Assistant Professor in Political Communication

We invite you as a driven researcher to lead pioneering research on the front lines of societal division, understanding the Roots of "Reality Polarisation, Extremism, Populism and Conspiracy Belief".

Join the Department of Communication Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The Department of Communication Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is seeking a highly motivated researcher and talented teacher to join an interdisciplinary team, working at the forefront of research on political and social polarisation, extremism, conspiracy belief, intolerance, and related topics. This position is part of a long-term collaboration between Dr. André Krouwel (Communication Science /Political Science) and Prof. Dr. Jan-Willem van Prooijen (Social Psychology), supported by SSH funding. The assistant professor will be embedded in the Political Communication Group at the department of Communication Science.

The Challenge: A World Split into Parallel Realities

Contemporary societies are increasingly defined by fractured political landscapes and profound perception gaps, where groups develop irreconcilable understandings of fundamental facts. These divergences – reality polarisation – extend beyond policy disagreements to challenge the very possibility of a shared reality on issues from public health to social justice. Your research will investigate the communication processes that drive this phenomenon, exploring how factors like economic precarity, cultural change, and social identity are amplified through media ecosystems to shape these conflicting perceptions.

Your Mission: Uncover the Drivers of Division

In this role, you will conduct cutting-edge research that moves beyond traditional political divides and our understanding of ideological and affective polarisation. You will:

• Investigate the core dimensions of reality polarisation: divergent factual beliefs, perceived societal conflicts, and contested structures of discrimination, integrating political, psychological, and communication science perspectives.
• Employ innovative methodologies, combining secondary data analysis with new data collection.
• Collaborate within a vibrant international research network to build novel theory and empirical analysis to examine both structural and attitudinal drivers of societal divisions.
• Examine how this "reality divide" fuels animosity between groups, testing the hypothesis that differing perceptions of reality are a key predictor of out-group hostility.
• Focus on economic precarity, cultural conflicts, and gender disparities in political attitudes, with particular attention to how these factors interact to shape polarisation dynamics across different societal groups and societies.

This role offers the opportunity to collaborate within an international research network, advancing theory and empirical analysis on one of today’s most pressing societal challenges.

Your duties:

As an assistant professor, you will conduct state-of-the-art empirical research and employ cutting-edge methods to investigate (reality) polarisation through:

• Design and implement online panel surveys across multiple (primarily European) countries to study polarisation patterns and trends.
• Secondary analysis of existing panel datasets alongside new data collection, with a focus on longitudinal and cross-national comparisons.
• Development of novel measures to capture polarisation trends, extremism, conspiracy belief and intolerance, integrating political, psychological, and communication science perspectives.
• Advanced survey methodologies, including online panel studies, to examine structural drivers (e.g., economic insecurity, cultural divides) of polarisation and their interaction with political attitudes.
• You will be active in acquiring external research funding as well as develop your own research line within this framework while also contributing to team projects, including joint publications and large-scale data collection. The role offers a unique opportunity to bridge theory and empirics, with access to interdisciplinary networks and high-impact dissemination. We are looking for a real team player who is also able to acquire additional funding for data collection.

Profile

• A completed PhD (or near completion) in Political Science, Social Psychology, Communication Science, Sociology, or a related field.
• Expertise in quantitative methods, including survey research and statistical modelling (e.g., multilevel regression, latent variable analysis), as well as proven skills in data-visualisation.
• Experience with cross-national data collection and analysis is a requirement.
• Strong interest in polarisation, political extremism, conspiracy belief, populism, gender politics, and/or economic insecurity.
• Proficiency in R, Stata, Python, or similar statistical software.
• Excellent academic writing skills and a proven ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals.
• Fluency in English; and preferably also in Dutch, additional European language skills are a plus.

What We Offer

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. In return for your efforts, we offer you:

• Attractive fringe benefits and regulations.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• Solid pension scheme (ABP)
• Optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• Contribution to commuting expenses

About Us

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities aims for a better understanding of ourselves and social communities, values and meaning, through social sciences and humanities. No single discipline can do this alone. The SSH disciplines are characterised by an open way of thinking and the natural urge to seek coherence and connection. The faculty consists of nine academic departments within three schools: School of Religion & Theology (SRT), School of Social Sciences (SSc) and School of Humanities (SH).

By joining Social Sciences and Humanities, you become part of a dynamic academic community with approximately 900 staff members, over 5,000 regular students and more than 5,000 course participants. In an inspiring and collegial environment, we work together on education and research with impact.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research.

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.