The department of Communication Science of the faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is looking for a full professor Communication in the Digital Society.

Communication Science at the UvA focuses on production, content, uses and consequences of communication in informing, persuading, and entertaining citizens in social, organizational, and interpersonal contexts. The approach is interdisciplinary: core communication science theories and methods are combined with theories and methods from other social and behavioral sciences. Research and teaching are organized along the lines of four program groups: Corporate Communication, Persuasive Communication, Political Communication & Journalism, and Youth & Media Entertainment. In response to the changes in media use and communication, Communication Science at the UvA has started the so-called Communication in the Digital Society Initiative (DSI) to consolidate, accelerate and expand research and teaching on the most urgent issues of today’s society regarding the impact of digitalization for the way we learn, work, enjoy and connect with others. New media technologies deploy behavioral (‘big’) data and artificial intelligence for (algorithm-based) communication (e.g., computer-generated messaging, programmatic advertising, robot journalism), virtual and augmented reality, social media, mobile apps, and conversational agents (e.g., robots, chatbots, virtual assistants).

What are you going to do

The chairholder in Communication in the Digital Society will be situated in one of the four program groups depending on her/his expertise. The chair’s research agenda will have to correspond to one or more of the research lines of Amsterdam School of Communication Research/ASCoR and contribute to the expansion of the Communication in the Digital Society Initiative aims.

The chairholder:

• applies communication science theories in the context of communication in digital societies;
• makes important contributions to the development of the ASCoR research program by conducting, initiating and supervising research about the role of (emerging) digital communication and media technologies and its consequences;
• organizes teaching in the field of Communication science in the Digital Society and teaches in all curricula at the Bachelor and Master Level. The Master program and the Research Master program are taught in English, the Bachelor program in English and Dutch. Teaching at the Bachelor level is considered an important part of the teaching tasks. 
• supervises and evaluates Bachelor and Master theses;
• participates in committees, groups and projects;
• fulfils management tasks;
• develops a collaborative research agenda, obtains (individual and/or consortium-based) research funding, and completes research projects;
• manages academic teams, and is qualified to serve in the senior management positions in the Department, College, Graduate School and Research Institute;
• contributes to the general curriculum of Communication Science.

What do we require

The candidate:

• has a PhD, preferably in Communication Science or in a related social behavioral science;.
• has a broad knowledge of communication science in general, as for example shown in previous research and teaching activities;
• has a profound knowledge of, and a strong research track record and experience in, one but preferably multiple specific topics that are related to Communication in the Digital Society, notably about the role of (emerging) digital communication and media technologies in society and its consequences;
• has affinity with innovative research methods and is able to devise novel research designs to study communication phenomena in digital environments. This includes affinity with computational and/or other data collection and research methods to study the antecedents, contents, and consequences of communication within the digital society. 
• is a recognized authority and experienced teacher and researcher in topics that fit with the Communication Science curriculum and research program;
• is able to motivate and inspire a diverse team of researchers across different communication science topics, and has strong collaborative skills to create and implement a broad and inclusive research and teaching Digital Society program; 
• has a strong empirical-analytical research profile;
• has collaborations with disciplines substantively and methodologically relevant to the Digital Society (e.g., Computer Science, (Digital) Humanities, Law) and/or societal partners;
• has a good publication record as proven by publications in prominent communication science journals;
• has a good record of acquiring (individual and/or collaborative) research grants;
• demonstrates successful coaching of junior faculty, including research grants;
• conducts research that has a proven impact on society and has an agenda for the valorization of communication science in society;
• has completed (co) supervision of at least two PhD candidates with a good final result;
• speaks English and Dutch fluently or is willing to learn Dutch;
• is willing to commit to the further development of open science;
• has a network and/or is an active member in the global communication science community or related communities.
• shows good leadership in education and/or research, has demonstrable experience in leading (parts of) a chair, teaching or research institute or capacity group and is able to guide change processes;
• has a cross-curricular role and didactic perspective on communication science and is able to fulfil a cross-curricular role;
• is capable of providing a stimulating teaching, research, and management role, for instance as member of the Management Team (Department Chair, ASCoR Director, and/or Director of the Graduate School or College).

Our offer

The position concerns an appointment of 38 hours per week. The starting date is negotiable. For this position the University Job Classification profile Professor-2 (HL2) applies. Depending on your experience, the minimum salary is €5,843 and the maximum salary is €8,508 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, in keeping with salary scale H2, as per the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities.

We also offer an extensive package of secondary employee benefits, including a generous holiday scheme, 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.

The UvA offers excellent opportunities for professional development and education.

What else do we offer

• A position in which initiative and input are highly valued.
• An enthusiastic and warm department that is open to new colleagues.
• An inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.

About us

With more than 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students, Communication Science is among the biggest departments at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). The College of Communication and the Graduate School of Communication offer a Bachelor and Master program, a European joint degree program in Journalism and a Research Master, the only of its kind in the Netherlands.

Ours is a challenging work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organization. The social and behavioral sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

To work at the UvA is to work in a discerning, independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterized by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society. 

Questions

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• Julia van Weert, chair of the department of Communication Science

Job application

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application/motivation letter and resume by 14 November 2021.

You may apply online by using the link below.

Applications in .pdf should include:

• a curriculum vitae;
• a letter of motivation.

Apply now