Center for Demographic Studies

Motivation

Research Contracts DEMOS_2025

The main demographic phenomena appear as unavoidable challenges in our society. Population aging, low fertility, migration and depopulation have become priority issues on political agendas around the world. However, the causes and consequences of these phenomena have been little studied.

The Centre d’Estudis Demogràfics (CED-CERCA) aims to promote research in population studies among young people with a vocation for research, who are willing to face these challenges with scientific rigor, critical spirit and creative intelligence.

Offer

Two contracts, for a maximum of three years, are offered to people who wish to start doctoral studies in the Demography program at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). This PhD is co-organized by the Department of Geography of the UAB and the CED.

Those selected will be integrated into one of the Center’s research groups, will receive specialized training courses, will be provided with work space
and resources, will participate in the academic life of the CED and, if necessary, will receive the necessary support to obtain the international mention of the doctorate. They will have to devote themselves entirely to research, under the supervision of the research staff directing their theses.

The amount offered for the contract, within the framework of ongoing research projects, will be a maximum of 21,000 euros gross per year.

The grant also includes the expenses associated with the doctoral tuition (direction, supervision and continuous evaluation of the doctoral thesis) up to a maximum of three annual payments. The annual continuity of the contract will be subject to passing the successive evaluations foreseen in the doctoral program.

Thematic

The Thesis project:

It will necessarily contemplate the challenges of demographic transformation in Spain and/ or Catalonia, historical or current.
It must be directed by a CED researcher.
It will be part of one of CED’s research groups (Families, inequality and social change; Globalization, migrations and space; Health and aging).

Profile

People who demonstrate a vocation for research and interest in demographic challenges. They are required to meet the academic requirements to access the PhD in Demography at the UAB by October 31, 2025 at the latest, which, among others, requires accreditation of 300 ECTS credits and a good spoken and written level of Catalan or Spanish and English.

It will be especially valued:

Previous studies in the area of Demography or related disciplines such as Political Science and Sociology, Geography, History, Economics, Mathematics or Statistics.
Academic record.
Experience in quantitative data processing and analysis.
Experience or previous work in the subject of study.

Requests

Applications should be sent by e-mail to demog@ced.uab.es specifying in the subject line: “DEMOS-XXX application (person’s last name)”. The deadline for submission is June 13, 2025.

The following documentation must be attached:

DEMOS Application Form
Detailed curriculum vitae of the candidate
DNI / Passport
Academic records of bachelor’s or bachelor’s degrees, official master’s degrees and corresponding diplomas.
One or two copies of the most relevant academic papers: scientific articles or master’s thesis, for example
A letter of motivation including references to the topics of demographic interest to be studied
Name, affiliations and contact information of two persons who may be contacted in order to provide information about the nomination.

Selection and deadlines

A list of the persons eligible for the selection process shall be drawn up within 7 working days from the final date of submission of applications. The lack of documentation may be corrected within the period of 3 working days from its notification.

An Evaluation and Selection Committee (CAS), formed by researchers of recognized prestige and the PI’s of the three major research groups of the CED, will draw up a list of the persons who will pass to the interview phase.

The finalists will proceed to the interview phase conducted by CAS.

The selection process is expected to be completed before July 31.

The incorporation may be immediate or up to a maximum of six months from the date of grant of the aid.

The various resolutions of the selection process will be published on the CED website.

Resolutions on DEMOS Contracts

The CED

The CED, located on the UAB Campus, is part of the iCERCA group of centers. It is one of the main European centers of Demography and is a member of the European Population Network Population Europe. Its research staff is organized into the following research groups: Families, Inequality and Social Change; Globalization, Migration and Space; and Health and Aging.

Together with the Department of Geography of the UAB, CED organizes the PhD program in Demography, which has already awarded more than 90 doctoral degrees since its inception (2000) and has been distinguished with the following awards with the Mention of Excellence from the Ministry of
Universities and the AQU. In addition to the doctoral program, CED offers different training programs: it is an active member of the European Doctoral School of Demography (EDSD) and organizes the Barcelona Four Seasons School of Demography (Bcn4Seasons School),which includes the Barcelona
Summer School of Demography (BSSD).

CED’s mission is also the transfer and dissemination of knowledge, highlighting its scientific bulletin, Perspectives Demogràfiques, published every four months and aimed at the general public; and the interactive digital platform, Explorador Social, which collects population data and demographic interest data from all over Spain.

CED has been awarded the segell HR d’excel·lència in Human Resources Management by the European Commission and promotes equal opportunities.