Postdoc and PhD openings in social psychology and nihilistic violent extremist groups at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in Netherlands

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is recruiting for postdoctoral and PhD opportunities connected to research on social psychology, political psychology, radicalization, extremism, hate speech, polarization, criminology, data science, and statistics.

Postdoc 1 (2 years): This position is part of the Horizon2020 PROCLAIM consortium and focuses on the effects of covert hate speech on political polarization and radicalization. The work involves experimental and longitudinal research, literature review, study design, data collection, analysis, conference presentations, and publication. Applicants should have a PhD in social psychology or a closely related field, strong quantitative skills, experience with open science practices, and excellent English.

Postdoc 2 (3 years): This role is funded by an NWO open competition proposal and investigates Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) groups. The project is interdisciplinary, combining criminology, psychology, and data science, and uses large-scale social media data. The postdoc will map literature, develop research ideas, analyze and curate data, present findings, and publish in peer-reviewed journals. Applicants should have a PhD in criminology, psychology, data science, or a related field, with strong statistics/data science skills and experience analyzing large volumes of social media data.

PhD student (4 years): This position is also on the NVE project and uses a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative data science techniques with qualitative analyses. The PhD candidate will work with Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Arjan Blokland, and Elanie Rodermond, complete a thesis, and defend it at VU Amsterdam. Applicants should have a research master in a relevant field, strong quantitative methods and statistics, and an interest in extremism, radicalization, and terrorism.

Funding and conditions: The postdoc salary is listed at €3546–€5538 gross per month (full-time), and the PhD salary at €3059–€3881 gross per month. All positions are fixed-term and initially for 1 year, with possible extension depending on evaluation. The targeted start date is 1 January 2027 or earlier/later by arrangement.

Deadline: The application deadline is 24 August 2026 for the NVE postdoc and PhD positions; the covert hate speech postdoc deadline is 20 August 2026.

How to apply: Apply via the AcademicTransfer portal using the vacancy links. Prepare the requested documents, including a personal statement and CV where applicable. Applications by email will not be considered, and early applications are encouraged.