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Job Information
Organisation/Company: Fondation nationale des Sciences Politiques
Department: Centre for research on social inequalities
Research Field: Economics, Sociology, Political sciences, Psychological sciences
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions: PhD Positions
Application Deadline: 17 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)
Country: France
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Hours Per Week: 36.30
Offer Starting Date: 1 Nov 2026
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Horizon Europe - ERC
Reference Number: 101201397
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: No
Offer Description
The Centre for Research on Social Inequality (CRIS) at Sciences Po, Paris is seeking to appoint a PhD candidate to join the Research Team led by Prof. Mirna Safi working on the ERC-funded project “The Discrimination-Inequality Cycle: Bridging Unequal Treatment and Unequal Outcomes across Countries, Regions and Workplaces” (Project 101201397 — DISEQUAL).
DISEQUAL bridges the gap between research on discrimination (unequal treatment) and inequality (unequal outcomes) by exploring their mutually reinforcing relations – conceptualized as the Discrimination-Inequality Cycle. The project advances the field through three key objectives: 1) Assessing the relations between discrimination and inequality combining experimental and observational data; 2) Understanding how social-psychological mediators such as attitudes, beliefs and experiences perpetuate the Discrimination-Inequality Cycle; 3) Analyzing the role of policies in shaping and potentially breaking the cycle. DISEQUAL collects and harmonizes cross-national data encompassing various discrimination categories, with a focus on gender and ethnoracial groups, across multiple spheres of interactions, particularly hiring and rental housing. The project will combine insights from sociology, economics, political science and social psychology.
Key responsibilities: In close collaboration with the PI and other team members, the PhD candidate will develop their own doctoral research project and complete a PhD dissertation within three years. As a member of the research team, the PhD candidate will also contribute to the project’s activities, including:
- Preparing complex data and conducting advanced quantitative analyses
- Contributing to the design and collection of experimental data
- Drafting, submitting, and revising academic articles for publication in leading international journals in collaboration with other members of the research team
- Presenting and disseminating findings at international conferences, workshops, lectures, stakeholder meetings, and in public media outlets
- Contributing to the reporting and administrative activities of the research project
Where to apply
Website: https://www.sciencespo.fr/cris/files/CRIS_call_for_applications_PhD_Disequal_2026.pdf
Requirements
Research Field: Economics
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field: Sociology
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field: Political sciences
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field: Psychological sciences
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Key qualifications:
- Master degree in sociology or economics
- Very strong quantitative methods skills including causal analyses and advanced programming. Relevant experience as a research assistant in data collection and analysis will be highly valued, as will a background or strong interest in research on social inequality and discrimination.
- Strong ability to assume responsibility and work both independently and within a research project
- Strong intrinsic motivation to contribute to DISEQUAL and develop own research within the architecture of the project
- Fluency in English
The Centre for Research on Social Inequalities (CRIS), Sciences Po, Paris: CRIS is a renowned center for research on social inequalities. It consists of a lively and vibrant community of international experts in the study of different facets of inequality such as education, life course, gender, family, health, cultural, digital, labor market, economic, and environmental inequality, social mobility, urban segregation, migration, and ethno-racial minorities. CRIS is committed to empirical research, drawing on diverse methods and promoting interdisciplinary approaches to generate policy-relevant insights in a world where inequality has become a major threat.
Additional Information
Selection process
Application materials & timeline: Applications are open until 17 September 2026 (midnight). Please apply by completing this online form and uploading a single PDF file containing:
- Cover letter describing your motivation, how you meet the key qualifications outlined above (max 2 pages)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Completed academic transcripts including grades/marks obtained
Interviews will be organized online with the shortlisted candidates mid September and the selected candidate will be asked to submit an application to the relevant PhD programme in Sciences Po School of Research. The position will begin as soon as possible during the academic year 2026-2027 and the successful candidate will be offered a 3-year doctoral contract at Sciences Po.
CRIS values diversity and particularly encourages applications from individuals from under-represented groups including women and minorities.
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Sciences Po
Country: France
City: PARIS
Postal Code: 75007
Street: Rue Saint guillaume
Contact
City: PARIS
Website: https://www.sciencespo.fr/osc/en.html
Street: 27 rue Saint Guillaume
Postal Code: 75007
E-Mail: info.cris@sciencespo.fr
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