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• PhD positions in Belgium (148)
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Search results (552)

PhD Position F/M 15 PhDs on Tensor Modelling, Geometry and Optimisation

Contract type : Fixed-term contractLevel of qualifications required : Graduate degree or equivalentOther valued qualifications : Master or equivalentFonction : PhD PositionLevel of experience : From 3 to 5 yearsAbout the research centre or Inria d...

PhD students (f/m/d) in Superconducting Qubits

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) – The Research University in the Helmholtz Association creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is our goal to make significant contributions to mastering the global challenges o...

PhD position in IC Design group

Job descriptionPLEASE NOTE: you are required to apply via the "apply now" button below, ánd to fill in an additional questionnaire before via this link before we can process your application.The Un...

PhD student bioinspired functional materials

BackgroundThe Nanobiophysics and Soft Matter Interfaces research group is looking for a motivated PhD student in the context of the synthesis and characterization of bioinspired functional material...

Photonic Integrated classical/quantum transceiver for quantum communications (QuNEST Doctoral Candidate 9)

Research Programme Description “QuNEST– Quantum Enhanced Optical Communication Network Security Doctoral Training” is hiring 11  Doctorate Candidates to be funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks. QuNEST is a highly i...

PhD position - Interactive data collection during the tour of a Travelling salesman drone on convex neighborhoods of buried sensor nodes

Supervisors:Fatiha Bendali, Jean Mailfert 1, Christophe Cariou, Laure Moiroux-Arvis 2, Juan José Salazar González 3.TopicThe automated monitoring of agricultural fields is increasingly using underground wireless sensors designed to collect local v...

PhD positions

Finished or about to finish your master studies? Looking for a first step in your research career? Curious to experience what it's like to work in a renowned research center that bridges academia and industry?Joining imec as a PhD student is exact...

PhD Student - Department of Electronics and Information Systems

Last application date Sep 30, 2024 00:00Department TW06 - Department of Electronics and Information SystemsContract Limited durationDegree Master’s degree in physics, applied physics, engineering physics or other relevant fieldsOccupancy rate 100%...

PhD-student: Non-Hermitian nano-optomechanical networks and their sensing performance

The Photonic Forces group seeks a motivated and talented PhD student working at the intersection of the fields of nano-optomechanics and topological physics. Nanomechanical resonators are versatile...

PhD Scholarship for Research Project “DelibRef”

Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD scholarship in political science to be based at the Department of Political Science and Public Management at the University of Southern Denmark, Odense.The position will be part of a newly funded research ...

Fully Funded PhD Positions

The International Max Planck Research School on Cellular Biophysics (IMPRS-CBP) invites excellent graduate students in life sciences to apply forFully Funded PhD PositionsThe IMPRS-CBP is an international doctoral training program hosted by the Ma...

PhD student on Numerical modeling of electrical discharges in insulators

Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) has a vacancy in the research group on Multiscale Dynamics fora PhD studenton the numerical modeling and investigation of electric discharges within insulators.Job descriptionPartial discharges are a common phe...

PhD Position – Automation of a High-Throughput Setup for Electrochemical Systems

Would you like to contribute to the energy transition in Germany through your work? Then the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg (for Renewable Energy) (HI ERN) is the right place for you! The HI ERN forms the core of the close partnership betwe...

PhD Position – High-Throughput Electrochemical Characterization for Energy Applications

Would you like to contribute to the energy transition in Germany through your work? Then the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg (for Renewable Energy) (HI ERN) is the right place for you! The HI ERN forms the core of the close partnership betwe...

PhD (M/F): Electrochemical video from the counter electrode

Position description:Emerging applications of nanomaterials in electrochemical energy conversion and storage require reliable assessment of their reactivity. Traditional macroscopic electrochemical measurements are difficult to differentiate the i...

PhD position in secure quantum photonic cloud computing

Job descriptionWe are looking for a PhD candidate to work with an international consortium focused on validating the QEnclave concept. The objective is to obfuscate a quantum computation task from ...

PhD Research Fellows in ICT

About the positionThree 100% positions are available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering and Science as PhD Research Fellows in machine learning, affiliated to the Department of Information and Communication Technology, for a period...

Upcoming fully funded PhD Positions in Neurosciences and Translational Psychiatry research, including a residency/PhD track option for medical doctors

There are no tuition fees for this PhD program.We welcome applications through our online application portal starting on August 15, 2023 for a start in fall 2024. The application deadline will be on October 31, 2023. The International Max Planck R...

Upcoming PhD Positions at the International Max Planck Research School for Molecules of Life in Autumn 2023

More information for the new call-out will come up during Autumn 2023. Stay tuned!The International Max Planck Research School for Molecules of Life (IMPRS-ML) will have an open call for fully-funded PhD student positions in the areas of biochemis...

