Our new Call for Applications is out now!
The deadline for the 2025 application period ends on Jan 07, 2025.
The Research Training Group 2458 "The Dynamics of Demography, Democratic Processes and Public Policy" (DYNAMICS) invites applications for
10 Doctoral Researcher Positions
DYNAMICS provides doctoral researchers with a unique and internationally competitive three-year PhD programme in cutting-edge quantitative methods and advanced theories of demography, democracy and public policy. It is a joint endeavour of the Department of Social Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the Hertie School and funded by the German Research Foundation. Doctoral positions will start in September 2025 and remuneration is based on Grade E13 TVL (75%) of the German Public Salary Scale.
DYNAMICS studies how demographic changes transform democratic processes, how policy decisions are made to address demographic challenges and how public policies influence demographic developments. It also studies how transboundary crises (such as the global financial crises, forced migration, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine) have exacerbated these developments. Dissertation projects should fall into at least one of the three Research Pillars of the Research Training Group:
1. Demography and democratic processes
2. Demography and public policy
3. Public policy and its effect on demographic behaviour
Qualification and requirements
We invite applications by highly qualified graduates from the fields of Political Science, Sociology, Demography, Public Policy, International Relations, or other related Social Sciences who already have a high level of quantitative methods training. Candidates must hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in one of the aforementioned subjects or be very close to completion.
What we offer
- A three-year employment contract with a competitive salary according to salary group E13 TVL (approximately 3000€/month gross), including social security and health insurance
- A comprehensive course programme with a unique combination of advanced theoretical courses, cutting-edge quantitative method skills, an interdisciplinary research seminar and an international lecture series
- Office space in the heart of Berlin, one of Europe`s most exciting cities with an outstanding research environment
- Financial support for conferences, summer schools and research stays abroad
- Additional training in professional development
- Relocation and onboarding support through the DYNAMICS office
Application
Please submit your application including the following materials until 07 January 2025 in one PDF file to dynamics.admissions@hu-berlin.de in the following order:
Application materials
- Letter of motivation (maximum 1 page)
- 10-page dissertation proposal
- Certificates and transcripts of grades from each academic programme attended so far. MA degree (or equivalent) has to be completed before 31 August.
- Statement of methods skills (maximum 1 page)
- CV
- TOEFL Test with score of at least 250 (computer-based) or 600 (paper-based) or 100 (internet-based)
- Two letters of recommendation (must be sent separately as PDF files to dynamics.admissions@hu-berlin.de by the referees)
- Two writing samples
- The names of two potential advisors from the ranks of Principle Investigators at DYNAMICS
All files must be merged into one single PDF file. The maximum file size is 6 MB.
The Call for Applications can be downloaded here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make sure to check out the Frequently Asked Questions.