Call for PhD applicants in Social Sciences (f/m) - Ref: 25-40

The Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER) calls for

PhD applicants in Social Sciences (f/m) – Ref: 25-40

LISER is looking for outstanding students who are interested to develop and submit, with the help of leading academic supervisors, an application for an individual AFR PhD grant funded by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR).

We particularly welcome applicants who would like to develop a PhD project along the following research thematic, in collaboration between LISER and the University of Luxembourg:

Economic and social inclusion for people with disabilities

(Supervisor: Prof. Marc Suhrcke)

The PhD project will be developed jointly with the successful candidate within the broad theme of economic and social inclusion for people with disabilities. The overarching aim is to understand how policies, services and environments shape the opportunities of people with disabilities to participate in education, employment and community life in Luxembourg and, where relevant, in a broader European perspective.

Possible lines of inquiry include, for example:

• analysing how disability benefits, employment support or personalised assistance affect labour market participation, job quality and income;
• studying transitions from school to work for young people with disabilities and the role of inclusive education;
• examining how features of the built environment, transport and digital accessibility influence social participation and well-being;
• assessing how different models of support (e.g. sheltered workshops vs. open labour market measures) relate to inclusion outcomes.

Depending on the candidate’s skills and interests, the project may draw on quantitative analysis of survey and/or administrative data (e.g. on employment, social protection, health or education), advanced econometric or causal-inference methods, and/or mixed-methods designs that combine statistical analysis with qualitative or participatory approaches involving people with disabilities and their representative organisations. The PhD will be embedded in LISER’s broader work on social and economic inequalities and will offer opportunities to interact with policy makers and stakeholders engaged in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The project is expected to generate both high-quality academic publications and policy-relevant evidence to support more inclusive societies.

Your profile

You should have:

• (or expect to achieve) a Master’s degree in economics, sociology, social policy, public health or a related social science discipline;
• Strong interest in disability, social inclusion, labour markets and/or social policy;
• Interest in working with data and empirical research; experience with quantitative and/or qualitative methods is an asset;
• Excellent verbal communication and academic writing skills in English;
• Enthusiasm for research, critical thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration.

LISER is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion, and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of background, and particularly encourage applications from female researchers.

Our offer

For successful AFR applicants, we offer:

• An exciting multi-disciplinary and international research environment with ample opportunities to exchange with scholars from related disciplines at both LISER and the University of Luxembourg;
• A highly competitive remuneration for a full-time PhD position according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in force and an employment contract at LISER for a period of maximum 4 consecutive years (3+1 years);
• A package of mentoring, training and career development as well as access to a wide range of courses and seminars, including language courses, offered by LISER and the University of Luxembourg;
• Flexibility in the organisation of the working hours and the possibility of teleworking;
• 32.5 days of annual leave for a full-time contract.

Doctoral candidates are encouraged to actively engage in disciplinary, interdisciplinary as well as transferable skills trainings and to develop their scientific profile and network through participation in high-level international conferences.

Application process

Please submit your complete application via https://jobs.liser.lu/jobs including:

• a detailed CV;
• a cover letter outlining your thematic interest, motivation and suitability for the PhD project;
• a relevant written document (e.g. a working paper, a chapter from your MA/MSc thesis, a seminar paper);
• copy of relevant diplomas and transcripts;
• 2 reference letters from academic referees (to be uploaded with your online application or to be sent separately to recruitment@liser.lu).

Deadline for applications: January 7th, 2026 at midnight CET.

The shortlisted candidates will be invited for virtual interviews in January 2026.

The deadline for submitting the AFR grant applications is set to March 11th, 2026 at 14:00 CET (tbc).

The applicants will be informed by July 2026 whether the application has been accepted for funding.

For administrative and recruitment matters, please contact Mrs Vanya KIROVA at recruitment@liser.lu

Why LISER?

LISER is a publicly funded research institute located in Luxembourg, devoted to applied empirical research in the economic, social and spatial sciences. The institute is located on the Belval campus in the south of Luxembourg (Cité des Sciences, Luxembourg), which hosts the University of Luxembourg and a substantial part of the country’s publicly funded research facilities, i.e. LISER, the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS) cross-national data centre, the Luxembourg institutes of Health (LIH) and of Science and Technology (LIST). 

Interdisciplinarity is a key element for stimulating scientific innovation. Research at LISER addresses current and future societal challenges and delivers relevant and independent societal impact and policy advice both at the national and European levels. The institute attracts researchers from all over the world, and delivers high-level doctoral training. The institute‘s staff consists of about 200 employees, 110 of which are researchers active in the fields of economics, sociology, and geography. Information on research in Luxembourg is accessible via the national EURAXESS platform.