Upcoming PhD positions at the CGA

Call for applications for up to 12 PhD positions at the Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research opens soon! The Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA) in Germany is a joint venture of the University of Cologne Excellence Cluster on St...

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• Find Your Perfect PhD
• Finding a PhD

Find Your PhD, Fast Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest. Search Now

• When looking for PhD research projects, a great place to start is with our comprehensive and up-to-date database .
• Speak with lecturers within your area of interest about potential PhD opportunities they may have.
• Attend Postgraduate Events . Whilst there, speak to current PhD students and career advisors to get an awareness of what PhD projects are on offer.
• Visit the postgraduate section of university websites and the PhD Research Council section of the GOV.UK website

Finding A PhD

Searching for PhD research projects can sometimes feel like daunting process. Often, it’s difficult to know where to find a PhD position or where to even start.

To make this searching process as easy as possible for you, we’ve curated a collection of the best places to search for PhD projects. By using our recommended collection, you should hopefully gain a greater insight into where your interests lie and which programme is best suited for you.

Our Comprehensive and Up-To-Date Directory

We can’t create a list of great resources and not include ourselves! At DiscoverPhDs, our primary aim is to connect great students to great PhD projects. To enable this, we provide a comprehensive database of PhD projects offered from universities all across the UK.

We regularly add to our database to ensure you’re getting the latest opportunities and the most relevant information and programme details. On top of this, we’ve created our database to be as easy to use as possible; all our PhD listings provide a direct ‘apply’ link or contact email address of the lead supervisor. This enables you to:

• Request further information about any aspect of the position,
• Enquire about the specific applications process,
• Connect directly with the supervisor

Universities Websites

Search on the website of the universities you are interested in as some many only be listing PhD research projects internally or may link you to other opportunities such as Professional Doctorate Programmes. As examples, have a look at the research pages of The University of Cambridge , Cardiff University , University of Leicester , Sheffield University and The University of Glasgow .

Your Current Supervisor

If you’re currently undertaking a research project or dissertation as part of your undergraduate or master’s degree, it would be a good idea to speak to your current supervisor. Not only would you have already built a good rapport with them, but having worked with you they will have a good idea on what PhD positions would utilise your strengths or best interest you. In fact, a noticeable percentage of past and current PhD students came into their PhD programme because of being recommended by their undergraduate supervisor. Your supervisor will be well-connected – make sure you take advantage of these opportunities.

Tip: Don’t just limit your discussion to your own personal supervisor. All supervisors are within their field of work because they have a natural passion for research and teaching. As such, most supervisors will be more than happy to help any student who wishes to follow in their footsteps and make their own impact.

Postgraduate Events

Nearly all universities hold regular Postgraduate Fairs and Open Days. As part of these events, current postgraduate students may be on hand to share their experiences of their projects and university. This is a fantastic opportunity to not only find out what PhDs the university is offering but to find out more about their facilities, research labs and library collection, etc. Given that you will be heavily relying on these resources during your PhD, it’s important that you know what’s provided by each university. Hearing student stories about what PhD life is really like, what to expect from supervisors and some of the challenges that current students have encountered can be really useful in your decision making process.

Besides the above, career advisers may also be available at these events. Speaking to them will help you understand what you can do with a PhD, whether a PhD is right for you, what degree class you’re expected to hold and how best to prepare for research projects. Seeing as they would have helped many PhD candidates through the decision-making process before, they will provide you with some invaluable insight that you would otherwise be oblivious to.

To help bring all Postgraduate Fairs and Open Days offered across all universities together, we’ve created a helpful Postgraduate Events page which we highly recommend you check out.

Research Councils

Research councils are nationally funded agencies which offer sponsored PhD research projects (also known as a PhD studentship). Different research councils cover different areas of research, these include:

• The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC),
• The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC),
• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC),
• The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC),
• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

The GOV.UK website has a full list of nationally-funded research councils available online. You can find further details on these councils on the GOV.UK website.

Although our database includes PhD programmes offered by these research councils, it would be a good idea to regularly browse the website of the ones you are particularly interested in case they list some internal only. These councils play an important role in supporting and encouraging doctoral researchers and they regularly hold calls for applications for PhD funding. If you or your potential supervisor have a PhD project proposal defined but need funding, then applying to these calls may become a key first milestone in your postgraduate research journey.

For example, the EPSRC offers a Doctoral Training Partnership programme in which a research student is given funding to pursue postgraduate study with a research question that aligns with the Councils core engineering and physical sciences themes. These awards often have eligibility criteria linked to them, impacting which postgraduate research students can apply; an international student, for example, may not be able to apply to a certain UK based scholarship scheme but there are several other options that can still help you fund your doctoral research; this may involve taking out a postgraduate loan (or more specifically a postgraduate doctoral loan).

