In this PhD project you will take a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research. Over the course of the project, you will conduct three interconnected subprojects: (1) uncover how ‘real’ and ‘fake’ for synthetic content are conceptualized and operationalized across communication domains (e.g., advertising, health, political, corporate, entertainment) with a literature review; (2) examine people’s coping strategies with synthetic content and to what extent advertising literacy predicts these coping strategies with a survey; and (3) design and execute experiments to examine the effectiveness of advertising literacy interventions in empowering people to cope with synthetic contents.

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 experimental material);

• Collect and analyze data for the studies (e.g., gather and synthesize relevant academic literature, recruit participants for surveys, and experiments, and analyze data from surveys 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 or a relevant related field, or the expectation to obtain it soon;

• Experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods;

• Skills to handle and analyze complex datasets;

• Demonstrated interest in digital media technology and advertising literacy;

• 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 communication science domains 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 September 2025.. The position concerns temporary employment for a maximum term of four years. The initial employment is for one year. Following a positive assessment and barring any changes in 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 for max.2 days per week (i.e., to work from home from time to time).