Doctoral researcher, media studies and critical AI education

About us

This fully funded double doctorate is located in Oldenburg and Groningen. Both Oldenburg and Groningen offer vibrant and collaborative research environments. The Digital Education and Schooling research group in Oldenburg conducts ethnographic, qualitative and speculative research to develop novel insights into digital culture and education, including critical AI education. The Groningen Centre for Media and Journalism Studies (CMJS) at the University of Groningen conducts interdisciplinary research in the field of media and journalism studies. It aims to do cutting-edge research that addresses issues that are essential to understand processes of communication in an increasingly mediatized society. 

The position is part of the strategic partnership between the Carl von Ossietzky Universität and the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, supported in part by a major initiative funded with €22.5 million from Niedersachsen’s Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK) and the Volkswagen Foundation for the project “A Programme for Excellence. Developing Strengths and Building Potential through Interdisciplinary and International Networking”. This initiative includes networking across regional and national borders, supporting students and early-career researchers, and strengthening interdisciplinary research priorities in socially relevant and innovative fields. 

The successful candidate is expected to contribute to innovative research at the nexus of media studies and critical AI education. 

Your tasks

This PhD position from Oldenburg and Groningen offers an exciting opportunity. You will be employed full-time in the Netherlands for two years, then in Germany for two years — with the opportunity to strengthen international networks, engage with two research cultures, and graduate with a doctorate from both institutions. We invite a candidate to develop a research project on how teenagers with diverse sociocultural backgrounds imagine, appropriate, and use AI in their everyday lives. Drawing on child-centric media studies and critical AI education research, you will conduct comparative qualitative research — through, e.g., semi-structured interviews, digital 'walkthroughs', and 'AI diaries' — with teenagers in Germany and the Netherlands. Your focus will lie on how marginalised young people interact with AI technologies in formal and informal contexts. Alongside original scholarly contributions to media studies and education research, the project will develop classroom materials and teacher trainings to foster critical AI literacy in both school systems.

Specifically:

• Conduct individual research in the project “Learning and Unlearning AI” for a doctoral dissertation
• Lead the preparation of academic publications
• Present research results at workshops and conferences
• Contribute to teaching activities in Oldenburg and Groningen
• Engage in public outreach activities 
• Participate in local research meetings 

Your profile

Required qualifications:

• Completed academic university degree (Master or Diploma) in media studies, education, sociology, cultural studies or a related field
• Experience with qualitative research methods
• Critical awareness of the cultural politics of artificial intelligence (AI)
• Commitment to questions of inequality and social justice
• Proficiency in English
• Proficiency in German or Dutch (with willingness to develop the other language), proficiency in the other language will be of advantage
• Strong interest in collaborative research and interdisciplinary dialogue

As asset would be:

• Experience with digital media research 
• Experience in qualitative research projects 
• Experience in interdisciplinary research

We offer

• Opportunities to shape future research on pressing issues at the nexus of young people, emerging technologies and society
• Double Doctorate awarded by the Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg and the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen 
• Close supervision by two experienced PIs, combining media studies, cultural studies and education
• Funding for fieldwork and conferences
• Integration into vibrant research communities at both universities
• Opportunities for academic and professional development
• Full-time salary in accordance with collective bargaining agreements in the Netherlands (first 2 years of employment) and in Germany (last 2 years of employment), as well as 30 days of vacation
• Flexible working hours and the possibility of partial remote work

Our standards

The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increase the percentage of female employees in the field of science. Therefore, female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. In accordance to § 21 Section 3 NHG, female candidates with equal qualifications will be preferentially considered. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification.

Further information

Paygrade

E13 TV-L (at University of Oldenburg)
Salary Scale P, AIO System P (at University of Groningen)

Institution

University of Oldenburg, Institute for Educational Sciences (School of Educational and Social Sciences), years 3 and 4, and 
University of Groningen, Centre for Journalism and Media Studies, years 1 and 2

Location

Groningen (Netherlands)
Oldenburg/Oldb. (Germany)

First day of work

01.11.2026 or as soon as possible

Limited

Employment for 4 years for one’s own academic qualification, the first two years based on a work contract with the University of Groningen, the last two years based on a work contract with the University of Oldenburg

Contact

We're happy to answer any questions you may have about the position. Please contact Prof Dr. Felicitas Macgilchrist (UOL) () or Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Bozdağ (RUG) ()