To make this searching process as easy as possible for you, we’ve curated a collection of the best places to search for a PhD. By using our recommended collection, you should hopefully gain a greater insight into where your interests lie and which programme is best suited for you.

Further Resources

As you continue your search of PhD research projects, be sure to check our our PhD advice articles, including how to prepare for your PhD application, and interviews with current and past doctoral students. Many of the people we’ve interviewed have completed degrees within a STEM discipline; they offer a wide range of advice on their individual approaches to applied research and independent study, as well as sharing some the impact their work has had. Many have continued the research of their projects within academia after finishing, whilst some have developed successful careers in industry and business sectors.

It’s worth noting that when you apply to undertake doctoral study, you may first be registered as an MPhil researcher, depending on the specific doctoral programme you apply for, officially become a full PhD student after passing an upgrade viva. At the upgrade stage, some students do decide to graduate with an MPhil research degree rather than pursuing further PhD study however this is less common.

We hope the above list will help you find the perfect PhD position and earn your doctoral degree.

If you have any recommendations besides these resources, please let us know at [email protected] so we can look to add it.

If you’re ready to start your search for your PhD, start now with our  PhD database .

Browse PhDs Now

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PhD Job Search Timeline and Tips

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The PhD job search can be a confusing process for a variety of reasons. The doctoral graduation timeline is often unclear and may not be fully within your control. For industry positions, your mentors in academia may be unfamiliar with non-academic norms and expectations, but there are tools and resources that can help you prepare for this process and develop a plan of action.

Job Search Timeline

General peak PhD recruitment timelines for different fields and positions assuming June graduation . Keep in mind, these are approximations; timelines vary considerably by field.

When should I start my job search? What if I missed peak recruitment times?

The job search varies widely in process, norms, and expectations. It is never too early to research your interest areas by searching online, attending events, and initiating informal career conversations. Even if you missed the peak recruiting season for your field, you can continue to inquire about opportunities through networking and online job search websites.

What if I am graduating in December?

Keep in mind that the start date of a position can often be negotiated. Also, the needs of employers vary so positions can open or start on a more flexible timeline.

Have more questions?

Make an appointment with CAPD.

Job Search Tips

• Helpful self-assessment tools: Various assessment tools are available that were made with PhDs in mind. These include: MyIDP (Individual Development Plan), ChemIDP , and ImaginePhD .
• Network early and often. It’s never too early to network, gather information, and try on different roles or career paths. Anytime during your graduate career, it’s helpful to attend career fairs and information sessions of companies that interest you. You can also learn more about specific industries through informational interviews or by applying for summer internships and IAP micro-internships.
• Helpful networking tools: MIT Alumni Advisors Hub (conduct informational interviews or career conversations with MIT alumni working in various industries)
• Make an appointment with a career advisor.
• CAPD Career Handbook  for resume/cover letter examples and much more
• Handshake for CAPD appointments and job searches
• Post-Graduate and Summer Outcomes data
• LinkedIn, Indeed, and Professional Associations for networking and job listings

15 Industry Positions STEM PhDs Are Being Hired Into Right Now

Written by Jeanette McConnell, PhD

As a final year chemistry PhD student the only career I thought was available to me was to be a chemist.

I studied chemistry so now I had to go and be a chemist.

I searched for chemistry postdocs and for chemist positions in industry but none of those positions excited me.

Apparently my passions had shifted during my PhD.

When I started my PhD I loved chemistry it was where I focused all my energy, I thought about it all the time.

As I neared the end of my PhD I slowly realized I wanted a change.

But was that acceptable?

I worried that I would be a failure if I left chemistry or if I left academia.

The day I could put the word doctor in front of my name came and went and I was still not sure what to do next, but I really wanted to try something new.

So even though I felt like I was betraying my education I started to explore the other positions that I might enjoy.

And I learned something incredible.

There were lots of PhDs employed in positions that had nothing to do with their degree where they were very happy.

I also found PhDs using the skills they learned in their studies in ways that I didn’t even know was possible.

Down the rabbit hole I went.

I started learning about all of the companies that want to hire PhDs like me and began trying to decide what would be the best fit for me and my specific skill set.

Why PhDs Are Highly Sought After Industry Employees

The biotech and biopharma industry is growing rapidly.

ContractPharma reported that the biotechnology market was valued at $330 billion in 2015 and is expected to more than double by 2024 to $775 billion.

With that incredibly rapid growth comes massive and fast change.

New technologies and innovations create an atmosphere of constant change and industry needs employees who can thrive under these conditions.

They need leaders.

They need PhDs.

According to a study published in PLOS One , a few of the most valuable transferable skills that PhDs have are the ability to gather and interpret information and the ability to learn quickly.

As a PhD you can learn and interpret data better and faster than almost anyone else.

