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Postdoctoral Researcher "Anti-obesity Medications on Social Media: Hype or Harm?"

  • Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
  • 13880
  • PhD
  • €4.537
  • Closes on
    24-03-2025
Apply

Postdoctoral Researcher "Anti-obesity Medications on Social Media: Hype or Harm?"

  • Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
  • 13880
  • PhD
  • €4.537
  • Closes on
    24-03-2025
Apply

Working at the UvA

The project context

The department Communication Science of the faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is looking for a postdoctoral researcher who will conduct research within one of the university-wide themes in UvA’s Strategic Plan for 2021-2026, i.e., ‘Healthy future’. Specifically, we are looking for someone who wants to conduct the research project entitled “Hype or harm: Exploring the portrayal and impact of anti-obesity medications on social media and actions to protect people from harmful content”.

Project objectives

Since the introduction of anti-obesity medications (AOMs) – concerns have been raised about social media’s role in popularizing these new medications. While much is still unknown about AOMs, social media seem to present a glorified view of them, often containing misinformation and (prohibited) marketing. Yet, as these concerns are largely anecdotal, this project aims to explore:

(1) how AOMs are portrayed on social media and how this affects social media users’ perceptions of AOMs, a healthy diet, and obesity

(2) actions to protect people from harmful AOM content.

Team composition

We are seeking an enthusiastic researcher, with strong quantitative and qualitative methodological skills, who is interested in working in a multi-disciplinary team. The post-doc will work together with UvA researchers from Communication Science (Monique Alblas, Saar Mollen, Eline Smit), Public and Occupational Health (Luc Hagenaars, Coosje Dijkstra) and Health Law (Bastiaan Wallage), as well as our VU Amsterdam partner from medical practice (Bibian van der Voorn). The postdoctoral researcher will collaborate with two research assistants, as well as with several external partners (Partnership Overweight Netherlands, Keuringsraad Aanprijzing Gezondheidsproducten, Health and Youth Care Inspectorate, Netherlands Nutrition Centre).

Working at the UvA

The project context

The department Communication Science of the faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is looking for a postdoctoral researcher who will conduct research within one of the university-wide themes in UvA’s Strategic Plan for 2021-2026, i.e., ‘Healthy future’. Specifically, we are looking for someone who wants to conduct the research project entitled “Hype or harm: Exploring the portrayal and impact of anti-obesity medications on social media and actions to protect people from harmful content”.

Project objectives

Since the introduction of anti-obesity medications (AOMs) – concerns have been raised about social media’s role in popularizing these new medications. While much is still unknown about AOMs, social media seem to present a glorified view of them, often containing misinformation and (prohibited) marketing. Yet, as these concerns are largely anecdotal, this project aims to explore:

(1) how AOMs are portrayed on social media and how this affects social media users’ perceptions of AOMs, a healthy diet, and obesity

(2) actions to protect people from harmful AOM content.

Team composition

We are seeking an enthusiastic researcher, with strong quantitative and qualitative methodological skills, who is interested in working in a multi-disciplinary team. The post-doc will work together with UvA researchers from Communication Science (Monique Alblas, Saar Mollen, Eline Smit), Public and Occupational Health (Luc Hagenaars, Coosje Dijkstra) and Health Law (Bastiaan Wallage), as well as our VU Amsterdam partner from medical practice (Bibian van der Voorn). The postdoctoral researcher will collaborate with two research assistants, as well as with several external partners (Partnership Overweight Netherlands, Keuringsraad Aanprijzing Gezondheidsproducten, Health and Youth Care Inspectorate, Netherlands Nutrition Centre).

All about this vacancy

What are you going to do

This project consists of two work packages (WPs), with the following tasks:

WP1: How are AOMs portrayed on social media, and how does this impact social media users’ perceptions of AOMs, a healthy diet, and obesity?

  • Scraping of social media content about AOMs and analyzing textual and visual content with supervised machine learning.

  • Conducting focus groups with social media users to understand how this content may shape beliefs and attitudes about AOMs, a healthy diet, and obesity.

  • For this WP, the postdoc will work together with a junior researcher appointed at the department of Public and Occupational Health.

WP2: How can we protect people from harmful AOM social media content?

  • Developing an advisory report on potential legal regulations

  • Developing and pilot testing communication interventions to protect people from harmful AOM content.

  • For this WP, the postdoc will work together with a junior researcher appointed at the department of Health Law.

What do you have to offer

You are:

  • Intellectually curious and eager to learn;

  • Passionate about making a difference through your research;

  • Willing to learn and think across disciplines and integrate knowledge from different academic disciplines;

  • A team player with strong interpersonal skills for building contact with colleagues and (external) stakeholders.

You have:

  • A PhD in Communication Science, Media studies, Psychology, Health Sciences, Computational Social Sciences or a related discipline;

  • Scientific creativity and productivity, as demonstrated in recent publications in international peer-reviewed journals and presentations at peer-reviewed conferences;

  • Sound knowledge of and skills in (advanced) quantitative and qualitative research, and preferably knowledge of computational social science methods (e.g., supervised machine learning);

  • An interest in interdisciplinary social scientific research;

  • The ability to work both independently and as part of a team;

  • An excellent written and spoken command of English (Dutch is a pre);

  • The willingness to adhere to the principles of Open Science.

 

What do we offer you

We offer a temporary contract (18 months; 30.4 hours a week). The intended start date for this position is 1-5-2025.

