PhD fellowship in the emergence of social network structures (interdisciplinary) at SODAS

We invite applicants for a PhD fellowship in the emergence of social network structures.

Starting date
The starting date for the position is February 1, 2025, but an earlier or later starting date is also possible.

Content of the position
Social networks (the patterns of social interactions between individuals) show high structural diversity across humans and non-human animal species, and these structures affect important processes such as the spread of disease and information. An important question for understanding social network structures is how they emerge from the behaviour of individuals.

This PhD is part of a larger project called ‘New computational approaches for understanding the emergence of social network structures’, funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The project will be led by Josefine Bohr Brask and will also involve a postdoc and collaborators Lauren Brent (University of Exeter, UK) and Sune Lehmann (Technical University of Denmark, Denmark).

The PhD student will likely focus on using new methodology we have already developed to investigate how social network structures emerge, and the role social preferences play in this. The PhD student may also be involved in development of new methods, if it is of interest for the student. There will be opportunity for the PhD student to influence the project and develop new research ideas within the project frame.

The PhD project will include modelling of social networks and/or analysis of social network data from various species, including a long-term dataset from a free-ranging population of Rhesus macaques in Puerto Rico. Field work is not a requirement for the project, but a stay at the macaque field site can potentially be integrated if it is of interest for the PhD student.

The position involves conducting research, presenting findings at scientific conferences, writing research articles, following PhD courses, and getting experience with teaching and dissemination.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for a motivated candidate interested in conducting fundamental research on networks and social behaviour.

The candidate should have a master’s degree in a relevant field, such as biology, physics, computer science, social data science, or other related areas (or should obtain it before starting the position).

Knowledge about network analysis, network modelling and/or social behaviour is relevant for the position. Programming experience (for example in R or Python) can also be relevant.

The candidate should be interested in working with researchers from different fields and with data from non-human animals.

The main language of the research environment is English, and proficiency in English is therefore necessary for the position.

What do we offer?
The PhD position is a fully funded full-time position for three years.

The PhD student will be based at the Copenhagen Center for Social Data Science (SODAS), an interdisciplinary research centre situated at the Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen. The centre includes about 40 researchers across different levels and with different scientific backgrounds, and offers a supportive and international research environment. The PhD student will become part of the SODAS PhD program with about 20 PhD students.

The SODAS community has strong collaborative relationships with all departments at the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Department of Computer Science at the University of Copenhagen, as well as internationally renowned research groups and centers at other institutions in the Copenhagen area and beyond, including the Networks, Data, and Society (NERDS) group at the IT University of Copenhagen and the Social Complexity Lab at the Technical University of Denmark.

The PhD student will also have the opportunity to be affiliated with the Behavioural Ecology Group at the Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.

The PhD project will be supervised by Josefine Bohr Brask, and may involve co-supervision by collaborators Lauren Brent (University of Exeter, UK), and Sune Lehmann (Technical University of Denmark, Denmark).

Copenhagen is rated as one of the world’s most liveable cities with a high quality of life. There is a strong focus on good work/life balance, and employment at the University of Copenhagen involves good support structures, including generous paid holiday and parental leave. See https://ism.ku.dk/faq/ and https://ism.ku.dk/

How to apply
Submit a complete application at the online portal. Click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of the page to apply. The documents must be in Adobe PDF or Word. The application should contain the following:

• Cover letter (max. 1 page) that describes your motivation for applying for this specific position, and experience that could be particularly relevant.
• Curriculum vitae (including education, experience and skills relevant for the position, and lists of publications and conference presentations if applicable).
• Diplomas for bachelor’s degree and master’s degree (if the degree has been finished by the time of applying).
• Transcript of grades for bachelor and master, including an official description of the grading scale if possible.
• An abstract of the master thesis written in English (max. 1 page) (if applicable).
• Master thesis (if applicable).

Please note that it is only possible to upload one document per attachment category. If more than one document has to be uploaded in the same category, please make sure that they are scanned and collected into one file. 

Qualification requirements
In order to be eligible for a PhD scholarship, the applicant must have completed a 2-year MSc degree programme, or have earned 120 ECTS credits at an equivalent academic level before starting the employment. Applicants should check the study programmes for more detailed descriptions of the entry requirements. PhD Fellows are paid a salary in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The salary range starts at approximately DKK 30,700 per month + a 17.1 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

The PhD student has a work obligation of up to 840 hours over the 3-year period of time without additional pay. The work obligation can include for instance teaching.

The qualifications of applicants with non-Danish master’s degrees will be assessed to decide whether they correspond to the Danish level. For further information, please refer to the website of the Ministry of Education and Research: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/general-assessments-for-specific-countries/?set_language=en

Terms of employment

• In order to be awarded a PhD scholarship, the chosen candidate has to enroll as a PhD student at the Faculty of Social Sciences, cf. the rules of the Danish Ministerial order No 1039 of 27 August 2013. Most likely, the applicant will be enrolled in the PhD program at the Center for Social Data Science, University of Copenhagen. 
• Further information about the PhD study programme is available on the website of Copenhagen Graduate School of Social Sciences: https://samf.ku.dk/phd-skolen/english/  
• Under "Legal basis" on the website you will find information about the rules and guidelines for the PhD programme, and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities.

The recruitment process
Shortlisted applicants are notified of the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant themselves. Further information on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

An equal opportunity workplace
The University of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc. For more on the diverse working place environment at the University and the University’s participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in Research, see: https://employment.ku.dk/working-at-ucph/eu-charter-for-researchers/

International applicants
The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark here: https://ism.ku.dk/

Contact information
Information about the recruitment process is available from HR, e-mail: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk. Please refer to ID number: 211-1905/24-2H #1.

For questions about the specific position and project, please contact Josefine Bohr Brask, e-mail: jbb@sodas.ku.dk. 

The deadline for applications is 23:59 CETS on October 6, 2024. 

Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered.