PhD Researcher in Children, Young People, and Digital Safety
Explore generative AI’s impact on youth digital safety through mixed-methods research using EU Kids Online data.
Best for:Best for early-career researchers with a Master’s in Communication Science or related fields, strong quantitative skills, and a passion for interdisciplinary digital safety research involving youth and AI.
Overview
This PhD position at KU Leuven’s Media Culture & Policy Lab focuses on investigating how children and young people engage with generative AI in both educational and everyday contexts. The successful candidate will develop a research project examining digital safety, autonomy, and critical thinking in youth digital practices, leveraging large-scale EU Kids Online survey data (30,000+ participants across 19 EU countries). The project encourages innovative mixed-methods approaches, combining quantitative analysis with qualitative research (e.g., ethnography, interviews, or digital ethnography) to bridge macro-level patterns with micro-level experiences. The PhD researcher will collaborate with international networks, publish findings, and contribute to the lab’s interdisciplinary work on media, technology, and society. The position offers intensive supervision, access to cutting-edge data, and opportunities for advanced training in digital and qualitative methods.
What you'll do
- Develop a PhD research project in consultation with supervisors, focusing on digital safety and AI use among children and young people.
- Conduct mixed-methods research, combining large-scale quantitative analysis of EU Kids Online data with qualitative methods (e.g., ethnography, interviews, or diary studies).
- Analyze existing and potentially newly collected data to explore patterns in digital safety, AI literacy, and youth practices.
- Publish research findings in international peer-reviewed journals and present results at academic conferences.
- Actively participate in the Media Culture & Policy Lab’s scientific activities and international research networks.
- Collaborate with supervisors and peers to refine research questions, theoretical frameworks, and methodological approaches.
- Contribute to the lab’s multimethod research seminar and engage in advanced training opportunities.
Requirements
Degree required: Master’s degree in Communication Science or a related field (e.g., Sociology, Media Studies, Psychology, or Digital Humanities).
Degree offered: PhD in Communication Science
Language: English; native-speaker level proficiency required for academic writing and communication. Dutch at native-speaker level (C2) for initial research activities.
Instruction: English and Dutch (research seminar initially in Dutch)
- Strong interest and demonstrated expertise in research on children, young people, and digital safety, particularly related to AI.
- Excellent academic record and proven ability to conduct rigorous research.
- Solid foundation in statistics and quantitative research methods, including experience with survey or longitudinal data analysis.
- Proficiency in statistical software for data analysis.
- Ability to critically engage with scientific literature and formulate theoretically grounded research questions.
- Excellent academic writing and communication skills in English.
- Native-speaker level proficiency in Dutch (C2) for initial research activities in Flanders.
- No specific nationality restrictions mentioned.
- No age or prior experience caps; open to applicants with a Master’s degree.
- Candidates must demonstrate a substantive interest in the digital lives of children and young people.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-10-12
Interested candidates should send their application materials directly to the supervisors via email. The application should include a detailed CV, a motivation letter outlining research interests and fit for the position, and academic transcripts. Additional documents may be requested based on the application review.
- CV
- Motivation letter
- Academic transcripts (BSc and MSc)
- Proof of English proficiency (if not a native speaker)
- Proof of Dutch proficiency (native-speaker level/C2)
Contact
Leen d'Haenens / Stef Aupers· Supervisors
Create a free profile to unlock your personal match score, the full requirements, funding details and how to apply — in English or Persian.