PhD student Digital News Audiences and Policy Analysis Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Belgium

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) invites applications for a PhD student position in Digital News Audiences and Policy Analysis, based at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Department of Communication Sciences. The successful candidate will join the SMIT research group (Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology), specifically within the NUSE unit (News: Uses, Strategies and Engagements), and contribute to cutting-edge research on how citizens interact with digital news environments.

The research will focus on news audiences and digital media, exploring how people encounter, consume, and engage with news across platforms, social media, and emerging technologies. Topics may include the influence of intermediaries such as platforms, algorithms, and generative AI on news provision and public understanding, as well as the role of influencers and content creators as news providers. The project aims to understand how trust and credibility are negotiated online and how digital environments shape citizens’ relationships with current affairs and participation.

Methodologically, the position welcomes both quantitative and qualitative approaches, including surveys to examine news consumption habits and perceptions, computational methods to analyze online behavior and engagement patterns, and qualitative interviews to gain in-depth insights into citizens’ experiences with digital news. The doctoral theme and research tasks will be further developed in consultation with the supervisor, Prof. Dr. Ike Picone.

In addition to research, the PhD student will participate in departmental teaching activities, supporting exercise sessions in policy analysis, seminars on current issues in communication sciences, and coaching bachelor students in their papers. The role is based at the Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene).

Applicants must hold a master’s degree in Communication, Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, International Politics, or International Journalism. Excellent English proficiency is required; Dutch is a plus. Candidates should be enthusiastic teachers and motivated researchers, and must not have previously held an assistant mandate paid from operating resources for more than 12 months. Non-EEA nationals must meet VUB permit and residence requirements.

The position offers a full-time PhD scholarship for 12 months, extendable up to 48 months upon positive evaluation. The grant is linked to government scales and includes a range of benefits: telework allowance, cost-free hospitalisation insurance, full reimbursement of public transport commute, affordable campus meals, sports facilities, nursery discounts, and access to learning platforms. The planned starting date is 01/02/2027, subject to enrolment as a doctoral student at VUB.

VUB is committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion, reflecting the society it serves. The university offers an open, involved, and diverse workplace with opportunities for career development and work-life balance.

To apply, submit your CV, motivation letter, and diploma (not required for VUB alumni) via jobs.vub.be by 22/06/2026. The selection process includes an initial review of your application file and a job interview. For questions about the job content, contact Prof. Dr. Ike Picone at [email protected]. For more information about VUB and the EUTOPIA alliance, visit jobs.vub.be and eutopia-university.eu.