KU Leuven is one of Europe's leading academic institutions. Thanks to its cutting-edge research, KU Leuven is a founding member of LERU, has repeatedly been ranked among Europe's most innovative universities, and is among the top universities in Europe. Within KU Leuven, the Media, Information and Persuasion (MIP) Lab is a leading research group in the field of media, information and persuasion. The lab focuses on how digital media and persuasive technologies shape the behaviour, attitudes and well-being of citizens, with particular attention to the societal and democratic implications of these developments. Its research addresses, among other topics, disinformation, political communication, social media, algorithms, public opinion and consumer behaviour.
Prof. Dr. Brahim Zarouali is part of the MIP Lab. His research focuses on digital influence, social media effects, political communication and democracy. He is a member of the Young Academy of Belgium (Jonge Academie) and currently supervises several PhD projects within his research line on AI, digital influence and democratic resilience. Prof. Dr. Brahim Zarouali will act as the supervisor of this PhD position.
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Project
We are recruiting a motivated PhD researcher for an innovative project on the role of generative AI in how citizens access political information. Generative AI systems such as ChatGPT and Claude have rapidly become a ubiquitous source of information. Increasingly, people also consult these systems for political purposes: to make sense of societal issues, compare positions, or orient themselves in political debate. In doing so, generative AI systems are becoming a new political information source, with significant opportunities and risks for our democratic society. From a communication science perspective, this project investigates who uses these systems, how political dialogue unfolds in real human-AI interactions, and with what consequences for political attitudes and behaviour.
The project adopts a multi-method approach, including survey research, qualitative interviews, data donation and longitudinal research. You will work within a dynamic research team and contribute to scientifically rigorous and societally relevant insights on AI and democracy. The PhD will result in a series of international, peer-reviewed publications and a doctoral dissertation. The concrete research design will be further developed in consultation with the supervisor.
In addition to the research, the PhD researcher will also provide limited service to the faculty (e.g. exam invigilation, SID-in study information fairs, and similar activities).
Profile
The ideal candidate:
• Holds a master's degree in communication sciences, political science, sociology, psychology or a related discipline (or will obtain it before the start date);
• Has a demonstrable interest in the intersections of digital media, AI, political communication and democracy;
• Has a strong foundation in quantitative research methods and data analysis (e.g. SPSS, R, Python);
• Is willing to further develop digital and computational methods (e.g. data donation, automated text analysis);
• Can combine academic writing with the formulation of societally and policy-relevant insights;
• Works independently but is also a team player within an interdisciplinary and international research environment;
• Has an excellent command of academic English; a good knowledge of Dutch is a strong asset given the data collection in Flanders.
Offer
• You will initially receive a 1-year contract, which is extended to a total of 4 years after positive evaluation.
• Your salary and benefits follow the KU Leuven salary scales for PhD researchers and are competitive by international standards.
• You will be enrolled in KU Leuven's Doctoral Programme in the Social Sciences, where, alongside your research, you develop a broad range of academic and professional skills.
• You will be part of a dynamic, international research team (MIP Lab) and receive intensive support in building your scientific career.
• You contribute to collective responsibilities of the research group (such as educational services, team meetings, research proposals, supervision of bachelor and master students, invigilating exams, student recruitment activities, etc.)
• Support and budget are available for (international) conference participation, methodological training and knowledge valorisation.
• Start date: 1 October 2026, which can be adjusted in consultation with the supervisor if needed.
Interested?
Interested candidates are asked to submit the following documents:
• CV
• A motivation letter explaining your background and interest in an academic career (max. 2 pages)
• A sample of your academic writing (e.g. your master's thesis or a paper)
For more information, please contact Prof. Dr. Brahim Zarouali ([email protected]).
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
