Predoctoral Researcher (PhD) in Societal Responses to Online Hate
Join a national study on Spanish adolescents’ reactions to online hate, combining participatory research and large-scale experiments.
Best for:Best for social science graduates with expertise in quantitative research, survey design, and statistical analysis who are passionate about youth online safety and participatory research methods.
Overview
This PhD position is part of the COUNTERACT project, a national study investigating how Spanish adolescents respond to online hate. Funded by Fundación ‘la Caixa’, the project integrates participatory co-design, large-scale experiments, and evidence-based tool development across six regions. The successful candidate will lead day-to-day research activities, including survey design, data collection, and quantitative analysis, while collaborating with educators, law enforcement, and adolescents. The role offers a 4-year contract with mentorship from the project team and integration into the Universidad Pontificia Comillas’ research community. Applicants should have a strong background in social sciences and quantitative research methods.
What you'll do
- Design and deliver a national experimental survey, including instrument development, piloting, and fieldwork coordination across six Spanish regions.
- Administer surveys, manage the national dataset following FAIR principles, and conduct quantitative analysis using SPSS, R, or Stata.
- Contribute to evidence mapping and facilitate co-design labs and evidence-to-action workshops with adolescents, educators, and law enforcement.
- Coordinate daily project activities, including partner liaison, project meetings, documentation, and reporting.
- Assist in drafting practical tools for schools, youth, and police, and co-author academic publications and conference presentations.
- Develop a doctoral thesis aligned with the project’s objectives and findings.
Requirements
Degree required: Master’s degree or equivalent in a social science discipline (e.g., sociology, psychology, political science, criminology, education, or related fields)
Degree offered: PhD
Language: Native or C2-level Spanish and C1-level English or above
Instruction: Spanish and English
- Proficient use of SPSS, R, or Stata for survey design, data collection, and statistical analysis
- Strong quantitative research skills, including survey methodology and experimental design
- Excellent project coordination and organizational abilities
- Advanced written communication skills and interpersonal abilities for stakeholder engagement
- Demonstrated interest in social justice, inequalities, youth online safety, and migration
- No specific nationality or residency restrictions mentioned
- No age limits or prior experience caps specified
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-10-16 (Europe/Madrid)
Submit a CV (max. 3 pages), academic transcripts, a cover letter (max. 1 page) explaining project alignment, and two academic referee contact details via email to resaerchtalent@comillas.edu. The subject line must read ‘COUNTERACT — Predoctoral’. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed on 2026-10-23.
- CV (max. 3 pages)
- Academic transcripts
- Cover letter (max. 1 page)
- Contact details for two academic referees
Contact
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