We are looking for a motivated and collegial postdoctoral researcher who meets the following criteria:
1. You have recently obtained a PhD in Communication Sciences or related.
2. Your research engages with or complements the research agenda of MIP Lab. You will work in close collaboration with the Head of the Lab, actively contributing to its strategic development and external visibility.
3. You have an excellent academic track record, demonstrated by publications in international, peer-reviewed, high-impact journals.
4. You have substantial experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods and a strong affinity with theory-building in the social sciences.
5. You have experience in teaching at the Bachelor’s and/or Master’s level and are eager to contribute to educational innovation.
6. You demonstrate strong organizational and project management skills.
7. You are a reliable team player who enjoys working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and international environment.
8. You have excellent communication skills in English (written and spoken) and preferably also in Dutch.
The appointment to this key role as research manager within MIP Lab will be made in close consultation with members of the research group. With regard to research support and development within MIP Lab, these are the main objectives:
9. The primary objective is to initiate and coordinate joint research proposals—e.g., to the FWO and European funding bodies. By securing external funding, the aim is to develop a coherent and collaborative research agenda aligned with the core themes of MIP Lab.
10. A second objective is to strengthen the research output of the group through the publication of peer-reviewed articles in international journals. This will involve research and collaboration with MIP Lab colleagues.
11. A third aim is to serve as an enthusiastic and integrative force within the team, fostering strong connections between senior and junior staff and encouraging a collaborative research environment.
12. Finally, the position includes contributing to academic service (e.g., peer review, committee work) and outreach initiatives that promote the visibility and impact of MIP Lab’s research.
The teaching responsibilities associated with this position will be carried out within the various undergraduate and graduate programmes coordinated by the Department of Communication Sciences, in close consultation with the programme director. These duties include:
13. Responsibility for about two course units, including delivering lectures and/or leading working groups, assessing students, and overseeing course-related activities in alignment with official course descriptions. The candidate must be able to teach in English and, preferably, also in Dutch.
14. Supervision of approximately 10 master's theses, aligned with the candidate’s areas of expertise.
15. In collaboration with the department’s other two research groups—Media Psychology Lab and Media Policy & Culture Lab—the candidate will help organize seminars, lectures, or other academic events for the broader Department of Communication Sciences.
KU Leuven is a leading research-intensive university consistently ranked among Europe’s top institutions. As Belgium’s largest university in terms of research funding and output, KU Leuven combines academic excellence with societal engagement. It is a founding member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and promotes international, interdisciplinary, and inclusive research environments. The postdoctoral position as research manager will be embedded in the Media, Information & Persuasion Lab (MIP Lab), a newly formed, internationally-oriented research unit within the Department of Communication Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences. Members of the group are committed to rigorous and interdisciplinary research on the role of media, information and persuasion in a complex and dynamic society. MIP Lab addresses a wide range of contemporary societal challenges, from the impact of disinformation and fact-checking, to the role of social media and algorithms in society, the influence of political advertising on voting behaviour, and the promotion of healthier eating habits through food labelling and packaging. By continuously seeking innovative ways to approach these diverse research topics, the MIP Lab provides not only ground-breaking scientific insights, but also practical recommendations for policymakers, communication professionals and the wider public. In doing so, MIP Lab helps to identify ways in which media – both traditional and digital – can be used more effectively to, for example, promote positive behavioural change, improve health, increase political engagement and restore trust in the news media. Ultimately, MIP Lab’s mission is to ensure the sustainability of the digital media ecosystem and its vital role in fostering an informed and critically engaged society.
We offer a postdoc position (0.8 FTE) in research and teaching at the Media, Information & Persuasion Lab that provides an inspiring, intellectually challenging and international environment. The postdoc position starts with a 1-year contract that preferably starts on 8 September 2025 and can be extended for a second year. Salary and benefits are in line with the university salary scales for post-doctoral staff (salary scale 44).