Fully-funded PhD Position at the University of Amsterdam-Adolescents and Synthetic Relationships: Risks and Opportunities
PhD Position: “Adolescents and Synthetic Relationships: Risks and Opportunities”
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Department: Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Contract Duration: 4 Years (Initial 1-Year Term)
Start Date: September 2025 (Flexible)
Closing Date for Applications: May 18, 2025
Overview of the PhD Position
The Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) is offering a four-year PhD opportunity as part of the project “Adolescents and Synthetic Relationships: Risks and Opportunities”. This project, embedded within the Youth and Media Entertainment Program Group, will be supervised by Prof. dr. Jochen Peter, Dr. Dominique Wirz, and Dr. Saurabh Khanna.
As digital technology rapidly evolves, adolescents are among the largest groups of users of conversational AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Replica, and Snapchat MyAI. These tools, which allow for the development of synthetic relationships, represent a new frontier in social interaction for young people. This PhD project will explore how adolescents form and develop relationships with these AI tools, examining both the risks and opportunities associated with such relationships and their impact on social development, autonomy, and overall well-being.
The project’s goal is to examine how these synthetic relationships affect adolescents’ social connectedness, their autonomy, and empowerment, while also investigating any negative consequences such as social isolation or loss of autonomy.
Project and Research Goals
The project will consist of four interconnected studies, focusing on different aspects of adolescents’ engagement with conversational AI. These studies include:
- Survey: Establish the prevalence, types, and antecedents of adolescents’ synthetic relationships with conversational AI tools.
- Experiment: Investigate how different characteristics of AI conversations influence the formation of synthetic relationships.
- Panel Survey: Examine the long-term impact of synthetic relationships, particularly whether they foster companionship or isolation.
- Longitudinal Study: Assess whether these relationships empower adolescents or contribute to a loss of autonomy.
Throughout this project, you will be contributing to cutting-edge research at the intersection of communication science and emerging AI technologies, exploring how adolescents interact with AI tools and the potential long-term effects of these interactions.
Role and Responsibilities
As a PhD candidate, you will:
- Lead research efforts in the field of AI-mediated communication, with a specific focus on the impact of conversational AI on adolescents.
- Design and manage research studies, including surveys, experiments, and longitudinal panel studies, collaborating with schools and research teams.
- Pre-test and refine AI tools: You will work on fine-tuning secure, GDPR-compliant AI environments for experiments and surveys.
- Data Collection and Analysis: You will gather data, supervise data collection efforts, and apply advanced quantitative methods to analyze the data.
- Publish findings: You will write and present academic articles, contributing to high-impact scientific journals and international conferences.
- Contribute to the ASCoR community: Participate in research meetings, workshops, and seminars to share insights with fellow scholars.
- Support teaching: Assist in undergraduate teaching activities for up to 10% of your time.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will:
- Hold a (research) master’s degree in communication science, psychology, or a related field (or expect to complete it before September 1, 2025).
- Have methodological experience in quantitative research, particularly in survey design, experiments, and longitudinal data analysis.
- Be passionate about emerging communication technologies and their social consequences, with interest in researching AI and adolescents.
- Possess experience with quantitative statistical analyses; proficiency in Python or R is a plus.
- Have an interest in natural language processing (NLP) and the ability to learn how to work with large language models.
- Be willing to learn and work with secure data collection environments, with an understanding of GDPR compliance.
- Demonstrate proficiency in English; proficiency in Dutch is a plus, but not mandatory.
- Be proactive, organized, and able to work independently as well as within a collaborative team.
What We Offer
- Competitive Salary: Starting salary in line with the university’s collective labor agreement (between €2,901 and €3,707 per month, based on experience).
- Vacation and Benefits: 232 vacation hours per year, plus holiday allowance (8%) and year-end bonus (8.3%). Access to parental leave, partner leave, and more.
- Career Development: Opportunities to develop your professional skills through training courses, conferences, and involvement in open UvA lectures.
- Flexibility: The opportunity to work hybrid, balancing office presence with remote work.
- Guidance and Supervision: A supportive and dynamic team, with regular feedback and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Academic Environment: A stimulating research environment within ASCoR, where collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches are valued.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their application as a single PDF file that includes the following:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Including grade transcripts from bachelor’s and (research) master’s studies.
- Motivation Letter (1 page max): Highlight your interest in the project, why you’re a good fit, and how you meet the selection criteria.
- References: Contact details for two academic referees.
- Writing Sample: A writing sample such as a Master’s thesis or working paper in English.
Applications should be submitted via the University of Amsterdam’s career portal no later than May 18, 2025.
For more details, visit UvA Careers Page.
This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research on the social impact of AI on youth, working alongside leading experts in the field.
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring company. For any inquiries, please contact the hiring organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding
