SwitzerlandLucerne PhD Scholarship offers a fully funded doctoral researcher position within the Zug Institute for Blockchain Research (ZIBR) at the University of Lucerne, focused on welfare state transformation in the age of artificial intelligence. The PhD candidate will contribute to the ERC Starting Grant REPAIR, working on comparative analyses of AI impacts on labour markets and social protection.
The scholarship is hosted by the University of Lucerne, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, within the newly established ZIBR. The position is integrated into an ERC-funded project led by Prof. Juliana Chueri and provides a four-year fixed-term appointment with career mentoring, a stimulating international research network, and attractive employment conditions.
Lucerne PhD Scholarship Benefits
- A fully funded position (100%) for four years with excellent conditions for completing a doctoral qualification
- Integration in a prestigious ERC-funded research project with an international research network
- The opportunity to contribute to building a globally unique research institute on emerging technologies and their societal implications
- A cooperative, creative, and team-oriented atmosphere in a stimulating work environment
- Continuous career mentoring and support for professional development
- Flexible working arrangements and a modern workplace in close proximity to Zug railway station
- Attractive employment conditions in accordance with the personnel regulations of the Canton of Lucerne
Get new scholarships by email
Scholarship Union lists awards like this one as they open. One short digest, no spam.
Lucerne PhD Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
- A completed Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Economics, or a closely related discipline
- A strong interest in welfare state institutions, labour market regulation, social policy, technology governance, and/or the political economy
- Strong knowledge of quantitative research methods and experience with programming languages (e.g., R, Stata, or Python), or willingness and ability to acquire these skills
- Excellent command of English, both spoken and written
- Ability to work independently and as part of an international team
- Strong communication skills, proactive attitude, and capacity for self-organisation
How to Apply for Lucerne PhD Scholarship?
- Submit a motivation letter (max. 2 pages) describing your profile, interest in the position and the REPAIR project, and how your research interests connect to the project themes
- Provide a curriculum vitae, including information on education, work experience, publications, and other relevant activities
- Include copies of university transcripts and degree certificates
- Attach an abstract or short description of your Master’s thesis in English
- Provide a writing sample in English (e.g., a seminar paper, thesis, or publication)
- Include contact details of two academic references
Don’t miss this deadline
Applications close on Sunday, 15 November 2026. We’ll email you 7, 3 and 1 days before.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Lucerne PhD Scholarship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, start date, application materials, and how to apply for the ERC-funded PhD position.
What is the Lucerne PhD Scholarship position about?
The position is a PhD Candidate / Doctoral Researcher role (100%) at the Zug Institute for Blockchain Research (ZIBR), focusing on welfare state transformation in the age of artificial intelligence. It contributes to the ERC Starting Grant REPAIR and examines how AI affects labour markets, policy responses, and public support for welfare reforms across OECD countries.
Is the PhD position funded and for how long?
Yes. The HTML states this is a fully funded qualifying position with a fixed-term appointment of four years. It is part of the ERC Starting Grant ‘(Re)distributive Politics after the AI Revolution’ (REPAIR) funded by the European Research Council and led by Prof. Juliana Chueri.
When does the position start and what is the application deadline?
The position starts on 1 January 2027 or by mutual agreement. The deadline to submit the application documents as a single PDF file is 15 November 2026, as specified in the vacancy listing.
What are the main tasks and duties of the PhD candidate?
Tasks include conducting independent doctoral research on welfare state transformation and labour market regulation in the context of AI, contributing to comparative indicators, surveys, and cross-national analyses, publishing in peer-reviewed journals (cumulative dissertation), supporting the principal investigator in research activities, grant management and organising workshops and conferences, and presenting research at international conferences.
What are the formal requirements to apply for Lucerne PhD Scholarship?
Applicants should have a completed Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Economics, or a closely related discipline. They must have strong interest in relevant areas, quantitative research skills or willingness to acquire them, excellent command of English, ability to work independently and in an international team, and good communication and organisational skills.
What documents must be included in the application for Lucerne PhD Scholarship?
The application dossier should include a motivation letter (max. 2 pages), a curriculum vitae, copies of university transcripts and degree certificates, an abstract or short description of the Master’s thesis in English, a writing sample in English, and contact details of two academic references. These should be submitted as a single PDF file.
Who should I contact for further information about the position?
For further information, applicants are asked to contact Prof. Juliana Chueri at the email provided in the vacancy listing (juliana.chueri@zibr.ch). The HTML lists this contact for enquiries about the position.
What support and working conditions are offered?
The vacancy lists integration into an ERC-funded research project, a cooperative and team-oriented atmosphere, continuous career mentoring, support for professional development, flexible working arrangements, a modern workplace near Zug railway station, and attractive employment conditions per the Canton of Lucerne personnel regulations.
Are programming or quantitative skills required for Lucerne PhD Scholarship?
The listing requires strong knowledge of quantitative research methods and experience with programming languages (e.g., R, Stata, or Python), or at least the willingness and ability to acquire these skills. This is important given the project’s emphasis on comparative indicators, surveys, and cross-national analyses.
Will the PhD be part of a team and what international opportunities exist?
Yes. The PhD candidate will be part of a collaborative team of four researchers within the ERC project, contributing to shared research infrastructure and comparative analyses. The position includes presenting research at international conferences and participating in the project’s international research network.
Discover more from Scholarship Union
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.