Applications are invited for 13 PhD studentships in Social Science Genetics across eight European Universities that constitute the European Social Science Genetics Network (ESSGN). The Doctoral Network is funded by the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and includes: Erasmus University Rotterdam (NL), University of Bologna (IT), University of Bielefeld (DE), University of Bristol (UK), University of Oslo (NO), University of Oxford (UK), University of Uppsala (SE), and VU University Amsterdam (NL). We invite applications from eligible students for studentships that commence in September/October 2023.
ESSGN brings together eight Universities with a shared interest in social science genetics, i.e., in incorporating genetic information to improve our understanding of age-old questions in the social sciences, such as the origins of inequality, the ‘nature versus nurture’ debate, and the extent to which the interplay between environments and genes is important in shaping life chances. The consortium consists of an interdisciplinary group of academics, spanning demography, economics, epidemiology, genetics, political science, psychology, sociology, and statistics, as well as seven non-academic partners experienced in and committed to using data science to better understand inequalities in life chances. The partners include government bodies (GO Science UK), the World Health Organization - International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO-IARC), policy research institutes (RAND Europe, Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute [NIDI]), charities (the Health Foundation), data infrastructure networks (CentERdata-ODISSEI) as well as economics consulting (Prometeia).
The Doctoral Network will create, nurture, and maintain a stimulating and world-class training environment in the interdisciplinary study of social-science genetics and geno-economics. Training will be provided through: i) courses in the biological foundations of genetic inheritance; ii) practical training in cutting-edge, multidisciplinary methods in social science genetics, including in state-of-the-art computational and bioinformatics methods for analysing big data and in statistical techniques for empirical research; and iii) cutting-edge academic research as well as secondments with our partners, to prepare doctoral students to be successful research scientists, but also for the professional job market in industry, technology and policy. A dedicated team will coordinate and support skill development as well as monitor well-being and progress towards the PhD. While based at one of the eight ESSGN universities, it is expected that doctoral students work across institutions and countries.
The PhD projects will jointly contribute to answering a key research question that has occupied social scientists for decades:
To what extent do inequalities in life chances arise from genetic variation, environmental factors, and their interplay, and what can we do about it?
The PhD projects will go beyond the state-of-the-art by (i) using Europe’s largest and most comprehensive multi-generation databases to separate direct genetic effects from parental genetic and socio-economic factors that shape the rearing environment; and (ii) by exploiting the large toolbox of causal inference methods used in econometrics and statistics to estimate how environmental contexts causally protect individuals with genetic risk.
We will incorporate genetic information into the social sciences to explore how genetic and environmental characteristics jointly shape inequalities in life chances by (1) analysing to what extent genetic (‘nature’) and environmental (‘nurture’) factors contribute to inequality of opportunity and intergenerational mobility, and (2) establishing how nature and nurture jointly shape inequalities in life chances.
Benefits
Monthly living allowance (gross) € 3,400: this amount is adjusted through the application of a country correction coefficient to the living allowance of the country in which the researcher is recruited. This is to ensure equal treatment and purchasing power parity for all researchers. The country correction coefficients are indicated in Table 1 (p.109) of the MSCA Work Programme
Monthly mobility allowance: € 600
Monthly family allowance (if applicable, depending on family situation): € 495
Eligibility criteria
Fellows will be recruited through an international open call that aims at being “open, efficient, transparent and supportive” as stated in the European Code of Conduct for Recruitment. The process will seek merit-based selection while guaranteeing gender balance, equality, inclusion and transparency in line with the European Charter for Researchers
If you want to apply for one of our grants you must:
Comply with the mobility rule, meaning that you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date (see below (*) for exceptions to this rule).
Comply with the doctoral candidate criteria, meaning that at the time of recruitment by the hosting institution they have not been awarded a doctoral degree.
Fulfil the requirements to be enrolled in a doctoral programme at the hosting institution/country, and, if applicable, the specific eligibility requirements at the hosting institutions.
Submit a complete application within the submission deadline.
Meet the English language requirements of the University you are applying to.
* When checking compliance with the mobility rule, the refugee procedure will not be considered as a period of residence in the country where the candidate is applying. When all scores and evaluation criteria are equal, preference will be given to candidates from under-represented groups, for example women, and candidates with disabilities or those from refugee backgrounds.
Skills/Qualifications
REQUIRED EDUCATION LEVEL
Demography: Master Degree or equivalent
Economics: Master Degree or equivalent
Sociology: Master Degree or equivalent
Psychological sciences: Master Degree or equivalent
Political sciences: Master Degree or equivalent
Other: Master Degree or equivalent
REQUIRED LANGUAGES
ENGLISH: Excellent
Because the funding is for three years, applicants must have obtained (or depending on the institution: be about to obtain), an MSc/MRes/MPhil (requirements may vary by institution) in an appropriate area of social science (e.g., demography, economics, epidemiology, political science, psychology, sociology, statistics) or medical science (e.g., genetics, epigenetics). We are looking for students with strong quantitative skills. Professional experience is a plus, but not a must.
Selection process
Fellows will be recruited through an international open call that aims at being "open, efficient, transparent and supportive" as stated in the European Code of Conduct for Recruitment. The process will seek merit-based selection while guaranteeing gender balance, equality, inclusion and transparency in line with the European Charter for Researchers.
Enquiries: There is an online Q&A session on 29 November 2022, 10-11am CET. At least one individual of each University will be available to answer questions. Zoom link(Meeting ID: 950 8277 9199)
How to apply:
The deadline for expressions of interest is 5pm, 7 December 2022 CET. For this stage, please completethis online form, and send your CV, and a short (max 1 page) letter expressing your interest to essgn.sbe@vu.nl
Shortlisting takes place in the week of 12 December 2022. You will hear if you have been shortlisted by 16 December 2022.
Formal applications need to be submitted to the relevant University/Universities (you can submit applications to multiple Universities) of your choice by 8 January 2023 (deadlines may vary by University, so make sure you check). Each position will be advertised on the relevant University’s website (please contact the local supervisors -listed below- for more information).
If you have not submitted an expression of interest, you can still submit a formal application to the University/Universities of your choice.
Interviews will be held online in the week of 23 January 2023 (to be confirmed).
Successful candidates will be notified in February/March 2023. Applicants who have not been successful but who received a positive evaluation will be put on a waiting list for possible future positions.
Recruitment calendar:
Call opening: 28 October 2022
Q&A session: 29 November 2022
Deadline for expressions of interest: 7 December 2022
Shortlisting of expressions of interest: 12 December 2022
Deadline for formal applications (to each University): 8 January 2022
Formal (online) interviews: week of 23 January (to be confirmed)
Notification to candidates: February/March 2023
Start date of the fellowship: September/October 2023