phd position molecular biology

3 PhD positions in Biosensors Research

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)

The theme of the research program is to develop new biosensor technology for active mixing and the capture of target molecules in microfluidic devices, by actuating magnetic beads with electromagnetic fields. Three PhD positions are available (funded by STW), one in each of the mentioned groups. PhD1 will investigate 3D mixing near the surface of actuated beads (for information contact prof. dr. H.J.H. Clercx, e-mail: H.J.H.Clercxattue.nl, WDY). PhD2 will study global mixing in micro-channels and cavities by magnetically actuated particles (for information contact prof. dr. ir. J.M.J. den Toonder, e-mail: J.M.J.d.Toonderattue.nl, MaTe). PhD3 will investigate quantitative mixing and capture in an integrated biosensor (for information contact dr. ir. A.M. de Jong, e-mail: A.M.de.jongattue.nl, MBx).

Requirements
University Graduate

Candidates should have (nearly) completed an MSc degree in Physics, Applied Physics, Physical Chemistry, or Biomedical Technology. Candidates will be judged on their expected ability to combine the search for precision and fundamental descriptions of physics with the empirical way-of-working of biological sciences.

Organization
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven Department of Applied Physics

The Department of Applied Physics at Eindhoven University of Technology has 15 professorial chairs with about 65 academic and 60 technical specialists, as well as 110 graduate and 375 undergraduate students. The leading research themes cover functional materials, transport physics, and plasma physics and radiation technology. The department has extensive national and international partnerships, including industrial partners. It participates in several national (top) research schools, and in two national top technology institutes: Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI) and Materials Innovation Institute (M2i). Eindhoven University of Technology is one of the three participants in the Dutch 3TU Federation of Universities of Technology.

Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 years
Maximum hours per week: 40

Additional Information

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links.

* About the organization

Application
You can apply for this job before 01-08-2009 by sending your application to:

Technische Universiteit Eindhoven
Dr. ir. A.M. de Jong
Postbus 513
5600 MB Eindhoven
Nederland
E-mail address: a.m.de.Jongattue.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancy number V34.336.

PhD Position in Spatial Mapping and Statistical

PhD Selection and validation of candidate serum biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer

Erasmus Medical Centre

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common male malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer-related death in most European countries. In order to improve diagnosis and prognosis, a series of novel serum proteins have been identified that are differentially present in PCa. The next step is to confirm the differential expression of the peptides in an extended set of patient samples using TripleQuad Mass Spectrometry (MS) in combination with the selective reaction monitoring (SRM) method. Based on the outcome combined with data mining, promising candidate biomarkers will enter the validation phase.

In-house developed or commercially available immunoassays will be used in order to test large series of patient serum samples for biomarker expression in the various PCa disease stages to determine diagnostic and prognostic power. Tissue expression will be analyzed by immunohistochemistry on Tissue MicroArrays (TMA) and other formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded (FFPE) prostate (cancer) tissues including biopsies to study in which cell type and to what extend the candidate biomarker is produced, revealing whether marker expression, particularly in biopsies, has prognostic value.

Supervisors for this project are Dr. Guido Jenster, Dr. Theo Luider and Dr. Arno van Leenders. Erasmus MC, Rotterdam

Job-requirements
The candidate should have an MSc degree in Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Life Sciences, Biochemistry, or from a related field of training. Preferably the candidate has experience with molecular biology techniques and cell culture. English language skills are essential.

Applicants canbe nationals of any country other than The Netherlands and must not have resided or carried out their main activity in The Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment.

Candidates should be researchers in the first four years of their research careers measured from the date when they obtained the degree which would formally entitle them to embark on a doctorate.

Embedding and conditions of employment
The PhD student working on the project will be part of PRO-NEST, a unique European integrated multi-disciplinary training programme for young researchers interested in prostate cancer research, funded by the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme.
We offer you a temporary full-time appointment as PhD student for a period of 3 years, starting in the autumn of 2009.

