PhD Position "Enhancing Adolescents' Agency Over Social Media Use for Digital Well-Being"

This PhD project takes a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research. Over the course of the project, you will conduct three interconnected studies: (1) develop and validate a scale to measure digital agency among adolescents, and examine their awareness, ability to use, and perceptions of digital agency tools; (2) conduct focus groups to explore adolescents’ motivations for adopting these tools; and (3) design and execute a real-world experiment to test the effectiveness of the most promising tools.

You will:

• Manage the project, including scheduling meetings with the supervisory team, preparing agendas, and documenting meetings and research activities;

• Design and prepare the studies (e.g., create a comprehensive search strategy for a literature review, develop and refine survey and focus group materials);

• Collect and analyze data for the studies (e.g., gather and synthesize relevant academic literature, recruit participants for surveys, focus groups, and real-world experiments, and analyze data from surveys, qualitative focus groups, and intervention studies);

• Write academic articles for publication in high-impact scientific journals, and present findings at (inter)national conferences;

• Contribute to the ASCoR research community by participating in workshops, meetings, and lectures;

• Support teaching activities at the Bachelor’s level (up to approximately 10% of your time).

You have:

• A (research) master’s degree in communication science, psychology, or a related field, or expect to obtain it soon;

• Experience with quantitative and/or qualitative research methods;

• Skills to handle and analyze complex datasets;

• An interest in open science principles and a commitment to methodological rigor and scientific integrity;

• Excellent spoken and written English, with proficiency in Dutch or a willingness to learn.

You are able to:

• Show curiosity in exploring insights from various disciplines and a readiness to learn new skills and methods as the project evolves, adapting to challenges with resilience and creativity;

• Maintain a proactive attitude, be open to feedback, and pay attention to detail;

• Manage your own time effectively and work independently while collaborating well within a team;

• Keep a cool head and stay organized when juggling multiple tasks;

• Communicate research findings clearly to both academic and non-academic audiences.

The planned starting date for this project is mid-March, 2025, but there is some flexibility with regard to the starting date. The position concerns temporary employment of 38 hours for a maximum term of four years. The initial employment is for one year. Following a positive assessment and unchanged financial and organisational circumstances, this term will be extended by a maximum of 36 months, which should result in the conferral of a doctorate. We will put together a curriculum that will also include the opportunity to attend training courses and both national and international events. You will also be tasked with teaching (Bachelor’s) students for up to approximately 10% of the contract.

What else do we offer

• A position in which initiative and input are highly valued;

• A position centered on your growth, with ample opportunities for scholarly and professional development, including the opportunity to take Dutch language courses;

• A supervision team with the goal to supervise and advice the PhD candidate in their work and professional development through regular team meetings;

• A daily supervisor who is available for the PhD candidate for regular contact on all matters relevant to the candidate;

• An enthusiastic and warm department that is open to new colleagues;

• A large, welcoming community of PhD candidates working on various projects within Communication Science;

• While frequent presence at the office is valued in terms of cohesion and team building, we offer the opportunity to work hybrid (i.e., to work from home from time to time).