Universiteit Leiden | Postdoctoral Fellowship in Population-Scale Network Science

About this postdoc

In this postdoc position, the focus is on methods and algorithms for large-scale graph analytics, in particular network science approaches for analyzing longitudinal, population-scale relational data derived from administrative sources, including unique social network on the Dutch population data from Statistics Netherlands. Such data presents distinctive methodological challenges: their scale and temporal character require new metrics, fast algorithms, and careful tailoring of commonly used network measures and algorithms. The aim is to advance our understanding of how social network structures change over time due to social and demographic dynamics and how this evolution relates to broader societal phenomena and systemic shifts such as structural inequalities, segregation, echo chambers or polarization. Working closely with infrastructure and data specialists, as well as researchers in social sciences, the postdoc will help bridge methodological advances in network science with substantive applications on uniquely rich population-scale data. Within this broad scope of topics, there is ample space for the postdoc to pursue a direction that fits both the candidate and the broader aims of the group.

About the underlying funding and project. Macroscope (https://www.nwo.nl/en/projects/qnbfq52894) is a national research infrastructure funded by the Dutch Science Foundation (NWO) to study complex societal dynamics at an unprecedented scale. Building existing infrastructures from, for example ODISSEI, the project centers around the analysis of population-scale datasets with advanced computational tools. By bringing together data, models, and computing resources in a unified environment, Macroscope aims to make it possible to analyse large-scale social processes across time and across multiple types of data. The postdoc position is specifically about developing graph analytical methods for analyzing population-scale social networks.

Embedding. The postdoc will be employed at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), which is the computer science and AI institute of the Faculty of Science of Leiden University. More in particular, the candidate will become part of the interdisciplinary inter-university PLANET-NL (https://www.planetnl.org/) initiative, which is a collaboration with the University of Amsterdam rooted in computational social science and network science, and member of the Leiden Network Science group. Both the research groups and the institute are highly international, and feature a mix of disciplinal and cultural backgrounds.

There are plenty of additional opportunities for other types of interaction and collaboration, for example at the Faculty of Science through the Leiden Complex Network (LCN2) and nationally through the Dutch Network Science Society. The candidate will be asked to engage in (limited) BSc, MSc and PhD student (co-) supervision on topics related to data science and network science, as well as minor roles in scientific organizational activities.

What you will do

• Conducting research in the area of network science;
• Engaging in collaborative research as a member of the PLANET-NL inter-university research group;
• Membership of and engagement with the Leiden Network Science research group;
• Co-supervising BSc, MSc and PhD students on topics related to data science and network science;
• Engaging in minor scientific organizational organizing activities.

Where you will work

The Leiden Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. Our people are driven by curiosity to expand fundamental knowledge and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline.The faculty is home to more than 2,700 staff members and over 6,000 students enrolled in nine bachelor’s and fifteen master’s programs. We are located at the heart of the Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s largest science parks, where academia and industry come together.

The Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) is the Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science Institute of the Faculty of Science of Leiden University. We offer courses at the Bachelor and Master of Science level in the core areas of Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, and Data Science, and also in the interdisciplinary areas of ICT in Business, Media Technology and Creative science, and Bioinformatics. According to an independent research visitation, we are one of the foremost computer science departments of the Netherlands. Our people and our focus on collaboration in a caring atmosphere are dear to us. We strive for excellence in a caring institute, where excellence, fun, and inclusiveness go hand in hand. We offer a clear and inviting career path to young and talented scientists with the ambition to grow. For more information about LIACS, visit our website.

What you bring

• A PhD* in computer science or a related field (e.g., mathematics, physics or computational social science), with a strong track record in network science (or complex networks / social network analysis);
• Excellent writing skills and proficiency of the English language, demonstrated through published first author papers in respected and relevant conference proceedings or journals;
• Experience with programming in Python, or otherwise in R and/or C++;
• Able to work independently, in a team, and in a student (co-)supervisory role;
• An academic, creative and curious mindset;
• Interdisciplinary mindset to succesfully collaborate across disciplines.

*: excellent candidates not (yet) past the PhD phase, but with graduation in 2026 in sight, are also invited to apply.

Application and more details: https://careers.universiteitleiden.nl/job/Postdoc-in-Population-Scale-Network-Science/16498-en_US