It is one of your most valuable skills.

And it is a skill that can be applied to all industry positions.

So whatever type of position you are interested in your fast learning will be an asset that employers want.

15 Industry Positions PhDs Are Being Hired Into Right Now

There are so many positions available to PhDs in industry.

Positions that might be similar to what you studied and positions that are very different but are still well suited to PhDs.

Don’t limit yourself to some specific job title because you think that’s what PhDs are supposed to do.

Explore your options, network , and find a role that is truly a good fit for you.

Here are 15 industry positions well suited to PhDs…

1. Data scientist.

The data science field has continued to grow throughout the entire year and PhDs are a great fit for these positions.

The continued collection and storage of massive amounts of data by companies drives the need for someone to handle, organize and analyze that data.

Capably analyzing a large quantity of data and then finding important information from within this ocean of formless data is the key ingredient for success.

Computational and analytical skills are crucial, but they alone are not enough to be successful in this role.

You also need to understand the business aspects and be able to predict and advise how the information will influence future decisions.

2. User experience design and research.

User experience (UX) is a relatively new field and all the facets of this area are still being defined.

What that means for you has a PhD is that you can bring your unique skills into this field and create a position.

Basically, user experience design and research is a field dedicated to learning about how humans interact with machines.

So yes, some people in this field are designers, but not everyone! They need people to analyze data, make decisions, and understand how changes will impact both customers and the business.

Many UX researchers work for technology companies, but tons of other company types employ UX professionals such as retailers, banks, and healthcare companies.

The biggest skill you need to succeed in UX is a love for problem solving and finding new, better, and innovate ways of doing things.

And as a PhD this is something you do better than most people.

3. Technical sales.

Many PhDs avoid sales positions thinking that this is not a position suitable for a PhD.

But this is just because PhDs have huge misconceptions about sales. Salespeople are not manipulative, ‘bad’, ‘slick’ or any of the other stereotypes associated with sales.

In the STEM fields many sales professionals are also scientists and are passionate about providing researchers with technologies that will make their work easier and better.

Look around your lab, is there a product that you love? One that you recommend to other people because you know it works?

As a technical salesperson in industry you could be the person selling that product and helping other labs benefit from using that tool. Through sales so you can apply your scientific skill sets to a variety of labs and projects, not just one lab or one project.

With your PhD in hand, you will maintain your credibility with customers and key opinion leaders, while having more resources and more support to help these professionals solve their problems.

4. Medical science liaison.

Becoming a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is a rapidly growing opportunity for STEM PhDs.

MSL positions can be found in a variety of healthcare-based sectors including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device sectors.

The biggest misconception regarding MSL positions is that it is a sales position. This is not true.

As an MSL, one of your key responsibilities is to build rapport with KOLs in various therapeutic research areas.

You must have extensive clinical or medical knowledge and, at the same time, be a “people-person.”

Strong communication skills are important but you must also be able to work independently and travel extensively.

This is a great resource to find out if an MSL position is right for you.

5. Field application scientist.

This is an incredibly in demand position for STEM PhDs and often these positions will require a PhD.

This is a position that goes by many names, and so networking and informational interviews are key to finding open positions.

You might see field application scientist described as, Technical Support Scientist, Field Support Scientist, Field Service & Applications, Field Applications Manager, in most cases these terms essentially describe the same professional role.

Every company that sells a product will need an application scientist to make sure the customers are using it to the full extent.

You will provide support and training for specific products that customers need which means that you will need your PhD training to understand the products.

Application Scientists may be in the field for face-to-face interactions, while others may be in the lab offering support over the phone. Great interpersonal skills and critical thinking ability are necessary for this role.

6. Consultant.

The consultant role is a bit of an elusive position to define.

It takes on many forms depending on what sector you chose to work in and what your specific expertise is.

There are consultant positions in the life sciences, quality management, environment, processes and systems, finance, marketing, data analytics… the list goes on.

In this role you bring your expertise as a PhD and also your incredible ability to learn quickly and make decisions based on information you have learned.

Consultants also often serve as a go-between for the technical side of things and the business side of things.

So this is a great role for those who like to learn, problem solve and can communicate clearly with different types of people.

Consultants can work for a consulting firm, be an in house consultant or be self-employed.

7. Medical Writer.

Medical Writers play an integral role in the creation of a huge variety of documents for biotech and biopharma companies.

Medical writers create regulatory applications, marketing material for a drug or medical device, clinical trials related documents, documentation intended for institutional review boards and other official paperwork necessary for the medical sector.

As the job title indicates, written communication skills are very important for this position.

But keep in mind that writing skills alone are not enough to be successful in this position.

Medical writers must also have knowledge of medical science which makes this a good career choice for STEM PhDs.

It is essential to have the ability to summarize and explain large pieces of technical information in a way that will be understandable by a wide variety of readers.

