As a Postdoc researcher, you will get the opportunity to be part of our interdisciplinary and innovative lab led by Prof. Moniek Buijzen. The lab is funded by a Vici Grant by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Digital media technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to improve youth’s well-being, including message personalization, responsive data feedback, and online social network intervention. However, there are also risks involved, such as adverse health effects and breaches of privacy and autonomy. It is our lab’s mission to investigate how we can harness the potential of digital media technology to improve well-being, while minimizing potential risks. Specifically, we focus on effective and responsible health campaigns using online social networks. We strive for a continuous interaction between scientific research and innovative technological applications.

Your role is to contribute to the lab with your expertise and experience in computational methodology and analytical skills. You will have the opportunity to develop your own research line within the lab. Additionally, you will advise and collaborate on the various subprojects of the other team members, including junior and senior scholars from communication science, social psychology, and information law.

The team members will work closely together in reaching the overall objective: developing a framework for effective and responsible behavioural change using social media. Moreover, we will closely collaborate with health practitioners and communication professionals. Are you interested to be involved in our team? Then please write a short research proposal, describing how you would like to contribute to the lab. We are very curious to find out about you, and your thoughts about which study design and analyses you would use. The proposal will not only demonstrate your current research competencies, but also your own ideas for the lab.

This vacancy involves a fixed-term position. However, if you already have a tenured position elsewhere,  possibilities for a temporary secondment (‘detachering’) can be discussed.

What we expect from you:

• A PhD degree in computer and/or social-behavioural sciences (for example, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Behavioural Science, Communication Science).
• Experience with computational (social science) methodology, including for example automated content analysis, social network analysis, agent-based modelling, programming skills.
• Experience with computational (social science) methodology, including for data gathering (e.g. scraping), data storage (e.g. MySQL, Hadoop) and analysis (e.g. automated content analysis agent-based modelling, general programming skills)
• Academic expertise and affinity with digital communication technology.
• Experience in collaborations between computer sciences and social-behavioural sciences
• Excellent research, methodological and statistical skills.
• Good oral and written command of English.
• Team science and open science practices are appreciated

Internationally-oriented and varied work within an enthusiastic team, with attractive fringe benefits in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU). Your initial employment term will be 1 year but this may be extended to 4-year contract if the collaboration proves satisfactory. Your remuneration will depend on the position, your specific knowledge and experience It will be calculated on the basis of full-time salary ranging between EUR 3.637,- and EUR 5.656 gross per month (salary scale 11-12, CAO NU ). Erasmus University Rotterdam offers attractive terms of employment, including a holiday allowance of 8%, a year-end payment of 8.3% and 41 annual leave days in case of a full work week. In addition, EUR takes part in the ABP pension scheme, and we also offer partially paid parental leave. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Moreover, EUR staff members are allowed to make use of the EUR facilities, including the Erasmus sports centre and the University Library. We value diversity and believe that a diversity of talents contributes to our vision and strategy to excel as a university on research and education. This means that we are looking for a person who can complement our team well.

Erasmus University Rotterdam

The Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), named after Rotterdam-born humanist and theologian Erasmus, is a research university with a strong international orientation and a pronounced social focus, both in its education and research activities. On the lively, modern campus, more than 28.000 students and scholars of more than 100 nationalities are constantly encouraged to develop their talents and meet their ambition. Our more than 2700 scientists and employees work together with all our students to solve challenges faced by global society, drawing their inspiration from the consistently dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. The academic education offered at our faculties is intensive, engaging and strongly focused on practical application. We increasingly perform our research in multidisciplinary teams, which are closely interwoven with international networks. In terms of research impact and the quality of its degree programmes, EUR can compete with the foremost universities in Europe, which is reflected in its consistent top-100 position in most major universities rankings. Erasmus University Rotterdam’s key values are daring, curiosity, social involvement, breaking new ground and striving for success www.eur.nl

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB)

The Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) is home to a vast diversity of scientific disciplines: public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College, IHS, and two research institutes RISBO and DRIFT are linked to the faculty. This also reflects in the content of the (international) bachelor's and master's programs and in research.  Our activities are always focused on people and society. At the ESSB fundamental, internationally oriented research is of paramount importance. In addition, social research for professionals, policy makers, and the society is part of our research activities. ESSB offers a stimulating research environment where major national and international research grants are received. Appealing guest researchers and ambitious PhD candidates come along to conduct their research. Our education is small-scale and works with innovative forms of education such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Both the Dutch and English programs are highly ranked by students and alumni. ESSB is home to over 4000 students and more than 400 staff-members. The different disciplines are supported by the Faculty Office (for more information, please visit www.eur.nl/essb).