Fully Funded PhD Position in Social Data Science at VU Amsterdam: Research the Online Manipulation Economy

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) has announced a fully funded, 4-year PhD position in Social Data Science. 

This doctoral research role is integrated into the high-profile Vidi-funded project "The Economy of Digital Influence Operations," directed by Associate Professor Jon Roozenbeek.

If you want to investigate how fake accounts, bot armies, and digital manipulation services are bought and sold, this fully funded position in the Netherlands offers an exceptional academic platform.

Quick Summary of the Position

• Host Institution: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam), Netherlands
• Department: Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
• Project Title: The Economy of Digital Influence Operations
• Principal Investigator & Supervisor: Associate Professor Jon Roozenbeek (Influence and Technology Lab, VU Amsterdam & University of Cambridge)
• Co-Supervisor: Associate Professor Ivar Vermeulen (VU Amsterdam)
• Position Duration: 4 years (Full-time)
• Expected Start Date: January 4, 2027
• Application Deadline: September 14, 2026 at 23:59 CEST

Research Overview: The Online Manipulation Economy

Rather than focusing solely on individual instances of misinformation, this research project investigates the underlying economic infrastructure that drives digital influence operations globally.

As a PhD researcher on this project, your work will aim to map out the online manipulation economy—a market where click-farms, fake engagement, automated bot networks, and influence campaigns are commercialized. Key areas of investigation include:

1. Market Mapping: Identifying the ecosystem of buyers, sellers, intermediaries, and platforms involved in digital manipulation services.

2. Behavioral Motivations: Conducting qualitative interviews with industry actors to understand financial, political, and personal drivers.

3. Data Pipelines & Downstream Effects: Building custom data analysis pipelines incorporating social media metrics and financial data to track the impact of purchased engagement.

4. Public Policy & Tools: Contributing to public-facing safety measures, including the maintenance and development of the Cambridge Online Trust and Safety Index (COTOI).

Compensation and Benefits

VU Amsterdam offers a competitive compensation package in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO-NU):

• Salary: Full-time salaried position starting in Year 1 and scaling up to a maximum of €4,051 gross per month by Year 4.
• Allowances: 8% annual holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• Leave: Generous paid leave options (up to 232–328 vacation hours annually, depending on contract hours).
• Workplace Culture: Collaborative link with the University of Cambridge, high open-science standards, and professional training via the Graduate School of Social Sciences (GSSS).

Candidate Qualifications

Applicants are evaluated on their academic performance, quantitative research proficiency, and enthusiasm for computational social science.

Required Requirements:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Social Data Science, Communication Science, Computational Social Science, Quantitative Psychology, Behavioral Economics, Data Science, or a related field.
• Strong background in experimental research design, quantitative data collection, and statistical analysis.
• Experience handling digital trace data, social media API structures, or behavioral datasets.
• Strong academic writing abilities in English.
• Commitment to Open Science practices (reproducible code, open-access publications, transparent methodologies).

Application Process and How to Apply

Interested candidates must submit their application online through the official VU Amsterdam vacancy portal before the deadline.

Key Dates:

• Application Deadline: September 14, 2026 (23:59 CEST)
• Interview Period: September 21–30, 2026 (Hybrid/Online via MS Teams or Onsite)

Submission Requirements:

• Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Cover Letter / Motivation Letter (Maximum 2 pages, written in English or Dutch) detailing your interest in the online manipulation economy and relevant quantitative skills.

👉 Official Application Portal: Visit the VU Amsterdam Careers Page to submit your documents directly.