PhD Governance of Migration Temporalities

Introduction

This PhD position aims to investigate how complex temporalities of migration and mobility in urban contexts interact with policies aimed at migration and migration-related diversities. As migration in the cities such as Rotterdam and Bilbao becomes more complex (liquid/fluid), with growing variation in temporalities of stay of different types of migrants, national and local policies are challenged by this (increased) international as well as internal mobility. Migration and inclusion policies are often based on explicit and implicit assumptions about how long migrants intend to stay, whether they are temporary or permanent, oriented on settlement or not. Policies (i.e. public services, social protection, civic integration and participation measures) do not always consider migrant’s changing intentions, potentially mobile nature of their occupation, etc. This research strives to explore which temporality considerations with regards to various migrant categories are taken into account in both local and national policies; how they affect specific migrant categories (i.e. intra-EU migrants, asylum seekers, highly-skilled professionals or expats, digital nomads and students), and how lived realities of these migrant categories interact with policies, and hence, the access to rights and services in Rotterdam and Bilbao. The PhD project speaks to the broader literature on complex migration, the mobility turn in migration studies and governance studies. This position involves a secondment of 3 months to the University of Deusto in Bilbao.

Please be aware of the extended application procedure, including a short research proposal. Once you press the button to APPLY this list of 6 documents becomes visible, as well as a timeline of the application process.

Main Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Peter Scholten (Erasmus University Rotterdam) – p.scholten@essb.eur.nl

Co-supervisor:    Dr. Bilge Yabanci (University of Deusto) – bilge.yabanci@deusto.es

MITIME Network

Up on selection, the PhD Candidates will be part of a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network “MITIME: Migration and Time in Post-industrial Urban Europe” (see details here MITIME) together with other 14 PhD candidates. MSCA Doctoral Network aims to train early-stage researchers through international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral doctoral training. Successful candidates will conduct original research on migration, temporality, and urban inequality and participate in all network-wide training and mobility activities. Other PhD positions are open in one of the network’s seven partner universities in Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Spain and Türkiye.

Being part of MITIME Network brings the following benefits:

• A prestigious PhD position within a dynamic network of universities and societal partners in migration and urban studies.
• A comprehensive training programme combining theoretical courses, advanced methods, and transferable skills.
• Joint supervision by leading academic experts from two universities with interdisciplinary guidance and intellectual support.
• International and intersectoral secondments to non-academic and institutional partners across Europe.
• Strong career-development opportunities across academic, public, and private sectors.
• Structured mentoring, leadership training, and professional development.

Job description

PhD candidate is expected to do the following:

• Conduct interdisciplinary and collaborative research on the topic governance of migration temporality 
• Develop a concrete and feasible research project fitting overarching theme, resulting in defence of the PhD dissertation at the end of the 4th year
• Conduct qualitative fieldwork as part of the PhD project
• Contribute to general MITIME collective research, dissemination and various network events
• Participate in the training activities (workshops, summer schools) offered by both MITIME network and the ESSB faculty
• Spend at least 3-months at the University of Deusto in Bilbao (secondment) 
• Contribute to scholarly publications in academic journals

Job requirements

Applicants must meet these criteria to be eligible for this PhD Position under MITIME Network:

• Academic qualifications: Candidates must hold a Master’s degree (e.g., MSc, MA, or equivalent) prior to the commencement of the contract. The degree should demonstrate a strong academic background in either governance studies, migration studies, public administration, political sociology or policy studies.
• Mobility requirements: Candidates may be of any nationality. However, in compliance with MSCA-DN mobility rules, candidates must not have resided or conducted their main activity (employment or studies) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months within the 36 months immediately preceding the start date (1 September 2026). Exceptions include compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, or time spent as part of procedures for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention. Please note that relevant documentation will be requested by the hiring institution and the EC upon appointment.
• PhD status: Candidates must not have previously completed or defended a PhD.
• Language proficiency: Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in both written and spoken English.

MITIME welcomes applications from highly motivated candidates with a demonstrated capacity for independent and collaborative research and a strong interest in the interdisciplinary study of migration, temporality, and urban inequality.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate the following:

• A strong commitment to conducting interdisciplinary and collaborative research in international and cross-sectoral contexts.
• The ability to take initiative, manage research tasks responsibly, and work both independently and as part of a team.
• The capacity to design and complete a doctoral research project within the framework of the assigned project description, leading to the submission of a PhD thesis and other academic outputs.
• Willingness to contribute to MITIME’s collective research, training, and dissemination activities, including workshops, summer schools, and other network events.
• Prior experience with the theoretical and methodological aspects of qualitative and/or quantitative research.
• Academic or professional experience relevant to Governance of Migration Temporalities.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, attention to detail, and the ability to deliver high-quality written and oral outputs.
• Demonstrated academic writing experience in the social sciences or humanities.
• Excellent English-language communication skills, both written and spoken. In addition, knowledge of Dutch and Spanish languages is a plus due to the fieldwork sites.
• Willingness and readiness for international mobility, including research secondments, training events, and conference participation.
• A record of scholarly publications (if available) will be considered an advantage.

Employment conditions and benefits

We offer you an internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with excellent working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

The start date of this position is 1 September 2026 and you will be based at Campus Woudestein in Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB). This position is for 1 fte (fulltime). The salary starts with € 3.059 to a maximum of € 3.881 gross per month in the fourth year. Scale PhD on a fulltime basis (38 hours), in accordance with the CAO-NU.The contract is offered for a period of 1 year and can be extended with three years if suitability is proven, if continued in the same position and if (financial and/or organizational) circumstances remain the same.

Everything else we offer you; you can find below!

- Everything you need for a good work-life balance: the option to work from home in consultation with your manager, 41 days of paid leave with a 40 hour contract, 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a significant discount on a subscription for our on-campus sports centre!

- Sustainable, inclusive and diverse work environment with an open culture, where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world around us. Make the most of our bicycle budget, or join networks such as Young@EUR, FAME or QuEUR.

- Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget and free access to our university library.

- Good pension with ABP that EUR contributes 2/3rds towards, discounts on various collective insurances with Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Loyalis, and Allianz, and compensation for travel, working from home and home internet use.

- Are you currently combining your job with parenthood, or do you want to do so in the future? EUR offers partially paid parental leave and fully paid additional birth leave for partners, and our campus features a daycare (daycare not paid for by EUR).

- Moving to the Netherlands for your job with EUR? Then you may be eligible for the 30%-ruling if you meet the requirements of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax agency), and with our Dual Career Programme we will also help your partner find the right job for them.

Employer

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 4.100 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Faculty / Institute / Central service

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB)
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) combines various disciplines such as public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College is affiliated with the faculty. Within ESSB, we work in teams on education and research, emphasising interdisciplinarity, diversity, inclusion and sustainability. Together, we strive for societal and scientific impact.

ESSB distinguishes itself through inter-, multi- and transdisciplinary research, in which academics and students work together on complex social issues. Thanks to this approach, ESSB successfully attracts national and international research subsidies and funds, with which we continuously strengthen and renew our education and research.

ESSB serves almost 6,000 students annually with a wide range of bachelor's and master's programmes and has more than 600 employees. These programmes are highly rated by students and alumni. Within ESSB, developing new insights and realising positive societal impact are central, always with a focus on people and society.

Visit our website for more information about the faculty, and click here for more information about our academic teams.

Group

Department of Public Administration and Sociology (DPAS)

DPAS encompasses the disciplines Public Administration and Sociology: two related scientific fields each with a unique profile. Public Administration studies governance capacity and policy interventions. It focuses on institutional power to organize and intervene in the relations between different social, political and economic actors. Public Administration in Rotterdam goes far beyond the public realm to also pay attention to public-private cooperation and the networks of organizations. Sociology investigates the social structures of societies and the way these evolve. Sociologists in Rotterdam focus, inter alia, on processes of globalization and individualization, and the effects of these processes on international social relations, the labor market and family relations. Social issues that are studied under this banner include migration, flexibilization and solidarity. The perspectives of Public Administration and Sociology complement each other. Together they guarantee a highly relevant and scientific approach to topical administrative and social issues. The bachelor- and master programs of DPAS are built on this profile and develop students into scientifically schooled professionals.

Department

Team Policy, Politics and Society (PPS)
The Policy, Politics and Society (PPS) team is an interdisciplinary team conducting research and teaching on various complex policy topics. Working according to the principles of ‘team science’, we aim to provide a stimulating and creative environment for academic development. In addition to academic impact, we also attach great importance to societal impact and engagement, especially towards communities, governments and organisations. The team brings diverse expertise in institutional change, wellbeing and inclusion, European and global policy, resilient cities, e-governance, and migration and diversity.

For more information, please visit our website.

Applying

Candidates applying for MITIME doctoral researcher positions must submit a single PDF file containing all required documents in the order listed below, before the vacancy closing date. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

1. Motivation Letter (maximum 1 page): Introduce yourself and your qualifications, outline your motivation for applying to the position, and describe your future career objectives.
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV): Include details of educational qualifications, grades achieved in relevant research modules or dissertations, and any other pertinent academic or professional experience.
3. Research Proposal: Outline how you would conceptually and methodologically approach the research for the specific project you are applying for, using the brief project description as a basis (3-5 pages, excluding references; 12pt font size).
4. Official Transcripts: Provide final grade transcripts for both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. If transcripts are not in English, include an official translation.
5. Degree Certificates: Submit copies of Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas or proof of degree completion. If you are currently enrolled in a Master’s programme, include available transcripts and a statement from your supervisor confirming that you are on track to complete your degree by the commencement of the contract.
6. Proof of English Language Competence: Submit documentation of English proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS) as required by the recruiting institution. Candidates whose first language is English, or who have previously studied in English, should provide a brief justification requesting exemption from this requirement.

The selection procedure consists of two interviews. Interviews are expected to be held in February-March 2026.

In April 2026: Conclusion of the selection process and notification of successful applicants.

In April–June 2026  the formal submission by selected candidates to host institutions’ degree-awarding doctoral programmes and applications for work visas/residence permits (where required).

You can find more information about the EUR on our website www.eur.nl. For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Asya Pisarevskaya via pisarevskaya@essb.eur.nl.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Persons of all gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, religions, ethnicities, ages, neurodiversities, functional impairments, citizenships, or any other aspect are welcome to apply and join the EUR community.