

Qualifications

• Master's degree in relevant disciplines (or equivalent) required.
• Interest in welfare state institutions, labour market regulation, social policy, technology governance, and/or the political economy.
• Strong knowledge of quantitative methods; experience with programming languages (R, Stata, or Python) or willingness to acquire these skills.
• Excellent command of English, both spoken and written.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent doctoral research on welfare state transformation and/or labour market regulation in the context of AI-driven automation, within the framework of the ERC REPAIR project.
• Contribute to the development of comparative indicators, surveys, and cross-national analyses related to the project objectives.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed international journals (cumulative dissertation).
• Support the principal investigator in research activities, grant management, and the organisation of workshops and conferences.
• Present research at international conferences and participate in the project's international research network.

Skills

Quantitative methods

English proficiency

Independent work

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

Master's degree (or equivalent) in Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Economics, or closely related discipline

Tools

R

Stata

Python

Job description

Zug Institute for Blockchain Research at the University of Lucerne

The University of Lucerne is a modern, personal and dynamic human sciences university at the heart of Switzerland and Europe. In keeping with our guiding principle 'Moving Human Sciences', we focus on people and their institutions with our six faculties and two academies. Our aim is to develop the University of Lucerne into a pioneering, internationally visible centre for research and teaching in the human sciences.

The Zug Institute for Blockchain Research (ZIBR) is a newly established research institute dedicated to the social study of emerging technologies (blockchain, AI, quantum computing, etc.), examining these technologies beyond their purely technical dimensions. It brings together nine professorships from various social sciences faculties at the University of Lucerne. The institute and its research teams deal with the social, political, legal, and economic consequences of emerging technologies in a broad sense. The aim is to build a centre for technology research with a distinctive focus on the human sciences that is unique in its breadth and diversity.

We are looking to fill the following position at the Zug Institute for Blockchain Research (ZIBR) at the University of Lucerne, starting 1 January 2027 or by mutual agreement:

Welfare State Transformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

This is a fully funded qualifying position with a fixed-term appointment of 4 years. The position is part of the ERC Starting Grant '(Re)distributive Politics after the AI Revolution' (REPAIR), funded by the European Research Council and led by Prof. Juliana Chueri.

The ERC Project

This PhD project contributes to a broader research agenda within Chueri's ERC Starting Grant REPAIR, examining how artificial intelligence (AI) transforms welfare state politics across OECD countries. Moving beyond techno-deterministic perspectives, the project emphasizes the active role of political institutions, policies, and collective choices in shaping how AI affects work, employment, and social protection.

The PhD candidate will contribute in particular to two core strands of the project: first, understanding how political actors across OECD countries frame the challenges and opportunities arising from AI's impact on labour markets, and what policy responses they put forward; and second, examining the extent to which citizens support different welfare state policies and institutional reforms designed to address AI-driven labour market disruptions. The PhD candidate will be part of a collaborative team of four researchers, contributing to a shared research infrastructure and comparative analyses.

Tasks

• Conduct independent doctoral research on welfare state transformation and/or labour market regulation in the context of AI-driven automation, within the framework of the ERC REPAIR project
• Contribute to the development of comparative indicators, surveys, and cross-national analyses related to the project objectives
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed international journals (cumulative dissertation)- -Support the principal investigator in research activities, grant management, and the organisation of workshops and conferences
• Support the principal investigator in research activities, grant management, and the organisation of workshops and conferences
• Present research at international conferences and participate in the project's international research network

Requirements

• A completed Master's degree (or equivalent) in Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Economics, or a closely related discipline
• A strong interest in welfare state institutions, labour market regulation, social policy, technology governance, and/or the political economy
• Strong knowledge of quantitative research methods and experience with programming languages (e.g., R, Stata, or Python), or willingness and ability to acquire these skills
• Excellent command of English, both spoken and written
• Ability to work independently and as part of an international team
• Strong communication skills, proactive attitude, and capacity for self-organisation

We offer

• A fully funded position (100%) for four years with excellent conditions for completing a doctoral qualification
• Integration in a prestigious ERC-funded research project with an international research network
• The opportunity to contribute to building a globally unique research institute on emerging technologies and their societal implications
• A cooperative, creative, and team-oriented atmosphere in a stimulating work environment
• Continuous career mentoring and support for professional development
• Flexible working arrangements and a modern workplace in close proximity to Zug railway station
• Attractive employment conditions in accordance with the personnel regulations of the Canton of Lucerne