Information
Applicants should submit an application letter by email to the PRO-NEST project manager Dr. Ellen Schenk at e.schenk-braataterasmusmc.nl mentioning vacancynumber 29.01.09.PRONEST.

The application should include a statement on the position of interest, motivation, research interests and how the Marie Curie eligibility criteria are met, as well as a CV and the contact details of 2 referees. Further information on the PRO-NEST project, eligibility criteria and how to apply can be obtained at www.pro-nest.org.

PhD position in Social Software and Semantic Web

Phd Position Identification of novel DNA and RNA fusions as markers for prostate cancer

Erasmus Medical Centre

1M Illumina SNP and Affymetrix EXON array analyses of prostate cancer patient samples and xenografts, revealed a wealth of cancer-related DNA and RNA changes. Of particular interest to us are the borders of chromosomal deletions and amplifications and the genes located on these breakpoints.

Therefore, we will integrate SNP and EXON array data of the same 80 patient samples to identify DNA breakpoints resulting in aberrant gene transcripts. In addition, DNA and RNA fusions will be identified using state of the art Solexa Paired-End Deep Sequencing in which both ends of RNAs and DNA fragments are sequenced. This allows for identification of fragments in which the ends do not match according to the human genome sequence revealing potential fusion genes. Candidate fusion genes will be further studied for their occurrence rate and role in cancer initiation and progression.

Supervisors are Prof. dr. Jan Trapman and Dr. Guido Jenster. Erasmus MC, Rotterdam

Job-requirements
The candidate should have a MSc degree in Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Life Sciences, Biochemistry, or from a related field of training. Preferably the candidate has experience with molecular biology techniques and cell culture. English language skills are essential.

Applicants can be nationals of any country other than The Netherlands and must not have resided or carried out their main activity in The Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment.

Candidates should be researchers in the first four years of their research careers measured from the date when they obtained the degree which would formally entitle them to embark on a doctorate.

Embedding and conditions of employment
The PhD student working on the project will be part of PRO-NEST, a unique European integrated multi-disciplinary training programme for young researchers interested in prostate cancer research, funded by the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme.
We offer you a temporary full-time appointment as PhD student for a period of 3 years, starting in the autumn of 2009.

Information
Applicants should submit an application letter by email to the PRO-NEST project manager Dr. Ellen Schenk at e.schenk-braataterasmusmc.nl, mentioning vacancynumber 29.02.09.PRONEST.

The application should include a statement on the position of interest, motivation, research interests and how the Marie Curie eligibility criteria are met, as well as a CV and the contact details of 2 referees.

Further information on the PRO-NEST project, eligibility criteria and how to apply can be obtained at www.pro-nest.org

PhD position Strategies for the transfer of knowledge 2009

University of Twente

Job description
PhD posotion Strategies for the transfer of knowledge
Project
Both the scientific community and the society at large with its representatives such as EU, government, and industry are quite interested in closing the gap between research and utilization of research results. Recently, the European Commission has been encouraging researchers to collaborate more not only with the scientific community but also with industry. Universities, in the view of policy makers should become more entrepreneurial in fulfilling the mission of commercializing knowledge. This should be done by transferring knowledge to industry as well as by creating more spin-offs based on in-house discoveries. This brief description of the environment provides the institutional settings for this PhD project. The aim of this PhD-research project is to study what strategies individual researchers and institutes develop in the transfer of knowledge for utilization and what affects the development of such strategies. Your task will be to develop a management model from the perspective of strategic positioning that will enhance the transfer of knowledge from science to society for utilization of research results.

Requirements
University Graduate
Profile
We are looking for a candidate with a background in social sciences (master's degree or equivalent), experienced in empirical studies and knowledgeable of research methods. You also possess a mix of research skills, good communication skills and fluency in English.

Organization
University of Twente Faculteit Management en Bestuur
The University of Twente (UT) is an entrepreneurial research university, located in Enschede, the Netherlands. Organized over five faculties, the UT offers twenty educational programs ranging from applied physics, public and business administration, communication studies and diverse programs in engineering technology. Research takes place within the context of institutes and focuses, among other things, on information and communication technology, nanotechnology, biomedical technology, policy studies, construction management & engineering, and mechanics. More than 7,000 students and 2,700 staff members live and work at the UT, the Netherlands' only campus university.