8. Project manager.

In any technology-based industry, continuous innovation and development of new products is one of the key ingredients for success.

All the research going on in an R&D division needs to be managed properly in order to control expenditures, ensure the timely completion of projects, and achieve the required results.

This is the responsibility of the R&D Project Manager (PM).

The many responsibilities associated with this position make it best suited to those who possess a deep understanding of technologies (aka STEM PhDs).

As a PM you would oversee the process and techniques used by the researchers, ensure financial support is being utilized properly, and make sure the projects are in alignment with the long-term strategy of the organization.

As a PM you need to be well versed in the technical aspects of a company’s products but also the current market trends so you can make good decisions about what projects to focus on.

9. Regulatory affairs.

With the growing complexity and continuous evolution of regulatory laws, advanced science degree holders with detailed scientific knowledge are in increasing demand for regulatory roles.

The main responsibility of someone in Regulatory Affairs is to deal with regulatory matters related to the FDA and other regulatory bodies.

This mostly consists of documentation, filing of regulatory paperwork, and ensuring that the organization is following the correct regulatory guidelines.

Your purpose is to connect the dots between research and development of a clinical product and its regulatory approval.

A detailed knowledge of the regulatory requirements and the drug development life cycle is required to be successful in this role.

Being detail-oriented and skilled at time management are also essential for this role, as accurate completion and timely submission of documentation for regulatory filings are its key responsibilities.

10. Technology transfer.

Have you ever wondered if you (or your research team) ever invent something that has direct translational value, what steps will be necessary to actually bring it out in the market?

This is what a technology transfer professional does.

Technology transfer positions are often found at universities and present an opportunity for you to stay connected to academic research and industry development at the same time.

As a technology transfer professional you bridge the gap between a university and a company.

Almost every major research institute, university, and research hospital employs science PhDs as Technology Transfer Officers.

As a technology transfer officer, your goal will be to identify promising technologies, manage intellectual property (IP) portfolios, search for opportunities for the licensing of these inventions, and facilitate the foundation of start-ups based on the university’s research.

11. Science communication.

A wide variety of organizations, ranging from tech industry to market research firms, require the services of professionals who have the combination of scientific knowledge and writing skills (aka STEM PhDS).

Every major technology-based organization needs people who are good at writing scientific material for a variety of purposes, such as communicating with investors, providing information to the general public, writing instruction manuals, advertising the products, and also for maintaining a social media presence.

If you are the kind of person who really enjoys researching information and writing about it, this may be the ideal career for you.

This is a broad career where you will have the ability to stay up to date with new innovations as you communicate science to a wide range of audiences.

12. Senior scientist/engineer/researcher.

This is undoubtedly the most popular option among all STEM PhDs who wish to pursue a career in industry.

Almost every innovation-based industrial sector can offer a research opportunity to PhDs that provide a place to do meaningful and fulfilling research.

A few things that make an industry research position a superior option compared to an academic research career is that once you have transitioned to industry you will not be faced with the uncertainty of securing tenure.

Research projects in industry are financially supported by the R&D budget of the company and your work will have a tangible, positive influence on society through the implementation of innovations that solve problems in daily life, or contribute to finding a needed therapies.

13. Clinical research associate.

A Clinical Research Associate (CRA) can be described as a clinical trial professional who oversees, monitors, and provides guidance to the administration and progress of a clinical trial on behalf of the organization sponsoring the clinical trial.

In most cases a sponsoring organization is a major life science oriented company which may conduct the trial directly by itself or employ a Contract Research Organization (CRO) to carry out the trial on their behalf.

The everyday duties of a CRA consist of executing data collection methods, coordinating between sponsor and CROs, implementation of clinical trial protocols, and maintaining smooth collection and maintenance of the clinical trial data.

You have a daily connection to the tangible outcomes of life science innovations.

14. Marketing.

Marketing positions are a good option for PhDs who enjoy communication and writing for a broad audience.

Marketing teams are responsible for producing communication material for both internal purposes as well as communicating externally with corporate partners, creating advertisements and writing technical product brochures.

A marketing professional can also be involved in writing and managing the content in the official website of an organization.

So you will get to interact with people from almost every division of your organization.

You become the voice of a product or organization and it’s your job to communicate effectively with each layer of an organization.

15. Product manager.

Before the technology experts can start R&D, there is someone who determines what they should concentrate on developing and commercializing.

This is the role of a product manager.

As a product manager your responsibilities will include advising scientists and engineers where to focus their expertise as well as understanding problems in the real world, communicating with your marketing team, and finding innovative solutions to existing problems.

You would also be responsible for analyzing a product’s market performance and determining ways to boost a product’s commercial success.

PM roles are available for PhDs in most technology-based sectors, including electronics, aeronautics, IT and software, and of course, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.

