PhD student Digital News Audiences and Policy Analysis

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike. 

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located. 

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again. 

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

2 - Position description

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Department Communication Sciences, Research Group Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology is looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant. 

More concretely your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate, contains: 

You conduct research with a view to obtaining a manuscript- or article-based doctorate.

Research:

News Audiences and Digital Media

You will conduct research within the domain of news audiences and digital media, and develop expertise in audience research methods.

We welcome research into how citizens navigate an increasingly complex, fragmented and distributed news media environment. This includes examining how people encounter, consume and engage with news across digital platform s, social media and new technologies. SMIT seeks to develop research on new meda and technology in the field of Communication Sciences that is expertise-driven, collaborative, and with a high societal impact, aiming at making technology society-proof.

As such, your work will be embedded in the research group SMIT, Studies on Media, Innovation and Technology, and  more precisely within the research unit NUSE, News: Uses, Strategies and Engagements.

Particular attention may be paid to the changing role of intermediaries such as platforms, algorithms and generative AI technologies in shaping news provision, visibility and public understanding. The research may also examine the growing role of influencers and content creators as news providers within digital information environments. It may further investigate whether and how people learn about current affairs from these platforms, how trust and credibility are negotiated online, and how digital environments influence citizens’ relationship with current affairs information and participation.

In doing so, we expect the use of quantitative and/or qualitative research methods, such as:

• Surveys: Designing and analysing surveys to examine news consumption habits, platform use, trust in news, perceptions of generative AI, and learning outcomes among different audience groups;
• Computational methods: Using computational methods to analyse online behaviour, platform interactions, recommendation systems, engagement patterns or other forms of digital trace data relevant to news exposure and consumption;
• Qualitative interviews: Conducting interviews to obtain in-depth insights into how citizens experience getting news online, navigate information environments and understand the role of new technologies in news provision;

At the start of the doctoral work, you will further elaborate the doctoral theme and research tasks in consultation with the supervisor and, if applicable, the co-supervisor(s).

Education:

You will be involved in the teaching of the department and in particular for the guidance of the exercise sessions for:

• Policy Analysis: you support students in learning how to gather and analyse qualitative and
  quantitative data, documents and media content, and digital data and help them with the
  application of analytical tools;
• Seminar current issues: you support students in understanding and reflecting on current
  issues in the field of communication sciences;
• Bachelor papers: you coach students in writing their bachelor paper.

You will contribute to the daily functioning of the department.

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base. 

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

• You obtained a master degree in Communication, Political or Social Sciences, including International Relations, International Politics or International Journalism.

• You have an excellent knowledge of English. Knowledge of Dutch is a plus;
• You are an enthusiastic teacher and a motivated researcher;

• You have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months.

• As a (non-)EEA national, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here.

The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship, for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date 01/02/2027. After that, the appointment can be extended for a further 24 months under a different employment status. 

You’ll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government.

IMPORTANT: The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:

• Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
• An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike; 
• A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
• Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in  all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques; 
• Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps; 
• The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
• And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?

Then apply, at the latest on 22/06/2026, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents:

• your CV;
• your motivation letter;
• your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni).

Our application process is as follows (subject to change):

• step 1: an initial selection based on your application file; 
• step 2: a job interview.

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact prof. dr. Ike Picone at ike.picone@vub.be.

Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be, and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.

Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-university.eu, and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.