Postdoc Position in Designing for Agency Reducing Digital Overuse in Youth

The Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher on the project Designing for Agency: Theoretical Insights and Evidence-Based Solutions for Reducing Digital Overuse in Youth. The postdoc will theoretically and empirically evaluate (dis)engagement promoting design patterns in social media and cocreate alternative design features with young people.

Join Us in Redesigning Social Media for Youth

As a Postdoctoral Researcher (304 hours) you will play a crucial role in the project Designing for Agency. Your work will involve evaluating design patterns that promote or hinder engagement on social media platforms and collaborating with young people to develop alternative features. You will join a team dedicated to understanding and improving digital well-being among adolescents by focusing on how digital spaces can be designed that support youth development.

In this project you will (co)author a theoretical review that provides a systematic overview of current developments in UX design aimed at curbing engagement or promoting disengagement. This review will also encompass (media-) psychological theories to understand the impact and mechanisms through which these design features are expected to work. The review will serve as the foundation for empirical work testing the identified mechanisms and evaluating leverage points for promoting agency in young people through experimental studies.

This project is part of the Youth and Media Entertainment program group which has a longstanding tradition of studying social media and young people. We expect postdoctoral researchers to actively collaborate within the group by attending project meetings assisting with ongoing projects and supporting colleagues in organizing events to share the workload and increase the impact of our academic work. The co-PI on this team is Dr Helen Vossen and the cocreation process which is scheduled for the final year of this project will be supported by Dr Lara Schreurs (KULeuven).

What are you going to do

• Conduct a literature review including a social media feature analysis.
• Evaluate the impact of (dis)engagement design features.
• Design and implement intervention studies.
• Collaborate with adolescents in co-creation sessions.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals.

What do you have to offer

• You have a PhD in in Communication Science Media Psychology or Developmental Psychology when combined with a media effects angle.
• You are skilled in both theoretical and empirical research with a demonstrated interest in media effects research.
• You can work independently and as part of a team.
• You are creative proactive and can manage multiple tasks.
• You keep calm under pressure and meet deadlines.
• You have a strong commitment to open science principles

What else do we offer you

• A fully funded 0.8FTE postdoctoral appointment for initially 12 months and a 24 month extension following a positive evaluation after the first year. Thus this is a temporary position of maximum three years.
• Depending on the candidate and needs of the department a 0.2FTE teaching contract alongside this post-doctoral appointment can be discussed.
• An enthusiastic and warm team that is open to new colleagues
• A position in which initiative and input are highly valued
• Contribution to academic articles for publication in high-impact scientific journals and presenting them at national/international conferences.

You will work here

The team is embedded within the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences University of Amsterdam. ASCoR brings together experts across four program groups - Persuasive Communication; Corporate Communication; Political Communication & Journalism; and Youth & Media Entertainment - to advance interdisciplinary research on how media and technology shape society.

For this project you will be officially embedded in the Youth & Media Entertainment (YME) program group. YME focuses on the role of emerging technologies in everyday life with a special emphasis on how these phenomena affect young populations across the globe. At ASCoR and within YME you will join a dynamic supportive research community that values collaboration innovation and real-world impact. Based in Amsterdam a vibrant international hub you will engage with stakeholders across academia industry and societal stakeholders to work towards more responsible social media spaces.

If you recognize yourself in this profile and are interested in the role we look forward to receiving your motivation letter and CV. Please submit your application as a single consolidated PDF (including your cover letter CV one relevant published article and contact details for two academic referees) by the 12th of October 2025.

You can apply via the red button until 12th of October 2025.

Interviews will take place on campus on the 23rd of October. A possible second interview will take place on the 30th of case of equal qualifications internal candidates will be given preference over external candidates. The latest start date for this position is the 5th of January 2026.

For further questions on this position you can contact Dr Sindy Sumter () or Dr Helen Vossen ().