It has become increasingly easy to efficiently produce realistic deepfakes using AI. We may be able to use this technology for charisma training for managers. In this research project, we aim to develop and test an online charisma training. We create personal, charisma-enhanced deepfakes, where a trainee is showing highly charismatic behaviour, and incorporate them in the training.
As a postdoc, you design and conduct two large, experimental studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the training. You assess if incorporating charisma-enhanced deepfakes increases the aspiration levels, motivation, and learning of junior managers. You also work with us to bring science-based training to the (aspiring) managers who may benefit from it. Finally, you may be asked to assist in teaching related to this project for maximum 0.1 fte.

The project is supervised by Dr Wendy Andrews. You will be part of the Organisational Psychology Section which is embedded in the department of Experimental and Applied Psychology and the Institute of Brain and Behaviour Amsterdam at VU Amsterdam. Moreover, you will become a member of the Amsterdam Leadership Lab, our hub for connecting leadership researchers and practitioners.

Your duties
Are you motivated to do research on leadership and novel training methods? Then we would like to get to know you. We expect this ambitious postdoc project to result in several publications: two publications in well-regarded international peer-reviewed journals, a publication in a practice-oriented journal, and a white paper. You also have the opportunity to attend one conference. Your research and conference travel expenses will be reimbursed.
The position is partly funded by the NWO grant "Could it really be me? Using personal deepfakes in charismatic leadership training" and partly by a starters grant. Both grants were awarded to Dr Wendy Andrews (VU Amsterdam).

• you have a PhD in Organizational Psychology, Organizational Behaviour, or closely related discipline
• you have excellent knowledge of methodology and statistics
• you have affinity with leadership and leadership training, and an interest in new technology
• you have excellent command of spoken and written English
• you are available to start per 1 September 2023

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €2.960 (scale 10) per month and a maximum of €4.670 (scale 10, step 7) per month, based on your education and experience. The job profile is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for 1 FTE. The appointment will be for 1 year.

Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as: a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment, 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus, solid pension scheme (ABP), contribution to commuting expenses, and discounts on collective insurances (healthcare- and car insurance).

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor - from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences
The Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences focuses on the broad domain of behaviour and health. Our teaching and research programmes are devoted to current developments in society, from healthy aging to e-health, from juvenile crime to dealing with depression, from training for top athletes to social media as a teaching tool. We are unique in that we combine three academic disciplines: psychology, movement sciences and education.

Working at Behavioural and Movement Sciences means working in an ambitious organization that is characterized by an informal atmosphere and short lines of communication. Our faculty offers tremendous scope for personal development. We employ more than 600 staff members, and we are home to around 3,400 students.