Applications for PhD Position – Doctoral Fellow at the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Ghent University, Belgium is now open. Ghent University is inviting applications for a PhD position as part of the UNPACK project (“Unpacking the asylum procedure in its intersecting linguistic, sociocultural, psychological and legal dimensions”). This interdisciplinary, interuniversity project investigates fairness in asylum procedures and integrates insights from linguistics, anthropology, psychology, and law.
Location: Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 33, Ghent, Belgium
Application Deadline: 15 March 2026, 23:59 CET
Contact: Prof. Ilse Derluyn – ilse.derluyn@ugent.be, +32(0)472/92 04 09
Key Focus
- Investigate fairness in asylum procedures
- Examine experiences of applicants, officials, interpreters, and lawyers
- Conduct in-depth ethnographic research of case studies and organizational contexts
- Develop evidence-based frameworks for fairness in asylum processes
The project involves 8 researchers and 4 professors, in collaboration with the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS).
Responsibilities
- Conduct mixed-methods research on wellbeing, mental health, and asylum procedures
- Develop research focus in dialogue with supervisors and co-researchers
- Analyze and share data collaboratively
- Report findings for both academic and broader audiences
- Contribute to departmental and research group activities
Requirements
General:
- Team player with a collaborative mindset
- Affinity with refugees and asylum procedures
- Excellent analytical, writing, and presentation skills
- High proficiency in Dutch or French, and fluency in the other
- Fluent in academic English
- Diversity-sensitive, interculturally aware, empathetic, and critical thinker
Specific:
- Internationally recognised Master’s degree in social work, educational sciences, psychology, or related social sciences
Assets:
- Knowledge/experience in mental health of refugees or migrants
- Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods
- Knowledge of relevant languages for refugee communities
- Experience working with vulnerable populations
- Interdisciplinary research experience
Offer
- Full-time PhD fellowship (initial 12 months, renewable up to 48 months)
- Membership in CESSMIR – Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees
- Start date: ideally 1 September 2026
- Salary: 100% of net salary of an AAP member (tax-free grant; depends on family status and seniority)
- Benefits: 36 days annual leave, training opportunities, bicycle allowance, eco vouchers
Application Instructions
Submit a single PDF to unpack@ugent.be
Filename & subject line: “Surname – First name – PhD in Social Work”
Mandatory documents:
- CV and overview of study results
- Motivation letter (max. 2 pages)
- Diploma (if obtained)
- Summary (1 page) of Master dissertation or recent academic publication
Selection Process
- Applicants informed by 3 April 2026
- In-person interviews in Ghent: 20–21 April or 4–5 May 2026
Apply before: 15 March 2026 via email: unpack@ugent.be
Ghent University is offering a fully funded PhD fellowship under the UNPACK project, focused on fairness in asylum procedures. The position is ideal for youth with a Master’s degree in social sciences who are interested in interdisciplinary research, refugee wellbeing, and evidence-based social policy. The fellowship provides comprehensive training, research opportunities, and benefits, with applications closing on 15 March 2026.
For more opportunities, click here.
