Closing Date: 15 March 2025
Leiden University Has opening for 2 PhD positions for the COUNTERRR project.
About the Project: COUNTERRR
The “Countering Jihadi Insurgencies in Africa: Repress, Resist & Reorder (COUNTERRR)” project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and led by Dr. Corinna Jentzsch, examines domestic responses to jihadist armed groups in Africa. It focuses on variation in state repression, community resistance, and the evolution of security in Mali, Nigeria, and Mozambique.
The research combines qualitative methods, including fieldwork in the three focus countries, to understand how governments and communities respond to jihadist insurgencies and the impact of these strategies on conflict escalation or stabilization.
PhD Roles and Responsibilities
Each PhD candidate will focus on one specific insurgency:
- PhD Candidate 1: Al-Shabaab/Mashababos insurgency in northern Mozambique.
- PhD Candidate 2: Boko Haram insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria.
Key Tasks:
- Conduct research and write a PhD dissertation (article-based or monograph-based).
- Collect and analyze qualitative data through fieldwork in urban and rural areas.
- Collaborate with the COUNTERRR team to co-author publications and participate in workshops and conferences.
- Enroll in training programs, including methods summer/winter courses and academic skills training.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Hold a (Research) Master’s degree in Political Science, Conflict Studies, or African Studies with evident interest in political science.
- Have written a Master’s thesis.
- Demonstrate excellent knowledge of qualitative research methods (interviewing, participant observation, systematic qualitative data analysis).
- Show substantive interest and background knowledge in civil wars, conflict studies, and African politics.
- Possess strong critical thinking, writing skills, and excellent study results.
- Have the ability and willingness to conduct fieldwork in Mozambique or Nigeria for several months at a time.
Language Requirements:
- Excellent command of English.
- For Mozambique: Fluency in Portuguese is required.
- Proficiency in French or relevant local languages is a plus for both positions.
Benefits
- Salary: €2,901 – €3,707 gross/month (PhD scale January 2025).
- Contract: Full-time (38 hours/week), 1-year initial contract, extendable for 3 years upon positive evaluation.
- Additional benefits include:
- Holiday allowance (8%) and end-of-year bonus (8.3%).
- Attractive pension scheme at ABP.
- Minimum 29 leave days (can save or exchange hours for additional leave).
- Options for hybrid working within the Netherlands.
- Home-working allowance and flexible secondary employment conditions.
Application Process
Applications must include:
- Letter of Interest: Max 2 pages, expressing motivation for the PhD and indicating preference for Nigeria or Mozambique.
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Academic Transcripts: Bachelor’s and Master’s levels.
- Writing Sample: Master’s thesis or an academic paper.
- Fieldwork Evidence: Experience or networks in the selected country.
- References: Names and contact details of two academic referees (no recommendation letters required at this stage).
Deadline: 15 March 2025, 23:59 CET.
Selection Process
- Pre-Interviews: Online, late March to May 2025.
- Final Interviews: In-person in Leiden/The Hague, including a presentation of a preliminary research proposal.
- Start date September 2025.
Further details on the PhD handbook and the application process can be found on Leiden website.