All about this vacancy

What are you going to do

This project consists of two work packages (WPs), with the following tasks:

WP1: How are AOMs portrayed on social media, and how does this impact social media users’ perceptions of AOMs, a healthy diet, and obesity?

  • Scraping of social media content about AOMs and analyzing textual and visual content with supervised machine learning.

  • Conducting focus groups with social media users to understand how this content may shape beliefs and attitudes about AOMs, a healthy diet, and obesity.

  • For this WP, the postdoc will work together with a junior researcher appointed at the department of Public and Occupational Health.

WP2: How can we protect people from harmful AOM social media content?

  • Developing an advisory report on potential legal regulations

  • Developing and pilot testing communication interventions to protect people from harmful AOM content.

  • For this WP, the postdoc will work together with a junior researcher appointed at the department of Health Law.

What do you have to offer

You are:

  • Intellectually curious and eager to learn;

  • Passionate about making a difference through your research;

  • Willing to learn and think across disciplines and integrate knowledge from different academic disciplines;

  • A team player with strong interpersonal skills for building contact with colleagues and (external) stakeholders.

You have:

  • A PhD in Communication Science, Media studies, Psychology, Health Sciences, Computational Social Sciences or a related discipline;

  • Scientific creativity and productivity, as demonstrated in recent publications in international peer-reviewed journals and presentations at peer-reviewed conferences;

  • Sound knowledge of and skills in (advanced) quantitative and qualitative research, and preferably knowledge of computational social science methods (e.g., supervised machine learning);

  • An interest in interdisciplinary social scientific research;

  • The ability to work both independently and as part of a team;

  • An excellent written and spoken command of English (Dutch is a pre);

  • The willingness to adhere to the principles of Open Science.

 

What do we offer you

We offer a temporary contract (18 months; 30.4 hours a week). The intended start date for this position is 1-5-2025.

Your place at the UvA

At this department you will be working

 

You will be working in the Persuasive Communication (PersCom) programme group of the Department of Communication Science.

PersCom is a relatively young programme group, where new colleagues are warmly welcomed. As part of PersCom, you have the opportunity to take part in monthly research meetings, join the persuasion and consumer empowerment chair group and its bi-weekly meetings, and participate in our monthly PersCom lunches.

You will also become part of the Amsterdam Center for Health Communication (ACHC; www.healthcommunication.nl). The ACHC organizes bi-annual symposia for health communication scholars and professionals and has an active external communications team. Via these means, we aim to improve health and well-being through the implementation of scientific research into effective health communication.

 

 

 

About the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG) is the largest educational and research institution in the field of social and behavioural sciences in Europe. Here, we explore societal and human-centered issues, driven by scientific curiosity but also with an eye for current themes. For example, the impact of media and communication on individuals and society, healthcare challenges, global urbanization, human development, the role of political institutions, understanding the human mind, growing inequality, diversity issues, and changing social relationships.
In Europe and beyond, the FMG holds a leading position, thanks in part to its more than 1,300 staff members who contribute to education and research. Will you be one of them?
Read more about the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Your place at the UvA

This is where you will be working

At this department you will be working

 

You will be working in the Persuasive Communication (PersCom) programme group of the Department of Communication Science.

PersCom is a relatively young programme group, where new colleagues are warmly welcomed. As part of PersCom, you have the opportunity to take part in monthly research meetings, join the persuasion and consumer empowerment chair group and its bi-weekly meetings, and participate in our monthly PersCom lunches.

You will also become part of the Amsterdam Center for Health Communication (ACHC; www.healthcommunication.nl). The ACHC organizes bi-annual symposia for health communication scholars and professionals and has an active external communications team. Via these means, we aim to improve health and well-being through the implementation of scientific research into effective health communication.

 

 

 

About the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG) is the largest educational and research institution in the field of social and behavioural sciences in Europe. Here, we explore societal and human-centered issues, driven by scientific curiosity but also with an eye for current themes. For example, the impact of media and communication on individuals and society, healthcare challenges, global urbanization, human development, the role of political institutions, understanding the human mind, growing inequality, diversity issues, and changing social relationships.
In Europe and beyond, the FMG holds a leading position, thanks in part to its more than 1,300 staff members who contribute to education and research. Will you be one of them?
Read more about the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Important to know

Your application & contact

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application by 24 March. You may apply online by using the link below.

Applications should include:

  • a curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages);

  • a publication list, including links to the publications;

  • a letter of motivation (max. 1 page).

The first interviews for this position will be held on Wednesday April 2, 2025.

Do you have any questions, or do you require additional information? Please contact:

Dr. Monique Alblas, Assistant Professor Persuasive Communication, email: [email protected]

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

As an employer, the UvA maintains an equal opportunities policy. We value diversity and are fully committed to being a place where everyone feels at home. We nurture inquisitive minds and perseverance and allow room for persistent questioning. With us, curiosity and creativity are the prevailing culture.
Read more

Important to know

Your application & contact

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application by 24 March. You may apply online by using the link below.

Applications should include:

  • a curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages);

  • a publication list, including links to the publications;

  • a letter of motivation (max. 1 page).

The first interviews for this position will be held on Wednesday April 2, 2025.

Do you have any questions, or do you require additional information? Please contact:

Dr. Monique Alblas, Assistant Professor Persuasive Communication, email: [email protected]

As an employer, the UvA maintains an equal opportunities policy. We value diversity and are fully committed to being a place where everyone feels at home. We nurture inquisitive minds and perseverance and allow room for persistent questioning. With us, curiosity and creativity are the prevailing culture.

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