PhD Student – Digital News Audiences & Policy Analysis

About the role

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) invites applications for a PhD‑student position, funded by a doctoral grant, within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School. The research focuses on digital news audiences, media consumption patterns and the impact of emerging technologies on public information.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct original research on how citizens navigate fragmented digital news environments.
• Develop expertise in audience‑research methods, including surveys, interviews and content analysis.
• Examine the role of platforms, algorithms, generative AI and influencers in shaping news visibility and credibility.
• Design, implement and analyse quantitative and/or qualitative studies on news consumption, trust and engagement.
• Produce scholarly articles or a manuscript‑based dissertation for a PhD degree.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in Communication Sciences, Media Studies, Social Sciences or a related field.
• Strong interest in digital media, news audiences and policy analysis.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research group.
• Excellent analytical and academic writing skills.

Required skills

• Survey design and analysis.
• Quantitative research methods.
• Qualitative research methods.

What we offer

• Doctoral grant covering tuition and a stipend.
• Access to VUB’s research facilities, libraries and interdisciplinary networks.
• Opportunity to publish in high‑impact journals and present at international conferences.
• Mentorship within the SMIT research group and the NUSE unit.