PhD in Complex Systems for Societal and Technological Transitions
IE University, Spain
- Institution
- IE University
- Country
- Spain
- Position type
- PhD
- Location
- Segovia, Spain
- Funding
- Fully funded position
Want to be the strongest applicant for this position?
Book a free 15-minute call with our team. We will look at your profile against what IE University is actually looking for, and tell you honestly where you stand and what to strengthen before you apply.
Book a free call about this position →No cost, no obligation. Mentors who have secured funded PhD positions themselves.
We mentor STEM applicants only. If your research aspirations are outside STEM subjects, you're very welcome to use this board and apply directly; we just aren't the right people to mentor you.
About this position
IE University invites applications for fully funded PhD positions within the new PhD in Complex Systems for Societal and Technological Transitions, based at the IE School of Science & Technology in Madrid, Spain.
IE University offers an international and interdisciplinary academic environment, drawing on the strengths of IE Business School and its wider academic ecosystem. The new PhD program brings together science, technology, and society to address complex real-world challenges.
The program is designed for doctoral researchers interested in combining systems thinking, computational methods, and interdisciplinary research.
Apply now
We encourage applications from outstanding candidates who are motivated to undertake rigorous, ambitious, and interdisciplinary research with real-world impact.
Learn more about the program and submit your application:
Research topics
Complex systems; artificial intelligence; data science; computational social science; climate change and sustainability; digital transformation; health; mobility; robotics and automation; resilient societies; networks; and societal and technological transitions.
Candidate profile
We welcome applicants who hold—or expect to complete before joining the program—a relevant master’s degree in areas such as computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, mathematics, physics, engineering, robotics, economics, computational social science, environmental science, health sciences, or a related discipline.
Successful candidates will demonstrate strong analytical or quantitative skills, an interest in interdisciplinary research, and the ability to connect rigorous scientific methods with important societal or technological questions. Experience with programming, modelling, data analysis, simulation, network science, or empirical research will be particularly valuable.
Funding and employment conditions
Successful candidates will receive:
- A four-year employment contract
- A gross annual salary of €28,000
- Full coverage of PhD tuition fees
- Social Security coverage
- Access to Spain’s public healthcare system
Start date: October 2026
Application deadline: 25 August 2026
Apply directly to IE University
Emerging Scholars Council is not the employer and does not recruit for this position. It is advertised by IE University, and your application goes to them. We help students prepare and strengthen their applications.
Go to the official application page →