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University of Amsterdam

PhD Position on Emotion-Sensitive AI, Politics and Policymaking University of Amsterdam in Netherlands

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Computer Science

Funding

Paid PhD employment at the University of Amsterdam for 38 hours per week, initially for one year and extendable up to four years total. Gross monthly salary ranges from €3,204 in the first year to €4,051 in the last year, plus 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus; pension and other secondary benefits included.

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026

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Country

Netherlands

University

University of Amsterdam

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Keywords

Computer Science
Sociology
Psychology
Communication Studies
Political Science
Political Communication
Party Politics
Political Psychology
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About this position

PhD position at the University of Amsterdam on the effects of incorporating emotion-sensitive AI into politics and policymaking.

This opening is part of the interdisciplinary A.I. Feels project, which examines how emotion-sensitive AI chatbots used by politicians and civil servants may shape policymaking and democracy. The PhD researcher will work on sub-project 1, focusing on how emotions are expressed in chatbot outputs generated in response to prompts relevant to policymakers.

The project sits at the intersection of political science, psychology, communication studies, sociology, computer science, and quantitative/qualitative methods. The post mentions political psychology, political communication, human-machine communication, interpretivist and constructivist approaches, large-scale quantitative analysis, and emotion detection.

The successful candidate will complete a PhD dissertation based on scientific articles, contribute to project administration, attend seminars and academic events, and teach about 10% of the time. The role is based at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences and includes participation in the AISSR, the Graduate School of Social Sciences, and the Hot Politics Lab.

Eligibility highlights include a completed MA or Research MA in a relevant social science, strong research skills, excellent English, and the ability to work independently and in a team. The post is a paid PhD employment contract for 38 hours per week, initially one year and extendable up to four years, with a gross monthly salary from €3,204 to €4,051 plus holiday allowance and year-end bonus.

Deadline: 30 September 2026. Applicants should submit a CV, motivation letter, and writing sample as separate PDF files through the online application portal.

Funding details

Paid PhD employment at the University of Amsterdam for 38 hours per week, initially for one year and extendable up to four years total. Gross monthly salary ranges from €3,204 in the first year to €4,051 in the last year, plus 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus; pension and other secondary benefits included.

What's required

Completed MA or Research MA in political science, psychology, communication science, computational social sciences, sociology, or a related social science; knowledge of emotions and AI; training in quantitative and qualitative research methods such as large-scale quantitative analysis and emotion detection; willingness to develop additional theoretical and methodological expertise; good research skills demonstrated by MA thesis or publications/assignments; excellent command of English; ability to work independently and in a team; primary residence within commuting distance of the University of Amsterdam during the PhD.

How to apply

Apply online via the vacancy link before 30 September 2026. Submit a CV, a motivation letter explaining how you would study emotions in LLM-generated outputs for policymakers, and a writing sample as separate PDF files. Contact Rosa Sanchez Salgado or Carolin Ischen for questions.

More information can be found here

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