PhD Ethnoracial educational inequality in Europe

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike. 

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located. 

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again. 

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

2 - Position description

The Faculty Social Sciences & Solvay Business School, Department Sociologie, Research Group Brussels Institute for Social and Population Studies is looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant. 

More concretely your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate, contains: 

Ethnoracial inequality in secondary education remains a serious problem in Europe. Despite many initiatives to promote fairness and inclusion, racialized students often face barriers that harm their learning and well-being. Research has revealed many causes of these inequalities, such as socio-economic disadvantages, language barriers, teacher expectations, and school policies. However, more research is necessary on the role of whiteness and racism in shaping education systems. While countries like the U.S. and U.K. have strong traditions of studying racism and whiteness in education, such approaches remain rare in continental Europe. This project aims to fill that gap by exploring how racism and whiteness operate within European education from a multi-level comparative approach—national systems, schools and individuals—and by using new critical quantitative methods (QuantCrit and CritQuant).

We are looking for a Phd candidate who aims to prepare a doctoral dissertation in Sociology on the topic of ethnoracial educational inequality, under the supervision of Prof. Fanny D’hondt and Prof. Pieter-Paul Verhaeghe. The doctoral dissertation will be part of two projects: the VUB-BOF project on unpacking ethnocracial educational inequality (led by Prof. D’hondt) and the ERC Consolidator project MARIS on racism and social mobility at the societal level (led by Prof. Verhaeghe).

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base. 

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

• Master’s degree in social sciences with a strong sociological focus

• You should have an excellent academic record, demonstrated by high grades in their previous degree(s).
• You should combine academic rigor and intellectual curiosity with a strong interest in sociology of education and/or sociology of race and ethnicity.
• You must possess advanced statistical skills (e.g., multilevel and multivariate regression analysis).
• You should be eager to further develop quantitative skills and apply critical perspectives in your research.
• You are a loyal team player and you agree to co-write and co-publish with the research team in high-impact scientific journals.
• You have an international mindset.
• You are fluent in English, spoken and written.
• You have strong communication skills.

• You have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months.

• As a (non-)EEA national, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here.

The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship, for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date 01/05/2026. 

You are nevertheless expected, with support from the supervisory team, to apply for external funding during the PhD. 

You’ll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government.

IMPORTANT: The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:

• A dynamic and stimulating research environment at BRISPO;
• Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
• An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike; 
• A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
• Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in  all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques; 
• Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps; 
• The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
• And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?

Then apply, at the latest on 22/02/2026, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents:

• a brief curriculum vitae including a clear overview of your statistical expertise;
• a concise statement of the reason for applying in English;
• a copy or the extended summary of your master thesis;
• a copy of your detailed study results;
• your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni).

Our application process is as follows (subject to change):

• step 1: an initial selection based on your application file; 
• step 2: a job interview  online or in-person in the first week of March 2026.

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Fanny D'hondt at fanny.lieve.dhondt@vub.be or on 026148150.

Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be, and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.

Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-university.eu, and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.