The Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (AS CR) is announcing a selection procedure for one to two positions of doctoral students to participate in the research project: Business at Home and Abroad: Corruption and Social Norms.
The project is funded by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (GA CR) within the prestigious Junior Star program and was launched in January 2026. The expected start is in October 2026, with the possibility of earlier start by mutual agreement.
About the project
The project examines how Czech companies understand, internalize, and respond to norms related to corruption in both domestic and international contexts. While corruption research has traditionally focused primarily on public institutions, this project shifts the focus to the private sector and analyzes how companies define ethical boundaries and adapt their practices in different institutional environments.
The research combines quantitative and qualitative methods, including:
- company questionnaire surveys in the Czech Republic,
- international comparative data,
- in-depth qualitative case studies of Czech companies operating at home and abroad.
The aim of the project is to publish high-quality international scientific outputs and to produce outputs relevant to public policy.
Position profile
We are looking for highly motivated master's degree graduates/doctoral students with an interest in:
- corruption, ethics, and social norms,
- economic sociology, political sociology, or organizational studies,
- quantitative and/or qualitative methods of social research.
Depending on the profile and interests of the applicant, the doctoral project may focus more on quantitative analysis (questionnaire design, statistical modeling, international data) or qualitative research (interviews, case studies, analysis of organizational practices).
Requirements for applicants
Applicants must:
- have completed a master's degree in sociology, political science, social sciences, or a related field and be a doctoral student or apply for doctoral studies in 2026, or
- be in the final phase of their master's studies with a clear plan to enter doctoral studies beginning in 2026.
What we offer
- An employment contract for up to 4.5 years, tied to the duration of the project.
- A workload of 0.5–1.0 FTE by mutual agreement.
- Above-standard salary in accordance with the regulations of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
- Full involvement in an international, methodologically diverse research team.
- Close academic supervision and mentoring, including support for publishing in international peer-reviewed journals.
- Financial support for participation in conferences, professional training, and short-term research stays abroad.
- An inspiring research environment at the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague with access to high-quality data infrastructure and international networks.
- Flexible working conditions and a supportive work environment.
Requirements
- Strong academic motivation and interest in doctoral studies.
- Good knowledge of social science methodology (quantitative, qualitative, or combined).
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Very good knowledge of English (the working language of the project); knowledge of Czech is an advantage but not a requirement.
Application procedure
Applicants should send:
- a cover letter describing their research interests and motivation to participate in the project (max. 2 pages),
- a structured CV.
Applications should be sent electronically to:
The deadline for applications is January 30, 2026.
If you have any questions about the position or the project, please contact Dr. Kristýna Bašná (