De faculteit Management en Bestuur is een snel groeiende faculteit die streeft naar een toonaangevende positie op het terrein van bedrijfs- en maatschappijwetenschappen en naar intensivering van de samenwerking met de technische en biomedische faculteiten en instituten van de Universiteit Twente. Binnen de faculteit spelen themas als management en bestuur van innovatie en technologie, ondernemerschap een centrale rol. Op al deze gebieden verzorgt de faculteit bachelor, master en postacademisch onderwijs. Daarnaast wordt wetenschappelijk en toegepast onderzoek verricht binnen uiteenlopende branches zoals de gezondheidszorg, het hoger onderwijs, het bankwezen, de zakelijke dienstverlening en de industrie. Dit onderzoek is ondergebracht bij de universitaire onderzoeksinstituten Institute for Governance Studies (IGS) en het Centre for Telematics and Information Technology (CTIT). De faculteit telt circa 350 medewerkers en 2.200 studenten.

Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2000 - 2500

Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2612
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 years
Maximum hours per week: 38

Additional conditions of employment:
What we offer
We offer a very challenging position in an inspiring environment in the NIKOS department. As a PhD candidate you will be appointed in a full-time position for a period of four years, at the end of which you must have completed your PhD thesis. The gross monthly salary for a PhD increases from 2042 in the first year to 2612 in the final year (in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). In addition, the University of Twente offers additional attractive employment conditions. We provide a PhD educational programme.

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Dr. Kasia Zalewska-Kurek
Telephone number: +31-53-489-541
E-mail address:k.zalewska-kurekatutwente.nl

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links.

* About the organization
* About the department
* About the function
* Website School of Management and Governance
* Wesite NIKOS

Application
You can apply for this job before 20-09-2009 by sending your application to:

Universiteit Twente
Management en Bestuur
P.J.J.M. van Loon
Postbus 217
7500 AE Enschede

E-mail address:MBSollicitatiesatmb.utwente.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancy number AT/09/154.

The short URL code for this job opening is: 00355-753.
You can use this as a direct link to the job by adding the code to the URLwww.academictransfer.org/

PhD student with a strong interest in human genetics 2009

University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a knowledge centre with 3.600 co-workers that performs ground-breaking and innovative research of international standing. The university takes special care to ensure optimum support and supervision of students, and pays constant attention to educational innovation. The university is an autonomous pluralistic institution that is committed to the enhancement of an open, democratic and multicultural society, and it pursues an equal opportunities policy.

The research group into Hereditary Hearing Impairment at the University of Antwerp (Department of Biomedical Sciences of the Faculty Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences) is recruiting a full time vacancy (m/f) of:

Highly motivated PhD student

with a strong interest in human genetics

Research Project

The research topic of our lab is the elucidation of molecular mechanisms contributing to hereditary forms of hearing impairment.

Over the past years, our lab has identified several genes involved in hereditary hearing impairment (HHI). This includes monogenic forms of HHI, due to one single gene defect, as well as complex forms that are caused by an interplay between genes and environment. However, it remains unknown how these underlying gene defects ultimately lead to hearing impairment. Functional characterization of the identified genes will shed more light on the functional link between gene defect and hearing loss.

Profile and requirements

Masters degree in Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Bio-engineer (or any related field)

Excellent study results (top 5%)

Good English language skills

We offer

An initial 1-year contract, possibly extendable with 4 years. During the first year, a grant proposal has to be completed. Four to five years of research will result in a PhD in Biomedical Sciences.

