PhD: A deep dive into youth cyberhate

In this PhD project, you will contribute to our understanding of cyberhate. What does it look like, and how does it develop in adolescence? You will examine who might be vulnerable to cyberhate exposure, victimisation, and perpetration based on survey and social media data. You will also study developmental processes, potential consequences, and the role of parents in these processes.

Your job
Cyberhate is a significant global concern. In a recent pilot study with Dutch youth, we found that 8% of youth reported to have friends who sent hateful or threatening messages to politicians online, while approximately 4% admitted doing so themselves. Even more youth are exposed to cyberhate (31-57%) or become a victim (4-16%). Consequences for personal wellbeing can be significant, and there are also concerns for how cyberhate might affect societal cohesion and increase the risk for offline violence. Research is lagging behind on this contemporary challenge, with schools and governments playing catch up on how to appropriately respond.

The PhD project will take a unique, multi-method, and longitudinal approach. The basis for the PhD project will be a longitudinal cohort-study, where three groups of youth (starting ages 10, 13, and 16) will be followed for three consecutive years, with their parents surveyed in the first year as well. Moreover, there will be opportunity to collect and computationally analyse social media data (e.g., Instagram and TikTok activity) from youth, to be able to gain unique insight into what they post and consume online.

This proposed PhD project will form an integral part of a larger longitudinal project on violent youth radicalization and conspiracy belief, conducted by an interdisciplinary team spanning forensic youth care sciences, developmental psychology, sociology, and criminology. An important aspect of this PhD project is the data-collection, which will start in the summer of 2026. You, together with research assistants, will have an important role in ensuring data are collected from youth in schools, including social media data donation. As a PhD candidate, your tasks will include:

• instrument selection;
• setting up the social media data donation in collaboration with experts at Utrecht University;
• examining literature on the topic, reporting results in scientific articles for international journals (which will be compiled into an academic dissertation);
• presenting at (inter)national conferences;
• collaborating with stakeholders;
• attending relevant courses;
• teaching responsibility (+/- 10%), and achieving societal impact of the findings, together with the rest of the team.

You are motivated to contribute to research that is both scientifically rigorous and socially relevant, and you are excited to join an enthusiastic, interdisciplinary team of young researchers. You work well both independently and in collaboration with others, and you bring strong communication and social skills that help you navigate interdisciplinary and applied settings. In addition, you have solid organisational and leadership abilities, enabling you to guide and motivate a team of research assistants. Your excellent project management skills allow you to effectively bridge practical data-collection tasks with broader academic objectives. Additionally, you have:

• a (research) Master’s degree in psychology, pedagogics, criminology, sociology or a related field;
• excellent quantitative research and scientific writing skills, which you can demonstrate;
• experience with data-collection, and/or a strong affinity with or motivation for conducting research in real-life settings (schools, clinics, etc.);
• computational skills to analyse social media data (e.g., with Natural Language Processing, LLMs), and/or a strong motivation to learn these skills;
• excellent oral and written command of Dutch and English.

Furthermore, your suitability is ideally exemplified by a commitment to open science practices. A flexible, open-minded and curious attitude is very much appreciated.

• A position for 12 months, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first 12 months;
• a working week of 28-40 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU);
• 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities (CAO NU).

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is one of the leading faculties in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology, educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences, psychology, and sociology. Almost 7,000 students are enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has some 1,100 faculty and staff members, all providing their individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues. The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park near the historical city centre of Utrecht.