Two PhD Positions in Computational Social Choice for Digital Democracy

Do you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary research setting and do you want to be part of a thriving research community? The Computational Social Choice Group at the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) is looking for two PhD candidates as part of the ADDI project on Advancing Digital Democratic Innovation, an ERC Synergy Project funded by the European Union, with partners in Toulouse, Turku, and Amsterdam.

Join Us!
Are you looking for a PhD position where you can use your mathematical skills to improve existing mechanisms for democratic decision making and invent new ones? Are you excited about doing this kind of research in an interdisciplinary environment, in a team of smart and supportive colleagues?

Then you may want to join us. We are looking for two PhD candidates in the field of computational social choice to join the COMSOC Group at the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC).

These positions are part of the ADDI project on Advancing Digital Democratic Innovation, an ERC Synergy Project funded by the European Union, with partners in Toulouse, Turku, and Amsterdam.

What you will do
You will conduct research in the area of computational social choice, with an eye towards possible applications in the domain of digital democracy. You will focus on questions of a fundamental and theoretical nature, but you will also interact with researchers focussing on empirical and technology aspects of digital democracy. You will receive hands-on supervision and support throughout.

Specific tasks include:

• complete and defend a PhD thesis during the official appointment of four years;
• publish your research and present it at international workshops and conferences;
• collaborate with members of the ADDI Consortium in Amsterdam, Toulouse, and Turku;
• participate in and to contribute to the organisation of research activities at the ILLC and within the ADDI Consortium;
• contribute to the dissemination of research results to the general public.

While this is primarliy a research position, you will also contribute to the ILLC’s educational mission, by working as a TA for courses in your area of expertise and by assisting with the supervision of student research projects.

Your profile
You are eager to pursue a career in research. You enjoy thinking about complex problems of a mathematical nature. You are not afraid to engage with colleagues from other disciplinary backgrounds. You are looking for a research topic that is both intellectually stimulating and socially relevant.

You should hold, or expect to obtain before the start of your appointment, a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as Computer Science, AI, Mathematics, Logic, or Economics.

You also should possess:

• good writing and presentation skills;
• good social and organisational skills;
• full professional proficiency in spoken and written English (Dutch is not required).

Prior exposure to relevant topics at the interface of Economics and Computer Science, particularly computational social choice and algorithmic game theory, is an advantage, but certainly not a requirement.

What we offer you
A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is 1 September 2026. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 3,059 to € 3,881 (scale P). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile PhD candidate is applicable. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Curious about our extensive secondary benefits package? You can read more about it here.

Where you will work
The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands' largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 30,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity.

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation is home to a thriving community of scholars, including philosophers, logicians, mathematicians, computer scientists, linguists, musicologists, and cognitive scientists, who share a fascination with the interdisciplinary study of information. At the ILLC we combine the problem solving skills from the sciences with the holistic and reflective view of the humanities to discover the principles that regulate information processing and find answers to some of the hardest challenges of our time.

If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the Apply button. We accept applications until and including 16 February 2026.

Applications should include the following information (all files besides your CV should be submitted in one single PDF file):

• a cover letter, including a description of your research interests and an explanation for why you are applying for this position (at most two pages);
• a detailed curriculum vitae (CV);
• a list of all Master-level modules you have taken, with an official transcript of grades;
• a link to a writing sample (you have made) available online, such as a Master’s thesis, a term paper, a preprint, or a publication (in case of joint authorship, please clearly indicate your own contribution);
• the names, affiliations, and email addresses of two or (at most) three people we can contact for letters of recommendation for you.

Please closely follow these instructions (so do not upload your writing sample or any letters of recommendation). Cover letters that look computer-generated are not helpful. Only complete applications received within the response period via the Apply button will be considered. A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure (for details: national knowledge security guidelines).

Interviews will be held in March and April 2026.