Two PhD positions in Anthropology researching asylum procedures in Belgium

Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology

Organisation/Company KU LEUVEN Department Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology Research Field Anthropology » Social anthropology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Final date to receive applications 15 Mar 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country Belgium Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number BAP-2026-22 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

‘Unpacking the asylum procedure in its intersecting linguistic, sociocultural, psychological and legal dimensions’ (hereafter UNPACK) is an interdisciplinary and interuniversity iBOF project investigating fairness in asylum procedures. Asylum procedures are challenging, partly due to the diverse socio-cultural and linguistic backgrounds of all actors involved (such as applicants, officials, interpreters, and lawyers) and the interactions between them.

The UNPACK project integrates insights from four disciplines – linguistics, anthropology, psychology and law – to examine the lived experiences of those involved. Through in-depth ethnographic research of specific case studies and the broader organizational context, UNPACK seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the asylum procedure, in order to develop a new, comprehensive and evidence-based framework of fairness.

With iBOF funding, the Flemish universities pool resources from their research funds to support frontier research. UNPACK is coordinated by Karel Arnaut (anthropology, KU Leuven), Ilse Derluyn (social work, UGent), Katrijn Maryns (applied linguistics, UGent) and Ellen Desmet (law, UGent). The project is embedded in a unique collaboration – the first of its kind in Europe – with the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS), the Belgian authority responsible for deciding on applications for international protection.

• Conduct ethnographic research from an anthropological perspective. The two PhD positions respectively focus on the front‑office and back‑office dimension of the asylum procedure, eliciting the lived experiences, contributions and viewpoints of the different participants.
• Develop the specific research focus in dialogue with the supervisors, the co‑researchers and the asylum administration.
• Work intensively with a team of 8 researchers and 4 professors; share data and analyses, engage in extensive interdisciplinary research and in individual disciplinary‑specific research.
• Report on research academically and to a broader audience.
• Contribute to collective responsibilities of the research group (educational services, team meetings, research proposals, supervision of bachelor and master students, invigilating exams, student recruitment activities, etc.).

• Team player, as this project is distinctive by the degree of collaboration required.
• Demonstrated affinity with the topic of refugees and/or asylum procedures.
• Excellent analytical, writing and presentation skills.
• High proficiency (C2) in Dutch or French, and considerable fluency (B1) in the other language.
• Fluent in written and spoken academic English.
• Diversity‑sensitive attitude, good intercultural communication skills, and motivation to work in a multilingual environment.
• Empathetic, precise, and critical mindset.
• Open to giving and receiving constructive feedback, values continuous learning.
• Capable of managing deadlines effectively.
• Help foster a pleasant working environment.

• Hold an internationally recognised Master’s or an equivalent degree in anthropology.

• Pronounced affinity with the anthropological study of the state, bureaucracies, govern mentality, and migration regimes.
• Experience with ethnographic fieldwork within state institutions, organisations and administrations related to asylum or migration.
• Knowledge of languages relevant to refugee communities.
• Affinity with and/or experience working with people in vulnerable situations.
• Experience with academic research, particularly from an…