PhD Researcher in Generative AI, Political Communication and Democracy KU Leuven in United Kingdom

KU Leuven is recruiting a PhD Researcher in Generative AI, Political Communication and Democracy within the Media, Information and Persuasion (MIP) Lab, a leading research group focused on how digital media and persuasive technologies shape citizens’ behaviour, attitudes and well-being, with strong attention to disinformation, political communication, social media, algorithms and public opinion.

This PhD project examines the role of generative AI systems such as ChatGPT and Claude in how citizens access and interpret political information. The project asks who uses these systems for political purposes, how political dialogue unfolds in real human-AI interactions, and what consequences this has for political attitudes and behaviour. It is designed as a communication science project with clear democratic relevance, exploring both the opportunities and risks of AI as a new source of political information.

The research will use a multi-method design, including survey research, qualitative interviews, data donation, and longitudinal research. The concrete design will be developed further in consultation with the supervisor. The successful candidate will work in a dynamic, international research environment and contribute to a series of peer-reviewed publications as well as a doctoral dissertation.

The supervisor is Prof. Dr. Brahim Zarouali, whose work focuses on digital influence, social media effects, political communication and democracy. He will supervise the PhD within his research line on AI, digital influence and democratic resilience.

The position is based at KU Leuven in Leuven, Belgium. The appointment starts with a 1-year contract and is extended to a total of 4 years after positive evaluation. The PhD researcher will also take part in limited faculty service and broader collective responsibilities within the research group.

Eligibility highlights include a master’s degree in communication sciences, political science, sociology, psychology or a related discipline; strong quantitative and data analysis skills; openness to computational methods such as automated text analysis and data donation; strong academic English; and knowledge of Dutch as a valuable asset for data collection in Flanders.

Application deadline: 2026-08-05 23:59 (Europe/Brussels). Applicants should submit a CV, a motivation letter, and a sample of academic writing. For further information, contact Prof. Dr. Brahim Zarouali at [email protected].