Are you excited by interdisciplinary research on data, democracy, and digital governance? Do you have experience with innovative or experimental data collection methods? Join the ERC-funded DATAGOV project at the University of Amsterdam as a postdoctoral researcher. You’ll be part of a dynamic international team exploring how data infrastructures reshape democracy, state sovereignty, and inequality across Europe and the Global South.
Help shape the future of democracy in the data-driven society!
Join a vibrant team exploring how data infrastructures are transforming our world. Are you passionate about how data-driven technologies influence democratic life? Do you want to investigate how digital systems affect citizenship, sovereignty, and inequality—across both Europe and the Global South? The University of Amsterdam’s Department of Media Studies is looking for two curious, committed postdoctoral researchers to join the DATAGOV project, a multi-year international research initiative funded by the European Research Council and led by Professor Stefania Milan.
As a postdoc, you’ll join a close-knit team of six researchers with diverse backgrounds. Together, we study how emerging technologies—such as biometric systems, digital identity tools, health platforms, and education technologies—reshape everyday governance. Each postdoc will lead one of the project’s core empirical work packages: citizenship, sovereignty, or inequality.
This is what you will be doing
You will contribute to the development of the project’s methodological toolkit, conduct systematic literature reviews, carry out qualitative fieldwork (primarily in South Africa or India), and engage in data analysis. You will publish independently and collaboratively a minimum of three peer-reviewed articles, present at conferences, and participate in public engagement activities. You will also contribute to co-supervise one of the PhD students, contributing to their academic development.
If you’re interested, and if teaching opportunities are available, the remaining 0.2 FTE can be dedicated to paid teaching within the Department of Media Studies—an excellent chance to build your teaching portfolio.
Your tasks and responsibilities will include:
- Conduct empirical research under the guidance of the project leader, leading one of three empirical work packages with a focus on non-Western contexts.
- Contribute to methodological innovation, especially in citizen science, by helping to shape and run the DATAGOV Living Lab.
- Disseminate research findings through at least three peer-reviewed publications, participation in international conferences, and engagement in public and policy-oriented outreach.
- Support PhD supervision, contributing to the mentoring of doctoral candidates and gaining valuable supervisory experience.
- Optional teaching opportunit within the Department of Media Studies, offering the chance to develop teaching skills.
This is what we ask of you
- You hold a PhD in sociology, political science, science and technology studies (STS), media studies, development studies, digital governance, computational social science, information systems, socially intelligent AI, philosophy, law, or a related field.
- You bring experience in interdisciplinary research and social science methods, such as qualitative and participatory approaches, computational techniques, or feminist and indigenous methodologies.
- You thrive in collaborative environments, while also being self-driven, proactive, and capable of fostering teamwork.
- You are organised and focused, able to juggle multiple responsibilities and maintain resilience under pressure.
- You enjoy writing for both academic and public audiences, and excel at communicating complex ideas clearly and engagingly.
- You are committed to mentoring and supporting the academic growth of junior team members.
- You value meaningful engagement with societal actors, including NGOs, policymakers, artists, and community organizations.
This is what else we offer you
- A four-year postdoctoral contract at 0.8 FTE fully dedicated to research, with the option to allocate the remaining 0.2 FTE to compensated teaching (subject to availability).
- A collaborative and international research team that values intellectual curiosity, mutual support, and academic independence.
- Opportunities for supervision and mentorship, including co-supervising PhD candidates within the DATAGOV team.
- A vibrant academic culture, with regular research seminars, writing retreats, and informal gatherings to foster collegiality.
- Dedicated travel funding to support participation in international conferences, workshops, and summer schools.
- A workplace in the heart of Amsterdam, and a vibrant, international academic environment.
