University College Dublin is recruiting an Ad Astra PhD fellowship <https://www.ucd.ie/socialpolicyworkjustice/research/phdresearch/>, with a starting date of *September 2026*. This position offers a 4-year scholarship and a research fund to support the PhD student's research activities. The successful candidate will join the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice and will work under the supervision of Dr. Anastasia Ershova <https://people.ucd.ie/anastasia.ershova> towards the completion of their PhD from University College Dublin. The fellowship focusses on topics related to policymaking in multilevel/EU settings. Applications focusing on interlinkages between national and supranational policymaking and legislative bargaining, and that explicitly integrate advanced qualitative or quantitative methods are particularly encouraged. The School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice is an integral part of UCD's College of Social Sciences and Law, which offers an excellent program of training opportunities and events for PhD candidates. The deadline for applications is *February 8th, 2026*, with interviews tentatively planned for March 2026. For further questions contact Assistant Professor Dr. Anastasia Ershova. -- *Dr. Stephan Köppe* Associate Professor of Social Policy School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington Building (A204) University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin D04 N9Y1, Ireland T +353 1 716 8275 Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/drkoeppe.bsky.social <https://bsky.app/profile/drkoeppe.bsky.social> Web: https://people.ucd.ie/stephan.koeppe <https://people.ucd.ie/stephan.koeppe> Please book office hour appointments in advance: https://calendar.app.google/GD8ToMdU7Ae7ZUqk6 ** *Director of Research * *Fellow*at UCD Geary Institute for Public Policy *THICE*: Transformations in Housing and Intergenerational Contracts in Europe <https://www.geographie.hu-berlin.de/en/professorships/kultursozialgeographie/forschung/research-projects/thice-transformations-in-housing-and-intergenerational-contracts-in-europe> ** *Top 100 QS Subject Ranking*Social Policy & Administration <https://www.topuniversities.com/university-subject-rankings/social-policy-administration?countries=ie>(No. 1 Academic Reputation in Ireland) UCD Athena Swan Silver Award <https://www.ucd.ie/newsandopinion/news/2024/september/03/ucdawardedathenaswaninstitutionalsilveraward/> ** *Recent publications:* Barigazzi, A., Gallo, G., & Köppe, S. (2025). The biased reaction to changes in family-related public expenditure: How generosity and universalism relate to fertility. /Population and Development Review/(early view). https://doi.org/10.1111/padr.70034 Köppe, S. (2025, 02.10.2025). /Wohnungspolitik der Koalition – Bauen, bauen und sozial?/ sozialpolitikblog. https://difis.org/blog/?blog=178 Köppe, S., & Curran, M. A. (2025). Large Families: The Forgotten Poverty Risk and Policy Relevance. Editorial. /International Journal of Social Welfare/, 34(2), e12722. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12722 <https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12722> Köppe, S., Parma, A., & Sojka, B. (Eds.). (2025). /Social//Policy Review 37. Analysis and Debate in Social Policy, 2025/. Policy Press. https://doi.org/10.51952/9781447377245 <https://doi.org/10.51952/9781447377245>.