Postdoctoral Researcher in Communication and Media Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic

 

Are you interested in the effects of media use during the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you have affinity with advanced analysis of longitudinal data from large datasets?

 

We are seeking for an ambitious Post doctorate researcher who is interested in media use over time during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to well-being, support of measures, trust and (determinants of) compliance to measures. To stop spreading the corona virus, unprecedented measures have been implemented by public health authorities, including lockdowns, social distancing, and curfews. In this project, you will study the effects of traditional and social media use on mental and physical well-being, support, trust and (determinants of) compliance.

 

You will also answer questions such as these below.

 

• What is the role of interpersonal communication (conversations with others)?
• Are there differences in use and effects between several types of media (e.g., newspapers, RTV, government media, medical sites, social media, etc.)?
• Does the answer to the above questions differ between subgroups?

 

You will use data that is collected by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) Corona Gedragsunit among large amounts of participants during the COVID-19 pandemic in a longitudinal study with 18 waves until now. 

 

What are you going to do?

 

You will be part of the Behavioural Science and Pandemic Preparedness 2.0 consortium, initiated by the Corona Behavioural Unit of the RIVM, with four participating universities. The aim of the consortium is to draw the key scientific lessons from behavioural science data collected during the pandemic. As part of that you will participate in a group of six Postdoctoral researchers, who will work together two to four times per month at the RIVM.

 

You will also receive dedicated training opportunities on topics such as longitudinal and missing data analysis, and on making scientific study results valuable for policy makers and communication professionals. This Post doctorate will be a member of the ‘Persuasive Communication’ programme group at the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) of the UvA.

 

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• developing specific research questions and an appropriate data-analysis plan based on the existing data;
• advanced analysis of longitudinal data from large datasets;
• writing up findings for publication in  academic papers in high-impact scientific journals;
• contributing to policy reports;
• presenting your work at (inter)national conferences.

 

There is a possibility to be involved in teaching in our communication science program, if the candidate would prefer this.

 

What do we require?

 

You have:

 

• a PhD in Communication Science or a related discipline;
• scientific creativity and productivity, as demonstrated in recent publications in international peer-reviewed journals and peer-reviewed conferences;
• a sound knowledge of and skills in advanced quantitative statistics;
• a (proven) 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;
• the willingness to adhere to the principles of Open Science.

 

You are:

 

• intellectually curious and eager to learn;
• passionate about contributing through your research to pandemic preparedness in the future;
• 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.                 

                    

Our offer

 

We offer a temporary part-time contract for 0.8 fte (30.4 hours a week). It is also possible to apply for 0.4 fte (15.2 hours a week). The initial term of employment is for one year. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended by a maximum of 24 months (36 months in total). The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO NU) is applicable.

 

The intended start date for this function is 1 May 2022.

 

The gross monthly salary based on full-time employment (38 hours per week) ranges from €3,821 up to a maximum of €5,230 gross per month (scale 11). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus.

 

About us

 

The Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) is the research institute for the Communication Science department at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

 

We offer a dynamic and inspiring work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for own initiative and further professional development and education.

 

To work at the University of Amsterdam is to work in a discerning, independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterized by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society. Here you can read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

 

Questions

 

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

 

• Prof. Dr. Bas van den Putte, Professor of Health Communication
• Prof. Dr. Julia van Weert, Professor of Health Communication

 

Job application

 

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application before 2 March 2022. You may apply online by using the link below.

 

Applications should include:

 

• a curriculum vitae (including links to publications);
• a letter of motivation.

 

We will invite potential candidates for interviews within two weeks after the closing date.

 

 

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

Apply