Start date

January 1, 2010

To apply

Before September 1, 2009 , complete the mandatory application form (http://www.ua.ac.be/main.aspx?c=*VACATURES&n=%2076924&vid=%20207498&fac=Pharmaceutical%2C%20Biomedical%20and%20Veterinary%20Sciences&empl=100&ec=erik.fransen&ed=ua.ac.be) (in attachments your curriculum vitae + a one page letter in which you explain your interest in the position and in the field of research)

More information about the fellowship can be obtained by

Prof. Dr. Guy Van Camp

Email: guy.vancampatua.ac.be

Phone +32 3 2759762

dr. Erik Fransen

Email: erik.fransenatua.ac.be

Phone +32 3 2759757

Universiteit Antwerpen
Prins Boudewijnlaan 43
B-2650 Edegem
Belgium

PhD fellowship Ecosystem Management Research Group 2009

University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is an open, student-oriented, democratic and pluralistic university. It aims for high quality and stimulates innovation in education, research and service. It is the ambition of the Universiteit Antwerpen to find answers for actual and relevant scientific, social and policy problems. Starting from a solid tradition, it continuously aims for a renewing, original and multidisciplinary approach. As a privileged actor in the contemporary knowledge society, the Universiteit Antwerpen considers itself predestined to play a pioneering role in the context of a number of pillars of research of national and international renown. It thinks of multidisciplinary collaboration as an important stimulator of innovative research and supports the development of initiatives in virgin paths and territories of research that might lead to innovating insights.

The University of Antwerp takes special care over all employees, as the quality of education, research and service also depends on them. Every member of staff as an individual can count on the recognition of his/her dignity and of his/her contribution to the realization of the tasks of the university. All members of staff are expected to treat each other on equal terms and in a spirit of mutual respect and trust. Staff policy is oriented at bringing about sustainable staff relations by means of e.g. aiming for maximal opportunities for development and promotion for those who have the appropriate qualifications and capacities, aiming for maximal job security, with a strong social concern, in particular for the family duties of the members of staff, and aiming for equal opportunities for women and members of staff with a migrant background.

In the department of biology of the Faculty of Sciences is following full-time position (m/f) available:

PhD-fellowship

Biological control on silica fluxes through upland ecosystems

Background:

The Ecosystem Management Research Group (ECOBE) is active in basic scientific research towards ecological and biogeochemical processes in rivers, wetlands and ecosystems in general, and in applied environmental research aimed at optimizing ecosystem management.

Function:

- You are directly participating in innovative research towards the role of ecosystems in the terrestrial silica cycle. This is a quickly developing research topic, in which the Ecosystem Management Research Group has gained international recognition.

- During your fellowship, you will develop silica-signatures for several ecosystems (forest, cropland and grassland), using advanced isotope techniques and weathering product ratios. These signatures will be linked to silica signatures observed in riverine ecosystems, to track the relative influence of upland ecosystems in controlling riverine fluxes of silica.

- The fellowship is part of cooperative FWO (Research Foundation Flanders, 2009-2013) project involving the KULeuven (Research Group Physical Geography), University of Antwerp (Ecosystem Management Research Group and the Research Group Ecophysiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology) and Africamuseum in Tervuren (Brussels).

- You are required to apply for a PhD fellowship sponsored by FWO during your first year of employment. The team leaders will help you in preparing this application. Meanwhile, you are funded as a University of Antwerp PhD fellow.

Your profile:

- You have a masters degree in Biology, Geology, Environmental Sciences, Earth Sciences or in a relevant research field.

- Knowledge of the statistical software R or S-PLUS and GIS-applications is a plus.

- You are an ambitious young researcher, prepared to dig her- or himself for 100% into an innovative new research topic

- Knowledge of biogeochemical cycles in either aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems, or both, is a plus.

- Expertise in laboratory techniques is welcome

Our offer:

- A challenging and rewarding research fellowship in a dynamical research environment

- A starting contract for one year, that can be prolonged to 4 years after positive evaluation

- The contract can take effect from September 2009. The starting date can be determined together with the successful applicant.

- A wide range of possibilities to attend scientific courses

- Regular dissemination of you research at international conferences

- A flexible research environment, where you receive a significant freedom in developing your own research project. This occurs in continuous interaction with the team leaders, and should enhance and stimulate the scientific achievements within the research group.