There is no shortage of positions in industry that are suitable for PhDs. All you need to do is learn about these careers and figure out which ones could be a good fit for you. Just a few of the positions that are great for PhDs and that employers are consistently hiring PhDs for are data scientist, user experience design and research, technical sales, medical science liaison, field application scientist, consultant, project manager, technology transfer, science communication, senior scientist/engineer/researcher, clinical research associate, marketing, and product manager. There are even more positions for PhDs than those listed here, so get out an do informational interviews to find out what role you can see yourself in.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists.  Apply to book a Transition Call here.

Hi, I'm Isaiah Hankel, PhD

I am CEO of Cheeky Scientist, the world's premier career training platform for PhDs. If you want free insights on resumes, LinkedIn, interviewing, careers and more, just enter your details below.

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ABOUT JEANETTE MCCONNELL, PHD

Jeanette is a chemistry PhD turned science communication enthusiast. During her PhD she realized that her favorite part about research wasn’t actually doing research, but rather talking and writing about it. So, she has channeled her passion for discovery into teaching and writing about science. When she isn’t talking someone’s ear off about her latest scientific obsession, you’ll find her on the soccer field or reading a good sci-fi novel.

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For Graduates

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What organisations say about phdposition.

Graduates worldwide use our platform as a prime resource for finding an interesting and challenging PhD position.

We connect high-level graduates with leading research-oriented organisations that offer interesting and challenging PhD projects & programs.

Making the process of finding & filling a PhD position as simple as possible, that’s our mission. And that’s why our platform is dedicated to PhDs, making everything accessible in just a few clicks.

Organisations from all over the world post their PhD positions with us – to find the best talent available on the market.

Our latest tweets – Follow @phd_position

PhD in International Studies. The PhD Programme in Internati… phdposition.com/positions/phd… #PhD

About a year ago from PhDposition's Twitter via PhD Position

PHD. I am Azadeh Gharaei, a graduat… phdposition.com/positions/phd… #PhD

PhD Scholarship Opportunity – Peter Vulcan Scholarship – Monash University Accident Research Centre. … phdposition.com/positions/phd… #PhD

Thomas Triggs Memorial Scholarship – Monash University Accident Research Centre. Location: Clayton campus… phdposition.com/positions/tho… #PhD

PhD positions in a first class research environment. Hannover Biomedical Research S… phdposition.com/positions/phd… #PhD

6 Fully Funded PhD vacancies in Biomaterials Research available at CIC biomaGUNE. Applications are invited… phdposition.com/positions/6-f… #PhD

6 Fully Funded PhD vacancies in Biomaterials Research available at. Applications are invited for 6… phdposition.com/positions/6-f… #PhD

16 Fully Funded PhD Positions in the Life Sciences. The International Max Planck R… phdposition.com/positions/16-… #PhD

PhD positions in Population Genetics. Over the past years, Vienna ha… phdposition.com/positions/phd… #PhD

Open PhD position in Geomatics/GIS at the University of Florida. Research area: Spatio-temporal… phdposition.com/positions/ope… #PhD

PhD position(ENAC-TESA-PhD23): Exploring the Design of Distributed and Resilient Computing for Nanosat. … phdposition.com/positions/phd… #PhD

Postdoc (m/f/d) (E13 TV-G-U) or a PhD student (m/f/d) (E 13 TV-G-U 50% part time). The Johann Wolfgang Goethe… phdposition.com/positions/pos… #PhD

EuReCa PhD Program – 8 PhD positions in September 2023 at Institut Curie (COFUND). Institut Curie is… phdposition.com/positions/eur… #PhD

Postdoctoral Position – AC3E-UTFSM. The Advanced Center for Electr… phdposition.com/positions/pos… #PhD

About 2 years ago from PhDposition's Twitter via PhD Position

System for Tudor Replicas. The fake Tudor has just announ… phdposition.com/positions/sys… #PhD

PhD Fellowships. The Department of Mechanical a… phdposition.com/positions/phd… #PhD

PhD Scholarship: Injury Prevention Graduate Research Industry Partnership (IP GRIP) with WorkSafe Victoria. … phdposition.com/positions/phd… #PhD

PhD Scholarship: Systemic disaster risk, inequities and community resilience. Department: Monash University… phdposition.com/positions/phd… #PhD

PhD Scholarship: Gender and community-led disaster resilience (Fire to Flourish program). Department: Monash… phdposition.com/positions/phd… #PhD

PhD student positions. Research Area: Cell Biology,… phdposition.com/positions/phd… #PhD

Some of the leading research-oriented organisations working with us:

PhD Position: Benchmarking Scientific Explanation in Psychological Practice

Job Information

Offer description.

