LINC - PhD researcher (100%) - Serious and organised crime

The Leuven Institute of Criminology (LINC) was founded in 2007. It currently groups about 70 professors, researchers and assistants involved in criminological research and teaching. LINC forms part of the Faculty of Law and Criminology, KU Leuven.

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Project

• Your main assignment will be to conduct doctoral research in the field of serious and organised crime.
• In particular, it concerns empirical research into organised crime in a local, national and international perspective, with a particular focus on the organisations, networks and criminal activities involved. The concrete topic will be determined in mutual consultation.
• The research will mainly use qualitative research methods and will mainly be carried out in Belgium.
• In addition to the main assignment, the researcher will also provide limited assistance with teaching (e.g. supervision of master's theses, helping with improvement of tasks or examinations and with examination supervision) or with other research projects within the research team.

Profile

You have a master's degree in criminology. Master's degrees in other humanities (e.g. political science or sociology) will be considered provided that you have a clear and demonstrable work or research experience within the criminological domain.

You obtained an excellent study curriculum (at least one (great) distinction).

You have a strong interest in the actors, networks and activities within organised crime and in the way in which these phenomena develop and manifest themselves in local, national and international contexts.

You are already partly familiar with the criminological literature on organized crime.

You have demonstrable knowledge of qualitative and possibly quantitative methods of empirical scientific research. Preferably, you already have experience with qualitative data collection, such as conducting interviews, conducting focus groups or other forms of fieldwork.

You have excellent scientific writing skills and preferably already have one or more (international, peer-reviewed) scientific publications as a (co-)author.

You have the necessary didactic qualities.

You like to work together and function smoothly in a team.

You have strong organisational skills and can plan and coordinate research activities independently.

You have excellent oral and written skills in Dutch and English.

Offer

We offer an appointment as a full-time PhD researcher. The mandate is initially for one year, but is renewable.

Vacatures Leuvens Instituut voor Criminologie (LINC)

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Letizia Paoli, mail: letizia.paoli@kuleuven.be.

You can apply for this job no later than November 13, 2026 via the online application tool

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