Apply:

- Please apply before August 30, 2009

- To apply, complete the mandatory application form (in attachments your curriculum vitae and briefly (250 words) summarize your motivation and relevant knowledge).

More information about the fellowship can be obtained by contacting either Dr. Eric Struyf (eric.struyfatua.ac.be, phone +32 3 2652304) or Ir. Stefan Van Damme (stefan.vandammeatua.ac.be, phone +32 3 2652263).

PhD Copiride-Combining Proces Intensification 2009

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)

The Laboratory of Chemical Reactor Engineering of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at the Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands has a PhD vacancy:
"COPIRIDE - Combining Process Intensification-driven Manufacture of Microstructured Reactors and Process Design regarding to Industrial Dimensions and Environment. "

Ph.D. project description
This Ph.D. vacancy is in a joint research project COPIRIDE for demonstrating the use of process intensification and microstructured devices for large-scale chemicals production. This project is carried out within the scope of the FP7-Nano Materials & Production (NMP) program of the European Commission. Central aspect is the development of modular container-like plants equipped with PI equipment and specialized for much improved chemical conti-flow production. The COPRIDE project is a collaborative project, co-ordinated by the Institut fuer Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH (IMM) and 7 companies and 8 academic partners, including the Chemical Reactor Engineering group at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), with a total budget of 11 Mio Euro.

The ultimate ambition of COPIRIDE is to develop a modular production and factory concept for the chemical industry using adaptable plants with flexible output. This concept will be new, superior, intellectual property (IP) protected, and enable a much wider spread of know-how and education of this skill-intensive technology. Key functional and enabling units are new production-scale, mass-manufactured microstructured reactors as well as other integrated process intensification (PI) reactors realising integrated processes. This will lead to a substantial reduction in costs, resources & energy and notably improves the eco-efficiency. To ensure the competitiveness of European (EU) manufacturing businesses, PI technology / know-how is transferred from leaders to countries (and respective medium & small industries) with no exposure in PI so far, but with a track record in sustainability, and to the explorative markets food and biofuels. A deeply rooted base will be created for IP rights (Copyright, = COPIRIDE) by generic modular reactor & plant design and new generic processes via Novel Process Windows, facilitating patent filing. Due to the entire modular plant concept comprising all utilities far beyond the reaction & processual parts - a holistic PI concept is provided, covering the whole development cycle with, e.g., safety & process control & plant approval. Features, inter alia, are fast plant start-up and shut-down for multipurpose functionality (flexibility in products), sustainable & safe production, and fast transfer from lab to production & business (time-to-market). Industrial demonstration activities up to production scale with five field trials present a good cross-section of reactions relevant to the EU chemical industry.

The economic impact in COPIRIDE is 10 Mio (cautiously optimistic) to 30 Mio (optimistic) by direct exploitation. Indirect exploitation might sum up to 800 Mio (extremely optimistic) by other companies via technology transfer.
TU/es contribution to the project is two-fold in the work package Catalyst Optimisation TU/e has to bring in its experience (together with IMM) with catalyst coating related to two tasks about development of wall coating techniques (using channel coating at large-scale format and modeling; in the work package Intensifying Process Windows and Reactor Engineering TU/e is involved in collection and analysis of existing process data, in changing the process protocols towards Novel Process Windows, reactor engineering for laboratory reactors, and in the low-risk scale-up reactor concept for pilot reactors. Thus, this frame will provide contents for a PhD thesis entitled Modelling and design of scaled-out microstructured reactors for modular container plants guided by operation in Novel Process Windows (working title).

More information about the group"s research program: www.chem.tue.nl/scr
Requirements
University Graduate
We are looking for candidates who have a Master degree in chemistry or chemical engineering, and with a sound background in reaction engineering and/or catalysis.

