PhD Mediated Sciences: How Social Media Impacts Climate Communication Practice Utrecht University in Netherlands

This PhD position at Utrecht University’s Department of Media and Culture Studies investigates how social media platforms shape the communication of academic knowledge about climate change and its consequences. The project is part of the Vidi team-project 'Mediated Science: Expanding How We Study Social Media’s Influence on Climate Disinformation', led by Dr Donya Alinejad. The research focuses on the experiences, practices, and ideas of science communicators who use platforms such as X and LinkedIn to share climate and sustainability knowledge, with case studies situated in the Dutch context across commercial, academic, and journalistic sites.

The project aims to understand how platform features like engagement analytics and interface affordances influence communicators’ norms and content creation, and how practitioners uphold science’s public credibility amid attention economies that incentivize disinformation. The rise of social media has multiplied science communication actors and challenged traditional communicators, making this research timely and societally relevant.

As a PhD candidate, you will conduct high-quality empirical and analytical research, publish in international peer-reviewed journals, present findings at conferences, organize academic events, engage with societal stakeholders, contribute to public communication strategies, and manage your project under the supervision of the team. You will participate actively in the intellectual life of the research group, including seminars, reading groups, and collaborative writing.

Required qualifications include a completed (Research) Master’s degree in Media Studies, Communication and Information Studies, Media Anthropology, or a closely related field, experience with qualitative research methods, demonstrated excellence in independent academic research, interest in critical platform studies, excellent academic writing and presentation skills, event organization experience, ability to work independently and collaboratively, proactive and organized work attitude, and excellent command of both English and Dutch. Preferred qualifications are familiarity with short-term ethnography, interdisciplinary research, communication with broader audiences, affordance analysis, and sustainability themes.

The offer includes a full-time position for up to four years, with an initial 18-month contract and extension upon successful assessment. The gross monthly salary ranges from €3,059 to €3,881, with 8% holiday pay, 8.3% year-end bonus, pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, flexible terms of employment, professional development opportunities, and access to sports and cultural activities. Employment conditions can be tailored through Utrecht University’s Terms of Employment Options Model.

Utrecht University is committed to diversity, inclusion, and creating a safe environment for all staff and students. The Faculty of Humanities comprises four knowledge domains and aims to contribute to a better understanding of the Netherlands and Europe in a rapidly changing context. The department supports staff development and interdisciplinary collaboration, studying a wide range of media and cultural expressions.

PhD candidates are members of the Institute for Cultural Inquiry (ICON) and are embedded in the Graduate School of Humanities, which offers seminars and courses to enhance academic skills. The starting date for the position is 1 September 2026. The application deadline is 21 May 2026. For more information, contact Dr Donya Alinejad. To apply, submit your CV, motivation letter, and writing sample via the application link. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to develop a research proposal and invited for interviews on 1st and 2nd July 2026.