Post-doctoral Researcher in Psychology (Dehumanization, NLP, and Social Cognition)
SWPS University, a leading non-public academic institution in Poland, invites applications for a post-doctoral researcher position in psychology, based in Warsaw. The university is recognized for its excellence in research, particularly in psychology, and fosters an open, multicultural environment that supports professional and personal growth. This postdoctoral opportunity is situated within the Institute of Psychology and the Center for Research on Social Relations, offering a vibrant, interdisciplinary research setting.
The successful candidate will join a project titled "The Role of Agency and Morality in Dehumanization — an Integrative Perspective," funded by the National Science Centre and led by Professor Magdalena Formanowicz. The project aims to investigate predictors of dehumanization and interventions to reduce it, focusing on agency and morality as key dimensions. Research will involve collaboration with international partners from Israel, Spain, and the United Kingdom, and will address both theoretical and applied aspects of social cognition and group dynamics.
Key responsibilities include conducting research aligned with the grant objectives, collecting and pre-processing large-scale text data from media corpora using ethical and advanced computational methods (e.g., APIs), annotating and analyzing discourse related to ethnic groups, and applying embedding models to study semantic relationships and language change during periods of conflict. The postdoc will also collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, perform statistical analyses, contribute to scientific publications, coordinate with domestic and international partners, and participate in training doctoral students and research assistants.
Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in psychology by the contract start date and demonstrate experience in natural language processing (NLP), text mining, and computational analysis using Python or R. Familiarity with tools such as spaCy, NLTK, and embedding models (word2vec, GloVe, BERT) is essential. Candidates should be adept at working with large text collections, including formal media and social media data, and integrating computational findings with social science theory. English proficiency at B2+ level is required.
The position offers a contract of employment for up to 14 months (ending no later than July 31, 2028), with a monthly gross salary of PLN 11,699. Additional benefits include a laptop, access to research software and literature, professional development opportunities, conference participation, and a comprehensive benefits package (discounts on education and language courses, gym and fitness benefits, private healthcare, and group life insurance).
To apply, candidates must submit an academic CV in English, proof of doctoral degree or expected completion, a cover letter, and a certificate of English proficiency via the online application form. The application deadline is February 15, 2026. For further information, contact Zuzanna Świtalska at [email protected], referencing ref. no. 1139/IP/WWA/26. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews. The position is ideal for researchers interested in the intersection of psychology, computational linguistics, and social cognition, and offers the chance to contribute to impactful, interdisciplinary research in a dynamic academic environment.