Organization
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry (ST) is one of the nine departments of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). It was established in 1957. The department has approximately 500 employees (411 fte), 13 full professors, 370 undergraduate students (bachelor and masterstudents) and about 170 graduate students (140 Ph.D. and 30 design engineers).The department aspires to be an academic institution for education and research in chemical science and engineering that meets the highest international standards. The aim is to generate and to develop technology and scientific knowledge relevant for the long-term needs of society. Scientific curiosity and the use of newly generated knowledge are the main driving forces for the continuing enhancements of the three chosen fields of expertise: molecular, materials, and process engineering.
Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 jaar
Maximum hours per week: 40

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Prof. dr. Volker Hessel
Telephone number: +31(0)40 247 4959

Prof.dr.ir. Jaap Schouten
Telephone number: +31 (0)40 247 3088
E-mail address: j.c.schoutenattue.nl

Application
You can apply for this job before 31-07-2009 by sending your application to:

Technische Universiteit Eindhoven
STW1.41
Prof. dr. V. Hessel
Postbus 513
5600 MB Eindhoven
Nederland
E-mail address: v.hesselattue.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancy number V37.675.

Three-year PhD scholarship in Lifelong Learning and Social Psychology of Everyday Lif 2009

Three-year PhD scholarship in Lifelong Learning and Social Psychology of Everyday Lif

The PhD School in Lifelong Learning and the Social Psychology of Everyday Life Roskilde University

Three-year PhD scholarship at The PhD School in Lifelong Learning and Social Psychology of Everyday Life
Roskilde University

A three-year PhD scholarship at the PhD School in Lifelong Learning and Social Psychology of Everyday Life at the Department of Psychology and Educational Studies (PAES), Roskilde University; is announcing an opening for impending employment.
The department has a special interest in PhD project proposals within the following areas:
• Work life studies, e.g. illuminated by individualization/collectivity, learning, or health promotion and strategies
• University studies, e.g. illuminated by processes of inclusion/exclusion, rethinking problem based project work, or university student’s everyday life
Furthermore applications within other research areas of the department are welcomed: Everyday life and learning of children and youth; gender, body, and learning; subject, technology, and social practice; social practice and healthcare, and social entrepreneurship. The department’s research groups and programs can be found here: http://www.ruc.dk/paes_en/
The Graduate School in Lifelong Learning and the Social Psychology of Everyday Life offers two graduate programs focusing on lifelong learning and everyday social psychology. The Stipend in question will be affiliated to the relevant program in accordance with the PhD application.
For more information please visit:
The Graduate School in Lifelong Learning and the Social Psychology of Everyday Life: http://www.ruc.dk/paes_en/phd/

For additional information please contact:
- Director of the PhD School, Linda Lundgaard Andersen, the Graduate School in Lifelong Learning, E-mail: llaatruc.dk
- Program Director Charlotte Højholt, the PhD program in Social Psychology of Everyday Life, E-mail: charcatruc.dk
- Academic Coordinator, Mikael Meldstad, E-mail: mdmatruc.dk, tel. (+45) 4674 2732

The conditions of employment are in accordance with the agreement by the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.

The application must encompass:
 application form: http://www.ruc.dk/paes_en/phd/info/application_form_PhD/
 Project description (4-6 pages)
 Schedule – time-frame of the PhD
 Budget (only if special costs are incurred due to particular empirical studies – or longer stays overseas)
 CV
 Copies of relevant diplomas and exam-papers
 Copies of relevant recommendations and dissertation statement/statements

The project description must describe the area of interest, the considered methods, and the theoretical approaches.
The purpose of the project description is to enable the PhD school to consider the relevance of the project, possible supervisors as well as the likelihood of completion with the timeframe and resources a three-year PhD scholarship provides.
In this aspect a time frame is of great importance. It serves as basis for assessing whether the candidate has a realistic estimation of what one is able to complete in three years.
The budget should not include own salary. It is solely a budget for special expenses either related directly to the project (interview transcriptions, advanced statistical analyses, etc.) or special expenses to study/travel abroad during the education.

