PhD Fellowship in the Emergence of Social Network Structures (interdisciplinary)

Starting date

The starting date for the position is February 1, 2025, but an earlier or later starting date is also possible.

Content of the position

Social networks (the patterns of social interactions between individuals) show high structural diversity across humans and non-human animal species, and these structures affect important processes such as the spread of disease and information. An important question for understanding social network structures is how they emerge from the behaviour of individuals.

This PhD is part of a larger project called ‘New computational approaches for understanding the emergence of social network structures’, funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The project will be led by Josefine Bohr Brask and will also involve a postdoc and collaborators Lauren Brent (University of Exeter, UK) and Sune Lehmann (Technical University of Denmark, Denmark).

The PhD student will likely focus on using new methodology we have already developed to investigate how social network structures emerge, and the role social preferences play in this. The PhD student may also be involved in development of new methods, if it is of interest for the student. There will be opportunity for the PhD student to influence the project and develop new research ideas within the project frame.

The PhD project will include modelling of social networks and/or analysis of social network data from various species, including a long-term dataset from a free-ranging population of Rhesus macaques in Puerto Rico. Field work is not a requirement for the project, but a stay at the macaque field site can potentially be integrated if it is of interest for the PhD student.

The position involves conducting research, presenting findings at scientific conferences, writing research articles, following PhD courses, and getting experience with teaching and dissemination.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a motivated candidate interested in conducting fundamental research on networks and social behaviour.

The candidate should have a master’s degree in a relevant field, such as Biology, Physics, Computer Science, Social Data Science, or other related areas (or should obtain it before starting the position).

Knowledge about network analysis, network modelling and/or social behaviour is relevant for the position. Programming experience (for example in R or Python) can also be relevant.

The candidate should be interested in working with researchers from different fields and with data from non-human animals.

The main language of the research environment is English, and proficiency in English is therefore necessary for the position.

What do we offer?

The PhD position is a fully funded full-time position for three years.

The PhD student will be based at the Copenhagen Center for Social Data Science (SODAS), an interdisciplinary research centre situated at the Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen. The centre includes about 40 researchers across different levels and with different scientific backgrounds, and offers a supportive and international research environment. The PhD student will become part of the SODAS PhD program with about 20 PhD students.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 CETS on October 6, 2024. 

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