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

About this position

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