Post-doctoral researcher in Communication and Media Research (80%) – 2 ½ years

The Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences (SES) at the University
of Fribourg, Switzerland, invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher in the
research project “Click. Sleep. Repeat.: How resilient people balance their media use
and sleep.” The project is funded by the Mobiliar Cluster for Resilience and co-led by
Professor Dr. Andreas Fahr at the Department of Communication and Media Research
(DCM) and Professor Dr. Björn Rasch at the Department of Psychology. The position
is anchored in communication studies and involves close collaboration with
psychology.

Profile
Project The project investigates how psychologically resilient individuals develop and use
adaptive media-use strategies that support well-being, recovery, and sleep quality in a
digitized society. Our aim is to identify and understand constructive coping
mechanisms and to provide both theoretical and practical guidance for healthier digital
habits. The project unfolds across four phases: qualitative interviews, quantitative
surveys, a field study combining self-reports, digital tracking, and sleep data, and a
dissemination phase translating findings into public-health and educational
recommendations.

Interests 

You are motivated and passionate about research at the intersection of communication
and psychology. You work independently, while also thriving in an inter- and
transdisciplinary team. You feel confident leading project components and conducting
workshops and outreach activities based on the research outcomes.

Skills
You are proficient in quantitative methods of data collection and analysis in the social
sciences and have experience analyzing data in R or Python. Experience with
qualitative methods and/or physiological data represents an additional asset.

Education 

You have obtained a PhD in communication science, (media) psychology, or a closely related field.

Languages 

You are proficient in English; good knowledge of German and/or French is considered
an additional asset.

Information
Start date: June 2026, or to be agreed
Contract duration: 2 ½ years
Employment rate: 80%; the salary is established according to the guidelines of the University of Fribourg.
The DCM The DCM offers a supportive research environment characterized by interdisciplinary and innovative collaborations at the interface of communication, media, business, and society. Unique in its bilingualism, located in the heart of Europe, and renowned for its rigorous training and research, the University of Fribourg provides an excellent foundation for advancing a rewarding academic career.
Application

Questions Please address any questions to Björn Rasch (bjoern.rasch@unifr.ch), Andreas Fahr (andreas.fahr@unifr.ch) or Shaila Caspanello (shaila.caspanello@unifr.ch).
Documents Include the following documents in your application:
- a cover letter specifying research interests, motivations and relevant qualifications,
- a CV containing the names of two academic references,
- transcripts of completed academic training,
- a one-page summary of the PhD thesis and the evaluation by your committee
The evaluation of the applications will focus on the applicant’s academic background,
fit for the project, and potential for academic success.
Deadline: Please submit the application in a single PDF document to Andreas Fahr at
andreas.fahr@unifr.ch by January 15, 2025.