PhD Position in Political Science (MSCA DIViNE)
Join an EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network researching democratic decline and political violence.
Best for:Best for graduate students in political science or related social sciences with a strong interest in democratic backsliding, political violence, and comparative research.
Overview
The Department of Social Sciences at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid invites applications for a fully-funded PhD candidate position within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network 'Democratic Institutions and Violence Network in Europe' (DIViNE). The successful candidate will investigate democratic decline, political violence, and cycles of repression as part of a structured international doctoral training programme. The role involves conducting independent doctoral research, participating in network-wide training events, and collaborating with academic partners across Europe. Applicants are expected to pursue a doctoral degree and contribute actively to the department's research environment.
What you'll do
- Conduct original doctoral research on democratic decline, political violence, and cycles of repression.
- Participate in network-wide training activities, workshops, and secondments organized by the DIViNE Doctoral Network.
- Draft peer-reviewed journal articles and present research findings at international academic conferences.
- Collaborate with researchers and partner institutions within the EU-funded MSCA consortium.
- Fulfill all coursework and milestone requirements of the university's doctoral programme.
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree in Political Science or a closely related social science discipline
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; excellent proficiency in spoken and written English
Instruction: English
- Strong background in political science, political sociology, or international relations
- Demonstrated ability to conduct empirical or theoretical academic research
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
- Must comply with the MSCA mobility rule (must not have resided or carried out main activity in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date)
- Must be a First Stage Researcher (R1), meaning they are not yet in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-11-11 (Europe/Madrid)
Interested applicants should prepare all required documentation and submit their application through the designated manual application channel indicated on the portal before the deadline.
- CV
- Cover letter
- Academic transcripts
- Research statement
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