Are you looking for a PhD position in a dynamic setting? Do you want to execute philosophy of science research informed by and engaging scientific practices? The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) ( https://www.illc.uva.nl/ ) currently has a vacant PhD position for a talented student as part of the project Benchmarking scientific explanation in psychological practice , led by principal investigator Dr. Dingmar van Eck. The ILLC is one of the five Research Schools within the Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research .

Research at the ILLC is organized into six research units ( Research units ILLC ). This project is based in the Epistemology and Philosophy of Science (EPS) research unit. Within the methodology and philosophy of science, this position will connect to the team’s work on scientific explanation and methods applied to areas such as AI, Mathematics, Quantum Physics, Cognitive Science, Life Science and the Engineering Sciences.

What are you going to do? You will develop an account of the explanatory power of scientific explanations in cognitive science. For this you will analyse and use philosophy of science literature on scientific explanation and explanatory power to select and investigate a number of empirical case studies drawn from cognitive science, understood broadly to include psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• submission of a PhD thesis, within the period of appointment;
• participating in meetings of the project research group;
• publishing peer reviewed articles;
• presenting intermediate research results at workshops and conferences;
• assisting in outreach activities to cognitive scientists;
• Participation in the PhD programme of the ILLC;
• (Co-)teaching courses at the BA-level in the 2nd and 3rd year of the appointment (max. 0,2FTE per year)

Requirements

We seek to hire a candidate with a strong background in philosophy of science and who is knowledgeable of cognitive science. You are a team player, but can also work independently. You are curious, persistent, and ambitious. It is crucial that you are able (to learn) to process empirical case studies for philosophical purposes.

Your experience and profile:

• a completed Master's degree in philosophy or related discipline, with a focus on philosophy of science. You may apply if you have not yet completed your Master's degree only if you provide a signed letter from your supervisor stating that you will graduate before 01 September 2024;
• excellent research skills demonstrated by an outstanding Master's thesis.
• a strong cooperative attitude and willingness to engage in collaborative research;
• enthusiasm for communicating academic research to non-academic audiences;
• good command of English.

Please note that if you already hold a doctorate/PhD or are working towards obtaining a similar degree elsewhere, you will not be admitted to a doctoral programme at the UvA.

Additional Information

We offer a temporary employment contract for the period of 48 months. The first contract will be for 16 months, with an extension for the following 32 months, contingent on a positive performance evaluation within the first 12 months. The employment contract is for 38 hours a week. The preferred starting date is 01 September 2024.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and relevant experience, ranges from € 2,770 up to a maximum of € 3,539. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8,3% year-end allowance. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

What else do we offer?

• PhD candidates receive a tuition fee waiver;
• PhD candidates have free access to courses offered by the Graduate School of Humanities and the Dutch National Research Schools ;
• excellent possibilities for further professional development and education;
• an enthusiastic, inspiring and professional academic team.

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 link below. The deadline for applying for this vacancy 06 May 2024 .

Applications should include the following information (submitted in one .pdf by uploading in the required field ‘CV’):

• A letter of motivation.
• A half page description of your scientific familiarity with a topic in philosophy of science that relates to the research topic specified in the advertisement text.
• A full academic CV.
• A list of all Master-level modules you have taken, with an official transcript of grades.
• The names and contact details of two references, including your advisor, who may be approached by the selection committee.

Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.

The interviews will be held in the course of May 2024.

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact (during office hours):

• Dr. Dingmar van Eck. [email protected]

Work Location(s)

Where to apply.

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• CAREER COLUMN
• 08 April 2024

How we landed job interviews for professorships straight out of our PhD programmes

• Violeta Rodriguez 0 &
• Qimin Liu 1

Violeta Rodriguez is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Qimin Liu is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Boston University in Massachusetts.

By staying organized in their job hunt, both authors received several job offers. Credit: Getty

We met during the last year of our PhD training, after securing placements at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Department of Psychiatry for our predoctoral internships — the final step of our clinical doctoral programmes. V. R. came from the University of Georgia in Athens and was pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology, and Q. L. came from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and was working towards a PhD in clinical science and quantitative methods. It was amid the academic rigour and personal stress of the last year of our programmes that we became friends. We bonded over being immigrants and not speaking English as our first language while navigating the complexities of academia. We both wanted to forgo postdoctoral training and instead immediately become junior professors. Now, we’re assistant professors: V. R. is at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Q. L. is at Boston University in Massachusetts.

The odds we faced in the academic job market had seemed insurmountable, particularly to immigrants, and we had been cautioned by mentors and even junior faculty members about the challenge ahead. But we succeeded: we received a combined total of 27 in-person interviews, leading to 15 tenure-track assistant-professor offers across departments of psychology, paediatrics or psychiatry, schools of education and academic medical centres. (You can check out our hints for nailing job interviews in our other article .)

