Postdoctoral Researcher in Marketing (Synthetic Data or Misinformation Projects) – 80% Employment Grade University of Basel in Switzerland

The Marketing Group at the University of Basel is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to join their team under the supervision of Professor C. Miguel Brendl. This position offers two distinct project options: Project A focuses on synthetic data for theory-driven behavioral research, exploring how large language models (LLMs) generate responses to psychological experiments and how these compare to human data. The project involves designing theoretically guided prompting strategies and analyzing convergence and divergence between LLM and human responses, with collaboration between behavioral and computer scientists. Project B centers on understanding and countering misinformation, investigating how emotions influence belief in true and false claims, and developing interventions to reduce belief in false information. This project includes designing behavioral experiments, conducting online field studies, and examining the consequences of belief formation, such as social media sharing.

The successful candidate will conduct high-quality research as a co-author within one of the two projects, develop new ideas to advance project aims, contribute to grant proposal development, and engage constructively with colleagues. Teaching responsibilities are limited to 20% and may include grading assignments, preparing course questions, and supervising theses in marketing-related topics. The position is open to candidates who will have completed their PhD by the start date in fields such as behavioral marketing, psychology, experimental economics, quantitative marketing, or computer science. For Project A, experience with natural language processing and computational methods is advantageous, while Project B benefits from experience with behavioral experiments and online field methods. Strong skills in statistical data analysis are required for both projects.

The contract is for two years at 80% employment grade, with the possibility of extension to a third and fourth year based on performance. Additional compensation may be available and discussed with shortlisted candidates. The Marketing Group offers strong interdisciplinary links to psychology and decision sciences, mentoring from Professor Brendl, and a proven placement record for former students and postdocs at leading international business schools. The research environment values careful thinking, conceptual depth, and open discussion.

To apply, candidates should submit their application online, including a CV, a brief letter indicating their preferred project and fit, a research statement, PDFs of research papers and dissertation, and transcripts of all university degrees. Applications will be reviewed starting 5 January 2026 and accepted until the posting is removed. For further information, visit the Marketing Group and Professor Brendl's academic pages.