Postdoctoral scholarship holder in demography and population studies

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

The Centre for Population, Family and Health (CPFH) of the Department of Sociology in the Faculty of Social Sciences is looking for a full-time (100%) postdoctoral scholarship holder in the field of Demography and Population Studies.

Position

• You will contribute to ongoing research projects funded by FWO and iBOF on life course trajectories of individuals and households with a migration background in Belgium, focusing on hazard and microsimulation models of demographic events in multiple life domains.
• You contribute to the development of i) advanced statistical models of life course trajectories of migrants and their descendants, and ii) the integration of such models into microsimulation models of population dynamics in the subgroups considered.
• You assist the PI with the scientific and practical coordination of the project, such as the organisation of consortium meetings, exchange of results within the consortium and the integration of deliverables contributed by the different consortium members
• You contribute to the development of project proposals in the fields of life course analysis and dynamic microsimulation in view of attracting external funding.
• You represent the research team nationally and internationally in view of disseminating results and newly developed methodologies to potential stakeholders in government and academia.

Profile

• You hold a PhD (or you will have obtained it by the time you start work) in the field of Demography, Population Studies, Statistics or a related field and you have sound knowledge of quantitative analysis and modelling, as well as substantive knowledge of life course research in populations with a migration background.
• You have proven experience in working with large data-infrastructures using advanced statistical software (e.g. Stata, R)
• You have proven experience in advanced applications of hazard modelling, dynamic microsimulation and/or spatial analysis.
• You are attracted by the prospect of working in and contributing to a multidisciplinary team that includes researchers from different fields in different universities (demography, sociology and biostatistics) with different levels of seniority (R1 to R4).
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• You can speak and write fluently in English (and also express yourself in Dutch).
• You have strong organizational and project management skills, enabling you to coordinate research activities, manage timelines and deliverables, facilitate meetings, and foster synergy within and across multidisciplinary teams. .

What we offer

• We offer a full-time appointment as a postdoctoral scholarship holder for a period of 1 year which can be extended up to 3 years in case of positive intermediate evaluations.
• The planned start date is January 2026 or as soon as possible after that date.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for postdoctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
• You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• You will do most of your work at the City Campus of the University of Antwerp in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 30 November 2025 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button and complete the online application form. Be sure to include the following attachments:
  • a motivation letter
  • your academic CV
  • two reference persons and their contact details
• The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision is made, we will notify you. If you are still eligible after the pre-selection, you will be informed about the possible next step(s) in the selection procedure. Please note the following dates in your calendar: 12, 15 and 16 December 2025 (selection interviews).
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to [emailprotected]. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact prof.dr. Karel Neels ([emailprotected]).

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversityand attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.