How to move labs

Despite the positive outcome, the process was stressful, fast and unpredictable. Our friendship became a sanctuary: amid the daunting job market and our own self-doubt, we understood and encouraged each other. We want to offer what our friendship provided us — understanding, support and encouragement — to researchers hoping to stay in academia after earning a PhD, so we are sharing our reflections and insights.

We must first make clear: no amount of job-search tips and tricks can substitute for good science and a strong publication record. To gauge our readiness, we looked up the CV of the most recent hire in each department that we applied to. We also made sure we had backup offers of postdoctoral positions. While navigating this process, we learnt that institutions were interested in candidates who planned to pursue external funding.

Qimin Liu is now an assistant professor. Credit: Qimin Liu

We had both obtained federal and private funding before — making us more competitive. We urge aspiring professors to prioritize their research contributions, external fellowship and grant applications and academic achievements above all.

To readers who’ve successfully navigated this process, many of our reflections and insights could seem obvious. However, this kind of advice can be the hardest to follow during a fast-moving job hunt, with several moving pieces involved and new considerations and job offers or advertisements emerging unexpectedly. Treat this as a checklist before beginning to fill out job applications.

Tips and tricks

Start your search early. Allow ample time to prepare for the job hunt; research potential options, such as jobs in academic medical centres, standard department positions or tenure-track jobs in related fields; and submit applications. Plan to reply to job ads long before the first deadline. Starting early gives you time to collect and incorporate feedback from mentors and colleagues.

Training: Free course on peer review

Prepare your networks. The academic job market can be unpredictable, with opportunities emerging unexpectedly. It is important to think about who can write letters for you — sometimes at short notice. Most of our applications required three letters of recommendation from all applicants. Others requested letters from only shortlisted candidates.

Plan ahead. The final drafts of materials took, on average, one to two months in total to prepare and polish. The initial drafts took about 8 hours, and the research statement required a total of 16 hours. (The research statement summarizes your research programme, the work you’ve done so far and what you plan to pursue in future. It can also highlight why a particular institution is well-suited to support your work.) Preparing drafted statements in advance made it easier to adapt them to different positions later — tweaking materials for specific positions took 30–60 minutes per application.

Research potential job opportunities. Don’t just rely on word-of-mouth or googling specific positions to find things you’re interested in applying to. Use online job boards (such as HigherEdJobs or Nature Careers ), and tap into your professional network by sending e-mails or LinkedIn messages to your mentors and colleagues, letting them know you’re on the job market. Scour social media and department websites to find available positions. We both posted on X (formerly Twitter) that we were job hunting, and several people reached out with opportunities.

Develop job application ‘templates’. Create a set of well-crafted templates for your application materials, such as cover letters and statements, on which you can easily fill in your name, relevant details and where you’ve previously worked. Having adaptable documents allowed us to respond quickly to new postings.

Tailor your application materials. Templates can take you only so far. Take the time to customize your application materials, including your CV, cover letter (each of ours was one page long) and research statement, to highlight your relevant skills, experiences and research contributions. Tailoring your materials to each position demonstrates genuine interest and increases your chances of standing out to hiring committees. Generic applications are easy for hiring managers to reject. Mentioning centres or institutes that align with your research; available resources, such as early-career programmes, that you want to take advantage of; and the names of people whom you are interested in working with can help to personalize your application materials.

Stay organized. Maintain a well-organized system to track application deadlines, requirements and submission statuses. Be ready to remind your letter writers to submit their recommendations. Keep a calendar or spreadsheet to ensure that all required materials are submitted on time and to track when to follow up. An example spreadsheet is provided below.

Practise for interviews and job talks. Run mock interviews with your peers or mentors. Practise answering common interview questions and develop concise, compelling responses that highlight your expertise, teaching abilities and fit. Treat these seriously — you’re likely to be nervous in the real interview, so try to recreate that while rehearsing, perhaps by inviting a relatively unknown colleague or professor to join the practice runs. V. R. recorded her job talk on Zoom and sent it to others for feedback.

Practising your job talk — a presentation of your academic research that is often a spoken version of your research statement — until you know it backwards and forwards will prepare you for the unexpected. In addition, rehearsing how you plan to respond to different questions, and practising saying that you want people to hold their questions until the end, can be helpful.

Prepare a start-up budget to get your lab running. Many academic positions include a start-up fund for incoming faculty members. It is typically used for summer salary and staffing or research costs. You might be asked for an estimated budget before, during or after the interview stage — so you should have one ready in advance. When preparing your budget, keep in mind the spending norms at the institution and for your discipline. Ask for more than you think you need, because this amount will often be reduced during negotiations.

As we look back on our job-hunting experiences, we are reminded of how much we grew in this process, in ways that are not related to just our jobs — and this growth continued in our interviews .

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01044-1

This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged .

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