Research professor in Media Platforms & Society (BOFZAP)

Job title:

Research professor in Media Platforms & Society (BOFZAP)

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Job description

Offer DescriptionResearch
It is part of the assignment of the appointed candidate to develop, within the domain of Big Tech governance, digital media platforms and their impact on society, an international, competitive research programme, to pursue excellent scientific results at an international level and to support and promote national and international research partnerships. The candidate must meet a strong research profile or have the potential to do so. In addition, the candidate is expected to have a multidisciplinary attitude and a willingness to cooperate intensively with other researchers and research units at KU Leuven, Faculty of Social Sciences and department of Communication Sciences.
The vacancy we offer is ‘open rank’ so outstanding researchers in different phases of their career can apply for this position – from ‘junior’ (postdoc) to ‘senior’ (professor). It is expected from the candidate in this position to actively apply for prestigious research funds to set up and develop an innovative, cutting-edge and international research programme focused on Big Tech Governance and/or cultural industries in relation to society, with specific attention paid to the role of digital media platforms in societal polarization, inequality and democratic processes. The overarching perspective is the political economy, from which global power relations and economic dynamics are connected to the challenges of data-governance, algorithmic transparency, privacy issues, power concentration and various forms of inequality. This theoretical perspective should be grounded in an empirical approach in which qualitative-, quantitative- or mixed methods are used to analyze the complex relations between industry, technology and culture. The candidate has an excellent track record within this domain of research, as demonstrated by a PhD-dissertation of high quality, demonstrable impact on the field of research and the acquisition of research funds.The candidate:

• Is an excellent, internationally oriented researcher and develops a research programme at the forefront in the field of Big Tech governance, digital media platforms and their impact on society.
• Strengthens existing research lines and brings complementary and/or additionally new expertise by working closely with the members of the research unit.
• Publishes at the highest scientific level
• Supervises master students, PhD students and postdocs at a high international level.
• Aims to acquire competitive research funding from national and/or international agencies and submits effective research project proposals for this purpose.
• Establishes both within KU Leuven, national and international partnerships in the context of the research programme.
• Stri… For more information see

Where to apply WebsiteRequirementsResearch Field Communication sciences Education Level PhD or equivalentLanguages ENGLISH Level GoodLanguages DUTCH Level GoodAdditional InformationBenefits

• We offer full-time employment in an intellectually challenging environment. KU Leuven is an research-intensive, internationally oriented university that carries out both fundamental and applied scientific research. Our university is highly inter- and multidisciplinary focused and strives for international excellence. In this regard, we actively collaborate with research partners in Belgium and abroad. We provide our students with an academic education that is based on high-quality scientific research.
• Depending on your qualifications and academic experience, you will be appointed to or tenured in one of the grades of the senior academic staff: assistant professor, associate professor, professor or full professor. In principle, junior researches are appointed as assistant professor on the tenure track for a period of 5 years; after this period and a positive evaluation, they are permanently appointed as an associate professor.
• You will work in Leuven, a historic and dynamic and vibrant city located in the heart of Belgium, within twenty minutes from Brussels, the capital of the European Union, and less than two hours from Paris, London and Amsterdam.
• KU Leuven is well set to welcome foreign professors and their family and provides practical support with regard to immigration and administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, partner career coaching, …
• In order to facilitate scientific onboarding and accelerate research in the first phase a starting grant of 110.000 euro is offered to new professors, subject to eligibility criteria set by KU Leuven.

Eligibility criteria

• You have a PhD in Communication Sciences or another relevant discipline in the social sciences and has a strong research focus on themes like Big Tech-governance and/or digital platforms and/or cultural industries in relation to inequality and democracy. Interest in or experience with interdisciplinary research is desirable. Essential, however, is an outstanding skill to develop innovative theoretical perspectives based on systematic empirical research and/or to creatively apply theory to empirical case-studies. Preferably, the candidate combines macro-perspectives (e.g., political economy) and micro-perspectives (e.g., audience research) in research, with special attention to inequality. Ample experience with various methods is mandatory (either quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods). Depending on seniority, the applicant has experience with writing research proposals and applying for / requiring research funds and leading research teams. The candidate has expertise in building and consolidating academic and societal networks. Through the active engagement with international partners, NGO’s and governmental organizations, the candidate contributes to insights that are relevant for policy-making and public debates on technology, democracy and inequality. In addition, the candidate has a clear vision on the role of the university in the platform society and the broader societal impact of academic research.If you have recently obtained your PhD, it is important that you support your research and growth potential with academic references.
• You have an strong research profile in the field and an indisputable research integrity.
• The quality of your research is proven by publications
• International research experience is considered as an important advantage.
• You have demonstrable qualities related to academic education. Teaching experience is a plus.
• You possess organizational skills and have a cooperative attitude. You also have leadership skills within a university context.
• Your spoken and written English is excellent. The official administrative language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch (or do not speak it well) at the start of employment, KU Leuven will provide language training to enable you to take part in administrative meetings. Before teaching courses in Dutch or English, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch resp. English to the required standard.

Selection processMore information on the content of the job can be obtained from the academic contact person Prof. Dr. Leen d’Haenens (head research unit Media Culture & Policy), email: .U can also contact Prof. Dr. Stef Aupers (chair departme… For more information seeWork Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute KU Leuven Country Belgium State/Province Vlaams Brabant City Leuven Postal Code 3000 Street Leuven GeofieldContact State/ProvinceLeuven CityVlaams Brabant StreetLeuven Postal Code3000 E-Mailmartine.vannierop@kuleuven.beSTATUS: EXPIREDShare this page

Expected salary

Location

Louvain, Brabant Flamand

Job date

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 05:25:57 GMT

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