PhD Position in Social Sciences

Institution: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)
Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
Department: Department of Political Science and Public Administration
Project: NWO-funded “AI4ALL: Value-aligned AI for Public Organizations”
FTE: 0.8–1.0
Duration: 48 months, preferably starting 1 January 2026 (or by mutual agreement)

Your Function

Are you a public administration or management student interested in AI and/or value-based governance? Are you interested in research on the risks of AI use in public administration and how to manage conflicting public values? Please apply at VU Amsterdam!

As a PhD candidate, you will conduct research on the actual and intended use of AI in public organizations, investigating the reasons and expected impact of AI, and empirically measuring public values affected by AI use. Your research will focus on:

• Measuring public values affected by AI in governance

• Examining which values are impacted and what citizens consider most important in value trade-offs

Research methods include document analysis, stakeholder interviews (including affected citizens), and a citizen survey among the Dutch general public.

All PhD candidates of the School of Social Sciences are registered at the Graduate School of Social Sciences (VU-GSSS). Admission to VU-GSSS is part of the selection procedure.

Your Duties

• Prepare and conduct PhD research on AI and public values

• Collect data through interviews, document analysis, and citizen survey

• Analyze data, initially focusing on qualitative research methods

• Write and publish scientific articles and a PhD dissertation

• Present research results at (inter)national conferences and societal forums

• Attend and complete PhD courses at the Graduate School

• Collaborate with partners in the AI4ALL Consortium

• Collaborate with colleagues in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration

Your Profile

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences (Public Administration, Business Ethics, Political Science, Management Studies, or similar)

• Interest in digital governance and AI literacy (desirable)

• Experience and affinity with scientific research

• Experience or interest in qualitative research methods and survey research

• Strong organizational and communication skills; proactive attitude

• Excellent English and Dutch skills

• Willingness to work in a team

VU Amsterdam encourages applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Candidates are invited to apply even if they do not meet all the requirements.

What We Offer

• Salary: €3,059 (PhD) to €3,881 (PhD, fourth year gross per month for full-time employment)

• Employment contract initially 1 year, extendable to 4 years

• Attractive fringe benefits including:

  • Full-time 38-hour work week with 232 hours of annual leave (pro-rata for part-time)

  • 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus

  • Optional personalized benefits package

  • Contribution to commuting expenses

  • Access to sports facilities at modest charge

About Us

Department, Institute, Project:
Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. The department conducts multidisciplinary research into societally relevant topics.

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities:
Explores major social issues through sociology, anthropology, political science, communication science, administration, and organisation. The faculty employs over 350 staff members and enrols around 3,000 students.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam:
VU Amsterdam promotes values-driven education and research, emphasizing diversity, social impact, and sustainability. Located on one campus in Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, VU has over 5,500 staff and 30,000 students.

Diversity:
VU Amsterdam values diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, and perspectives. We strive to create an inclusive, international, and high-quality educational and research environment.

Interested?

If you are interested and believe your experience contributes to the university, submit your application including:

• Academic CV including teaching experience

• Letter of Motivation

Applications via e-mail will not be considered. Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

Questions about the vacancy?
Contact: Gjalt de Graaf, Professor
Email: [provided in original advertisement]

In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com