Are you passionate about research and teaching, specialized in the digital society or emerging media technologies in the context of marketing (brand) communication or consumer empowerment, and looking for a challenging job in a dynamic setting? We are looking for an Assistant Professor (evaluation for a permanent contract after 18 months).

The Department of Communication Science invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Persuasive Communication focusing on Marketing Communication in the Digital Society, starting no later than 16 January 2023. As an Assistant Professor, you will be a member of the Persuasive Communication Group which is one of the four program groups in the Department of Communication Science at the University of Amsterdam. The Persuasive Communication program group addresses communication that is intended to achieve specific persuasive goals, as is the case in, for instance, marketing and brand communication, health promotion, and public information campaigns.

The Persuasive Communication research group aims at studying factors that explain the development, reach, processing and effects of professional and consumer-generated messages in marketing- and health communication. We study how people use communication to fulfil their needs in commerce and health, how companies, providers and consumers communicate, and how this influences their attitudes, cognitions and behavior. Our work fits within the ASCoR Research programme. In the coming years, we aim to further understand the key challenges and opportunities that come with digitalization, AI and related developments such as personalization and fragmentation. Our research focuses on the challenges and opportunities it offers to individuals, including manipulation, human-machine communication, algorithmic persuasion, and the increasing importance of influencers. For this position we therefore search for new colleagues who focus on topics that are central to digitalization like AI, algorithms, chat bots, voice assistants, VR, social media etc. The ideal candidate studies such topics in the context of marketing- and brand communication or consumer empowerment. Affinity or experience with using computational methods in your research is a plus.

Courses we teach in the Master’s are the specialization seminars marketing communication and health communication, and electives like brand communication, digital analytics, brands and organizations on social media, persuasion & resistance, and persuasive design. In the Bachelor, we teach the domain module persuasive communication, elective courses about algorithmic persuasion, health communication and content marketing, and graduation projects in which students write their Bachelor thesis. PersCom colleagues are also involved in general communication science courses, and methods courses about experiments, survey, content analysis, or general statistics courses like statistical modelling. More information on these courses can be found here. Most of our courses are organized in tutorials or seminars of approximately 25 students, and are taught by a team of lecturers.

Within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Communication Science offers a Bachelor's and several Master’s degree programmes. With more than 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students, Communication Science is among the largest departments at the University of Amsterdam with an outstanding international reputation. 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. The teaching in our Communication Science program is interdisciplinary and internationally oriented, offering tracks taught in both English and Dutch. The Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) is the research institute for the Communication Science department, and formulated an ambitious Research programme. The Department is the home of the Communication and Digital Society Initiative, the Digital Communications Methods Lab and it participates in several of the University and Faculty Research Priority Areas.

What are you going to do

As an Assistant Professor (40% research 60% teaching), you:

• teach courses in the programmes of the Bachelor and Master communication science in Dutch and/or English, including substantive theoretical coursework and methodological coursework, depending on educational demand (currently we are looking for someone who is able to teach the more marketing communication related courses in our program);
• organize teaching in the field of Persuasive Communication, from first year’s bachelor courses to courses in the master track Persuasive Communication;
• supervise and evaluate Bachelor theses, Master theses and internships;
• conduct research on new media technologies or the digital society in marketing communication, brand communication or consumer empowerment within the ASCoR research program
• take part in outreach and impact activities;
• contribute to and lead applications for external funding;
• participate in committees, groups and projects in the program group Persuasive Communication.

What do we require of you

The job profile is UD (universitair docent), based on the university job ranking system.

You act with attention to quality, integrity and creativity, and:

• have a PhD in Communication Science; Also candidates from related disciplines such as economics, business, marketing, social psychology, consumer behaviour or humanities with knowledge of digital media methods and digital marketing methods are invited to apply.
• have demonstrable experience in academic teaching at BSc and MSc levels;

experience and willingness to teach methods courses about quantitative research methods commonly employed in communication science;

• affinity with or motivation to teach computational methods is a plus;

• have a university teaching qualification (BKO) or are willing to obtain one within two years;
• have developed an empirical-analytical line of research that fits well with and adds to the profile of the program group and the ASCoR Research program as evidenced in publications in prominent communication science journals or journals from related disciplines;
• have expertise on the content/antecedents/use and consequences of emergent media technologies that are central to digitalization like AI, algorithms, chat bots, voice assistants, VR, social media etc. The ideal candidate studies such topics in the context of marketing- and brand communication or consumer empowerment;
• expertise and interest in digital communication methods and digital analytics is a plus;
• have the qualities and plans to apply for competitive grants - demonstrated grant-writing experience is a plus;
• are open to the principles of Open Science;
• are capable to provide a stimulating teaching and research environment and are a good team worker;
• are enthusiastic to carry out service and coordination tasks for the benefit of the program group and Department of Communication;
• have the qualities and plans to contribute to relevant social or scientific impact activities;
• you are not afraid to roll up your sleeves. At times when your work asks a lot of energy, you can motivate both yourself and others to go that extra mile;
• are an active member of the (international) Communication Science community or related communities;
• have proficiency in English and Dutch or the willingness to learn Dutch.

Our offer

We offer a temporary full-time or part-time starting contract for the period of 1.5 years (1 year for internal candidates). Contingent upon positive evaluation and satisfactory performance, you will be offered a permanent contract (tenured) after the starting contract.

Preferred starting date is January 16, 2023.

The gross monthly salary based on full-time employment (38 hours per week) ranges from € 3.821 up to a maximum of € 6.181 (salary scale 11/till scale 12). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The starting salary will be based on qualifications, expertise and relevant experience. The profile assistant professor is applicable in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities.

The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further 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.
• A stimulating research environment, in one of the leading departments in media and communication worldwide.
• Teaching in diverse, multicultural, and engaged cohorts of students.
• An inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.
• Access to some research funds to conduct studies and attend international conferences.

About us

To work at the University of Amsterdam 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. Here you can read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

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

Questions

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

dr. Hilde Voorveld, program group leader Persuasive Communication

E:  h.a.m.voorveld@uva.nl

Would you like to learn more about working at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG)? Visit our website.

Job application

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application by August 30. You may apply online by using the link below.

Applications in one combined .pdf should include:

• a curriculum vitae;
• a letter of motivation;

Preferred starting date of the position is 16 January 2023

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize 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.

If you encounter Error GBB451, reach out to our HR Department directly. They will gladly help you continue your application.

No agencies please.