Within this project, you will: 

• complete an English‑language, article‑based PhD thesis on resilience to digital financial fraud, from a communication science perspective; 

• conduct several sub‑studies, including a survey, focus groups and a (field) experiment; 

• present your work at national and international conferences; 

• participate actively in activities of the broader AuthentiMark consortium; 

• spend 10% of your time on teaching duties. 
  
  

Your profile 

You: 

• have completed (by the start of the project, 1 September 2026) a (research) Master’s degree in Communication Science or another discipline relevant to the project, such as Communication and Information Studies or Information Science. Candidates with a different (research) Master’s degree are also invited to apply, but must explicitly explain in their cover letter why their background fits this project; 

• have experience with research methods relevant to the project (survey, experimental and qualitative research); 

• have excellent spoken and written command of Dutch, as you will design Dutch‑language studies and interventions and conduct focus groups with a Dutch‑speaking target group; 

• have excellent spoken and written command of English, as you will write an English‑language PhD thesis and present at international English‑language conferences; 

• have demonstrable affinity with the financial sector and with digital developments; 

• are motivated to participate in a larger interdisciplinary consortium with both academic and non‑academic partners. 

You also: 

• have a strong interest in conducting academic research, particularly on resilience against digital fraud and digital innovation; 

• enjoy collaborating with organisations outside the university to jointly create the best possible scientific and societal outcomes; 

• are open to feedback; 

• are able to work both independently and as part of a team; 

• are eager to learn and willing to develop new skills; 

• are organised, flexible and accurate. 

We offer a temporary appointment of 1.0 FTE (38 hours per week) for a maximum of 4 years. The initial appointment is for one year. Upon a positive evaluation and unchanged circumstances, this will be extended by up to 3 years, with the aim of resulting in the award of a PhD degree. We will design a training and supervision plan that includes room for coursework and attendance at both national and international meetings. You will also teach courses to Bachelor’s students in Communication Science.