PhD Candidate in Population-Scale Network Science (1.0 FTE, 4 years)

Leiden University via AcademicTransfer; Netherlands; Hybrid; EUR 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

End-of-year bonus

ABP pension scheme

Public transport reimbursement

Leave entitlement 29 days per year

Hybrid-friendly working

Home-working allowance

Laptop provided

Job summary

Leiden University’s Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) invites applications for a fully funded 4-year PhD position focused on network science. You will analyze longitudinal social network data from the Dutch population, develop novel measures of structural equivalence, and enable cross-country comparative analyses within PLANET-NL.

You will be embedded in LIACS, engage with PLANET-NL and the Leiden Network Science group, supervise student projects, and contribute to

Qualifications

• MSc in computer science or related field.
• Strong writing ability; submit MSc thesis sample.
• Good English language proficiency.
• Interest in cross-disciplinary collaboration (CS and social science).
• Experience with programming in Python, R, or C++.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Academic, creative and curious mindset.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research in network science.
• Write an article-based PhD thesis.
• Engage in PLANET-NL inter-university collaboration.
• Be part of the Leiden Network Science group.
• Co-supervise BSc and MSc students on data science topics.
• Participate in minor scientific organizational activities.

Skills

MSc in CS or related field

Excellent writing skills

English proficiency

Curious/open-minded

Independent and team player

Academic mindset

Education

MSc in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Python

R

C++

Job description

Organisation/Company Leiden University Research Field Sociology » Social changes Sociology » Societal behaviour Computer science » Programming Computer science » Informatics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 12 Nov 2026 - 22:59 (UTC) Country Netherlands Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 38.0 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

About this position. In this 4-year fully funded PhD position, the focus is on devising new network science approaches for analyzing longitudinal, population-scale social network data on the Dutch population data, sourced from Statistics Netherlands. Such data presents distinctive methodological challenges: their scale and temporal character require fast algorithms and careful tailoring of commonly used network measures and algorithms.
One particular challenge for the candidate applying for this position, is to develop novel measures of structural (in)equivalence in social networks for obtaining an interpretable understanding of how social network structure differs between different subgroups of a population. Moreover, when applied to two entirely different populations, these methods of comparing network structure should facilitate cross-country comparative analyses of population-scale social network structure, enabling an understanding of similarities and differences in the social fabric of countries.
In addition to the above, there is also space for the candidate to pursue a direction of research related to network science that fits both the candidate and the broader aims of the group.

Embedding. The PhD candidate will be employed at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), which is the computer science and AI institute of the Faculty of Science of Leiden University. More in particular, the candidate will become part of 1) the interdisciplinary inter-university PLANET-NL initiative, which is a collaboration of the University of Amsterdam and Leiden University rooted in computational social science and network science, and 2) the Leiden Network Science group.
Both the research groups and the institute are highly international and feature a mix of disciplinal and cultural backgrounds. There are plenty of additional opportunities for other types of interaction and collaboration, for example at the Faculty of Science through the Leiden Complex Networks Network (LCN2) and nationally through the Dutch Network Science Society. The candidate will be asked to engage in (limited) BSc and MSc student (co-) supervision, small teaching assistance tasks, and potentially minor roles in scientific organizational activities.

What you will do

• Conducting research in the area of network science;
• Writing an article-based PhD thesis;
• Engaging in collaborative research as a member of the PLANET-NL inter-university research group;
• Membership of and engagement with the Leiden Network Science research group;
• Co-supervising BSc and MSc students on topics related to data science and network science;
• Engaging in minor scientific organizational organizing activities.

Where you will work. The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. Our people are driven by curiosity to expand fundamental knowledge and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline. The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is diverse, ranging from mathematics, artificial intelligence, computer science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences.
The faculty is home to more than 2,700 staff members and over 6,000 students enrolled in nine bachelor's and fifteen master's programs. We are located at the heart of the Bio Science Park, one of Europe's largest science parks, where academia and industry come together.
You will be part of the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS). LIACS offers the bachelor's programs in Computer Science and Data Science/Artificial Intelligence, as well as master's programs in Computer Science, ICT in Business and the Public Sector, Media Technology, and Science Based Business. According to an independent research assessment, LIACS is one of the leading computer science departments in the Netherlands. We strive for excellence in a supportive institute where academic achievement, enjoyment, and diversity go hand in hand. We offer a clear and welcoming career path for young and talented scientists with the ambition to grow. For more information about LIACS, visit our website: http://www.cs.leiden.edu

What you bring

• A MSc* in computer science or a related field (e.g., mathematics, physics or computational social science), showing affinity with network science (or complex networks / social network analysis);
• Good writing skills, demonstrated through a writing sample (typically the MSc thesis) to be submitted with the application;
• Good proficiency of the English language, demonstrated by the ability to have a near fluent in-person conversation in English;
• Curious and open-minded attitude to successfully collaborate across disciplines, preferably with an interest in translating insights from computer science to the social sciences, and vice versa;
• Experience with programming in Python, or otherwise in R and/or C++;
• Able to work independently and in a team;
• An academic, creative and curious mindset.

*: excellent candidates not (yet) past the MSc phase, but with graduation in early Spring 2027 well in sight, are also invited to apply.

What we offer

• An employment contract for the duration of initially one year. After a positive evaluation of the progress of the thesis, personal capabilities and compatibility, the appointment will be extended by a further three years This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
• A salary between € 3.204,= and € 4.051,= gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours, Payscale P)
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
• Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
• Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
• Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription and bicycle scheme;
• If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop.

What we valuePromoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University's values and vision. We strive to be an open community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to fully develop themselves. We consider an inclusive academic environment, where students and staff can share their experiences and viewpoints, to be essential for the development of talent.

Promising applicants may be contacted for exploratory conversations before the closing date. Application( letter)s written solely using AI, for example reflected through mere hollow sentences, will not be considered.
The earliest possible starting date is January 1, 2027. For candidates who require a VISA, this date may shift by the duration of the VISA application procedure applicable to their country of origin.