The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) is inviting applications from qualified and highly motivated students for a PhD student position in the Lab of Digital and Computational Demography.
The MPIDR is one of the leading demographic centers in the world. It is part of the Max Planck Society, a network of more than 80 institutes that form Germany’s premier basic-research organization. Max Planck Institutes have an established record of world-class research and they offer a unique environment that combines the best aspects of an academic setting and a research laboratory. The Lab of Digital and Computational Demography, headed by MPIDR Director Emilio Zagheni, is looking for candidates with strong quantitative and programming skills and with research interests in inequalities in mortality.
Short Description of the PhD Project
Disparities in mortality by educational levels are one of the most pressing issues of modern societies, and may have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The successful candidate is expected to contribute and advance a project that analyzes recent developments in inequalities in mortality by education across space and time, with both a period and a cohort perspective. Particular attention would be devoted to the definition of educational groups, and to complementing standard educational-attainment measures with new approaches that account for compositional changes.
Applications must be submitted online by March 20, 2022 and include as a single pdf file, in English:
1) Curriculum Vitae, including a list of your scholarly publications.
2) A motivational statement (maximum two pages) explaining why you applied, how your research interests fit with the project; how the MPIDR could foster your career development; and describing your technical skills and areas of expertise.
3) Copies of transcripts of undergraduate and master’s degrees. Applicants should hold a master’s degree or equivalent at the time of starting the PhD.
4) Names and contact information for 2 academic references.
5) One writing sample.
The starting date is flexible, but no later than November 1, 2022. The PhD student is offered a 3-year contract with remuneration based on the salary structure of the German public sector (Öffentlicher Dienst, TVöD Bund) currently starting at 34,295.22 € gross a year. Online interviews will be held between April 11 and April 14, 2022.
Visit the announcement page to get more detail about this position.
