PhD in Welfare State Transformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

This fully funded four-year PhD position is part of an ERC Starting Grant ‘(Re)distributive Politics after the AI Revolution (REPAIR)’ funded by the European Research Council and led by Dr. Juliana Chueri at the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

The broader ERC project examines how welfare state institutions and welfare politics shape political and societal responses to AI-driven labor market transformation across OECD countries. Moving beyond techno-deterministic perspectives, the project emphasizes the active role of political institutions, policies, and collective choices in shaping how AI affects work, employment, and social protection.

The project is structured around four interlinked objectives:

1. to analyze how different welfare state and labor market regimes are affected by AI-driven automation
2. to map how political actors frame AI and articulate policy responses across countries
3. to examine public support for alternative welfare and labor market reforms in response to AI
4. to develop a new theoretical understanding of welfare state adaptation and transformation in the age of artificial intelligence

The PhD project

The PhD project will primarily contribute to Objectives 1 and 4, with a focus on welfare state institutions, labor market regulation, and long-term transformation of the welfare state.

Adopting a forward-looking perspective, your research will examine how welfare states adapt to labor market transformations driven by AI. This research will enable both empirical analysis and theoretical development of context-specific pathways of welfare state transition in an emerging AI society.

Specifically, the PhD research will analyze how welfare state and labor market institutions mediate countries’ social exposure to AI-driven automation. This includes examining how institutions may:

• shape firms’ incentives to adopt labor-replacing technologies
• mitigate social risks for workers displaced by automation
• support reskilling, retraining, and labor market transitions
• and condition longer-term pathways of welfare state recalibration and transformation

The project will involve the development of comparative indicators or typologies of countries, combined with in-depth institutional analysis. Methodologically, the PhD project will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining comparative institutional analysis, quantitative cross-national data analysis, and qualitative case studies.

Your duties
As a PhD candidate, you will complete a cumulative PhD dissertation within four years, consisting of four publishable journal articles. Working closely with your supervisory team, led by Dr. Juliana Chueri, and in collaboration with the ERC research team, which includes another PhD candidate and a postdoctoral researcher, you will play an integral role in advancing Objectives 1 and 4 of the ERC project.

As part of your PhD, you will contribute to the development of an international comparative database capturing countries’ social exposure to AI-driven labor market change. You will conduct quantitative cross-national analyses using this dataset to construct a typology of welfare states and to identify ideal-type cases for in-depth institutional analysis.

You will actively participate in the intellectual life of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, present your work at international conferences and workshops, contribute to collaborative research activities within the project, and have the opportunity to undertake research stays abroad within the project’s international network of collaborators.

We are looking for a PhD candidate who:

• has obtained a (research) Master’s degree in Political Science, Sociology, or a closely related field
• has a strong interest in welfare state institutions, labor market regulation, and welfare state reform and transformation
• is familiar with institutional and political economy theories
• has experience with qualitative research and comparative research design
• is comfortable with quantitative analysis (e.g., experience with R) and motivated to develop these skills further
• possesses excellent academic writing skills in English
• works independently and responsibly, while also collaborating well with colleagues
• is communicative, open-minded, and engaged in interdisciplinary research environments

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of € 3.059,00 (PhD) and maximum € 3.881,00 (PhD) gross per month in the fourth year, for a full-time employment
• an employment contract of initially 1 year. If there is sufficient perspective, this will be extended to a total of 4 years. Your dissertation at the end of the fourth year forms the end of your employment contract

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples:

• a full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• contribution to commuting expenses
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

All PhD candidates of the School of Social Sciences will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Social Sciences (VU-GSSS) and admission to the VU-GSSS is part of the hiring procedure. More details can be found on their website and are available upon request.

For more information about employment conditions, see Guideline appointment policy PhD candidates - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Department of Political Science and Public Administration
The Department of Political Science and Public Administration is committed to high quality academic education and research. Our educational programmes include Political Science (Bachelor and Master), Public Administration and Organizational Science (Bachelor B&O), Public Administration (Master), Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Bachelor, with the Faculty of Economics), and Law and Politics of International Security (Master, with the Law Faculty).

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
A better understanding of ourselves and social communities, values and meaning, through social sciences and humanities. That is the aim of The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. No single discipline can do this alone. The SSH disciplines are characterised by an open way of thinking and the natural urge to seek coherence and connection.

The faculty consists of nine academic departments within three schools: School of Religion & Theology (SRT), School of Social Sciences (SSc) and School of Humanities (SH).

Are you interested in joining Social Sciences and Humanities? You become part of a dynamic academic community with approximately 900 staff members, over 5,000 regular students and more than 5,000 course participants. In an inspiring and collegial environment, we work together on education and research with impact.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application.

Please apply via the VU Amsterdam application system no later than 28 February 2026. Upload:

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Motivation letter (max. 2 pages), explaining:

• why are you interested in this PhD position and the REPAIR project
• how your academic background and research interests connect to the themes of welfare states, labor markets, and AI-driven transformation
• how would you approach the research questions and objectives of this PhD project

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, please contact:
Name: Dr. J. (Juliana) Chueri
Email: j.chueri@vu.nl