1 PhD position in Longitudinal Corporate Network Analysis in Netherlands | University of Amsterdam (UvA)

The Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research has a PhD position to work in the multidisciplinary CORPNET research group, funded by the European Research Council through a Starting Grant and based at the University of Amsterdam. You will be responsible to dr. Eelke M. Heemskerk.

CORPNET seeks to do what has so far eluded existing scholarship: to fully explore the global network of corporate ownership and control as a complex system. Using cutting-edge network science methods, the project explores for the first time the largest database on ownership and control covering over 100 million firms. Exploiting the longitudinal richness of the new data in combination with state-of-the-art methods and techniques makes it possible to model and empirically test generating mechanisms that drive network formation.

PhD Project: What Drives Network Formation?

This subproject studies the generating mechanisms that drive the formation of corporate governance networks. The project builds a conceptual framework that tries to explain the formation and (dis)continuation of corporate board overlap through the strategies of the actors involved. It takes a bipartite approach and starts from the notion that the generating strategies of actors do not only take place at the firm-by-firm level but are essentially located at the firm-by-person level. The methodological approach is temporal modelling (for example, stochastic actor-oriented or temporal exponential random graph models), and the project will have to develop methods and algorithms to apply modelling on a very large scale.

Tasks:

The successful candidate will be expected to have a high level of competence and motivation to undertake the following tasks:

• complete and defend a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four years;
• take the chief responsibility for developing a temporal model for network formation; under the supervision of the Principal Investigator and/or other senior team members;
• carry out network analyses using advanced network science and modelling techniques in a high performance computing environment, under the supervision of the Principal Investigator and/or other senior team members;
• contribute (as a co-author) to the writing up of research papers to be submitted to high-quality and high-impact peer reviewed journals;
• regularly present intermediate research results at international workshops and conferences, and publish them in proceedings and journals;
• participate in the organisation of research activities and events such as conferences, workshops and joint publications;
• (limited) teaching activities.

Requirements

Ideal candidates:

• have obtained a (research) masters degree with excellent grades in a relevant field, such as (mathematical) sociology, political science, socio-economics, network science, statistics;
• have expertise in longitudinal network analysis as well as some experience with managing relatively large (network) datasets;
• are able to demonstrate significant experience in relevant modelling techniques;
• possess (at least) basic skills in scientific programming;
• are persons with initiative, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work in a team as well as independently;
• have well-developed analytical skills, creativity, precision, and perseverance;
• have a sincere interest in working in a multi-disciplinary research team;
• possess excellent academic writing and presentation skills; mastery of both written and spoken English;
• have the ability to contribute to academic papers to be submitted to peer-reviewed journals;
• have interest in (and preferably experience with) the field of corporate power and / or network science research;
• strong interest in a scientific career.

Conditions of employment

The appointment will be on a temporary basis for a period of 3 or 4 years for 38 hours per week. In the first instance, a contract will be given for 12 months; if positively evaluated, the contract will be extended for another 24 and possibly up to 36 months. On the basis of a full-time appointment, the gross monthly salary will be €2,174 during the first year, rising to €2,779 during an eventual fourth year, excl. 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end of year bonus.