PhD Position: Simulation and Modeling

4 weken geleden


Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Nederland Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Voltijd
About the Project

The WHAT-IF project is a European research initiative aimed at creating a digital twin of the social media environment. This involves developing a simulation model to test possible interventions at the individual and societal level. The project focuses on examining the role of misinformation and hate speech, as well as developing solutions to counter their negative effects.

As a PhD researcher, you will be part of the project team and contribute to the development of the methodology and software for running virtual field experiments. This includes turning simulated interactions into an immersive and user-friendly interface that can be used to program and run experiments. You will lead one of the experimental studies and collaborate on others, answering questions on the role of media diets and their effects on democratic outcomes.

Your Role

You will be responsible for assisting in the development of the simulation model, improving the data donation infrastructure, and collaborating with researchers across 10 European countries. You will also contribute to the planning, execution, and publication of the research in leading international journals.

Requirements
  • Completed Master's degree in Political or Computational Communication Science or a related discipline
  • Strong interest in social media usage and its effects on democratic citizenship
  • Strong computational background (Python, R, and/or simulation or front-end development)
  • Knowledge of and experience with empirical field or experimental studies and research designs
  • Good cross-disciplinary team collaboration and oral and written communication skills
What We Offer

A challenging position in a socially involved and highly interdisciplinary organization. The job profile is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for 1 FTE. We offer a salary of € 2.872,00 (PhD) and maximum € 3.670,00 (PhD) gross per month in the fourth year, for a full-time employment. We also offer attractive fringe benefits and arrangements, such as a full-time 38-hour working week, 8% holiday allowance, and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.

About Us

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a research-driven university with a strong focus on social impact. We are committed to creating a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. We believe that diversity and internationalization contribute to the quality of education, research, and our services.

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

How to Apply

Are you interested in this position? Please apply via the application button. In your application, include your curriculum vitae, cover letter, link to your Github page or code, and link to an experiment pre-registration. Applications are accepted until October 27, 2024, at midnight. The job interviews will take place online on November 14, 2024. Preferred starting date is January 1, 2025.



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    About the ProjectThe Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join the WHAT-IF project, a European research initiative focused on creating a digital twin of the social media environment. This innovative project aims to develop a simulation-based approach to test possible interventions at the individual and societal level,...


  • Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Nederland Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Voltijd

    About the ProjectThe Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join the WHAT-IF project, a European research initiative focused on creating a digital twin of the social media environment. This innovative project aims to test possible interventions at the individual and societal level, examining the role of misinformation and...


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