Applications must emailed to mdmatruc.dk as well as be submitted in 5 print copies to:
The PhD School in Lifelong Learning and Social Psychology of Everyday Life
Roskilde University
att. Mikael Meldstad
P10, Box 260,
4000 Roskilde
Denmark
Closing: Monday, August 3rd 2009, 1PM - GMT

Ph.D. position - project University of Antwerp

Ph.D. position - project: Democratic Legitimacy of federal political systems

University of Antwerp

University Antwerp is a knowledge centre with more than 3.600 co-workers that performs ground-breaking and innovative research of international standing. The university takes special care to ensure optimum support and supervision of students, and pays constant attention to educational innovation. The university is an autonomous pluralistic institution that is committed to the enhancement of an open, democratic and multicultural society, and it pursues an equal opportunities policy.

The Department of Political Science invites applications for

a Ph.D. position within a project on Democratic Legitimacy of federal political systems.

Background:

In recent years a lively academic debate has been going on discussing the question whether the EU suffers from a democratic deficit, and if so, how bad it is. In general the alleged democratic deficit of the EU is considered to be induced by electoral shortcomings (lack of pan- European electoral competition), party system shortcomings (lack of pan-European political parties) and public sphere shortcomings (lack of a pan-European public opinion). A similar academic debate on the democratic legitimacy of the Belgian federation is largely absent; the matter has hardly been subject of political science research so far. This is a surprising observation since the symptoms that are part of the European diagnosis, are also very much present in the Belgian political system: there exist no genuine federal electoral competition, no federal political parties and no federal Belgian mass media or public sphere.

Taking this remarkable academic caveat as a starting point, we aim with this project to measure and evaluate the democratic legitimacy of the Belgian federation in a systematic and comparative manner. We pose the following core questions. What mechanisms did Belgium and other federal political systems introduce to guarantee democratic legitimacy? Can we compare the Belgian federal system with other federal systems with respect to democratic legitimacy? Does Belgium resemble more to other federal states or to the European Union? Can other federal states offer inspiration to enhance the democratic quality of the Belgian system? The ultimate aim of this project is to systematically evaluate the democratic legitimacy of the Belgian federal system by comparing it with other multilevel political systems.

Task:

*
you prepare a doctoral dissertationyou disseminate research results through national and international publications and conferences
*
* you are an active member of the research group on European and International Politics

What we have to offer is, in sum:

* an interesting research area and dissertation topic for a period of two years. The appointment will be prolonged with two years after a positive evaluation;
* a working environment with young and entrepreneurial colleagues;
* the opportunity to participate in training and educational programs within an international academic network.

Requirements:

We expect that candidates:

* can independently conduct a research project, like to work within a team and are proactive in supporting the research group;
* hold a master degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Economics or in another related field within the social science (candidates who graduate in 2009 are also invited to apply);
* have obtained excellent grades during their studies and being motivated to prepare a doctoral dissertation;
* have good writing skills;
* have a visible interest in European and Belgian politics;
* have a special interest in theoretical issues, in particular the democratic legitimacy of political systems;
* have a good command of English
* show motivation, flexibility and a broad academic and societal curiosity

Application (deadline September 1 2009):

* application form (via http://www.ua.ac.be/main.aspx?c=*VACATURES&n=15761&ct=011072) or tel. + 32 3 265 31 49);
* letter of application;
* curriculum Vitae and a list of grades obtained;
* two letters of recommendation;
* a written essay (two pages in English) in which you critically discuss the project description which you can obtain from Peter Bursens or Dave Sinardet (for contact details see below). In this essay, you sketch your ideas on the theoretical and methodological approach you would pursue when conducting research into one of the sub-areas outlined above.

Please send your application to:

Peter Bursens or Dave Sinardet

Department of Political Science

Meerminne Building , M. 285

St. Jacobstraat 2

2000 Antwerp

Belgium

For more information:

Peter Bursens (+ 32 3 265 57 22 of of peter.bursensatua.ac.be )

Dave Sinardet (+ 32 3 265 55 91 of dave.sinardetatua.ac.be )