As a postdoctoral researcher, you will conduct research on the existential motives behind the consumption of eudaimonic entertainment, tragic films in particular. This research project itself is part of a larger project financed by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) through its Open Competition in the Social Sciences and Humanities, entitled 'Beyond a fear of death: Exploring the terror management potential of eudaimonic entertainment'. The central research question that guides this larger project is: do people watch tragic films to suppress their fear of death or to conquer it? The specific goal of the postdoc project is to increase understanding of the narrative processes that play a role therein. You will work towards this goal by conducting experimental studies and by developing implicit measures that provide empirical evidence how exactly viewers use entertainment to suppress or overcome their fear of death. You will also be involved in co-supervising the PhD candidate within the larger project, and in organising networking activities with the international project team, the interdisciplinary advisory board, and the larger public.

• You have a PhD in communication and information science, communication science, or social psychology, and preferably also experience as a postdoc in a relevant research domain.
• You are an expert in the field of narrative persuasion, eudaimonic entertainment, or terror management, as evidenced by relevant publications and conference presentations.
• You have demonstrable experience in developing and conducting experimental research.
• You have demonstrable experience in organising symposiums and/or conferences.
• You have demonstrable experience in supervising MA students, and preferably also PhD students.
• You have excellent quantitative data analysis skills.
• You have excellent writing and presentation skills in both Dutch and English.
• You have an affinity for multidisciplinary research, as evidenced by previous courses, conference visits, and/or publications in this field.
• You are inquisitive, flexible, and a team player, capable of researching and embracing topics from various perspectives. You have an affinity for books and/or films.

Fixed-term contract: You will be appointed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2 years.

• Employment: 34 hours per week.
• A maximum gross monthly salary of € 4,978 based on a 38-hour working week (salary scale 11).
• The exact salary depends on the candidate's qualifications and amount of relevant professional experience.
• In addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• Duration of the contract: you will be appointed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2 years.
• The intended start date is 1 May 2020.
• You will be able to make use of our Dual Career Service: our Dual Career Officer will assist with family-related support, such as child care, and help your partner prepare for the local labour market and with finding an occupation.
• Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions?

Radboud University

We want to get the best out of science, others and ourselves. Why? Because this is what the world around us desperately needs. Leading research and education make an indispensable contribution to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. This is what unites the more than 22,000 students and 5,000 employees at Radboud University. And this requires even more talent and collaboration. You have a part to play!

Faculteit der Letteren

The Faculty of Arts employs over 500 academic and support staff in the fields of history and art, languages and cultures, linguistics and information, and communications technology (ICT). Research is embedded in one of the two faculty research institutes: the Centre for Language Studies (CLS) or the Institute for Historical, Literary and Cultural Studies (HLCS). The faculty currently enrols some 2,400 students in three departments: the department of History, Art History and Classics, the department of Modern Languages and Cultures, and the department of Language and Communication. The research will be conducted in the Persuasive Communication research group at the Centre for Language Studies (CLS), Faculty of Arts. You will work at the Department of Communication and Information Studies.