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Doctoral fellow - Department of Communication Sciences

Ghent UniversityGhent, Belgium

30+ dagen geleden

Functieomschrijving

Last application date Nov 15, 2023 00 : 00

Department PS01 - Department of Communication Sciences

Contract Limited duration

Degree Master in Communication Sciences, Psychology, Economics or equivalent

Occupancy rate 100%

Vacancy type Research staff

Job description

For the large-scale, interdisciplinary HORIZON anti-cancer research project SUNRISE, we are looking for a PhD student (m / v / x) at the research group CEPEC (Centre for Persuasive Communication) at Ghent University. We offer a fully funded PhD position for a period of 4 years with a start date preferably mid-January 2024.

Primary prevention of cancer through behavioral changes in adolescence is a huge health and societal challenge in Europe. Adolescence is a critical period in which many risk behaviors are initiated. Today’s youth is increasingly targeted with unhealthy food marketing messages that are hard to resist and which may contribute to unhealthy eating habits. This project aims to develop and test the effectiveness of two interventions (i.e., a serious game and social media influencer campaign) aimed at raising awareness on unhealthy food marketing among adolescents, increasing their resistance to this unhealthy food marketing and assisting them to make more healthy food choices.

Our mission is twofold : first, to conduct comprehensive communication research to explore how existing educational resources, such as those offered by Gezond Leven, can be thoughtfully adapted and transformed into engaging gaming experiences and an influencer campaign tailored to European adolescents. An intervention mapping approach will be used to develop the interventions. Second, the games and influencer campaign will serve as powerful tools to heighten adolescents' awareness, understanding, and proficiency in recognizing advertising tactics while simultaneously fostering health-promoting skills. By embracing innovation and leveraging the immersive appeal of gaming and social media influencers, our project seeks to empower the youth of Europe to make informed choices about their health and well-being. The interventions will be implemented and tested in eight European countries. The researcher will also assist in the testing of interventions developed by the other partners in the project.

Job profile

Function Description :

You will work as a researcher in an international research environment.
Based on the research you perform within the four years of this project, you will :

present your research findings at international conferences;write scientific manuscripts with the aim to publish them in academic journals;complete a PhD dissertation within a four-year timeframe.

You will work on a large international research project, which means that you will frequently have to work with the other partners of the HORIZON project and attend national and international meetings.

You are willing to dedicate the majority of your time to research but are also interested in playing a minor role in educational activities and services of the department.

Your profile :

Number one priority : you love to work in a team and know how to coordinate research in an autonomous way.

You have great statistical skills (SPSS).

You are not afraid to lead conversations with diverse stakeholders and have great social skills.

You have a scientific and critical mindset.

You have a strong affinity with the research topic, the target group of adolescents and the methodology of intervention mapping.

You have some research experience.

You have an excellent command of the English language (written and spoken), and good communication skills. Experience with scientific writing is a plus.

How to apply

A motivation letter

Your resume

Diploma transcripts (if possible)

A scan of your individual study results of all higher education years