Postdoctoral Scholarship in Communication Sciences (University of Antwerp)

Department: Department of Communication Studies Regime: Full-time Let’s shape the future – University of Antwerp The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape. Position The Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Communication, The Visual and Digital Cultures Research Center is looking for a full-time PhD-student within the ERC-funded project WALLS2BRIDGES - Media Production of Prison Communities. The ERC project WALLS2BRIDGES investigates how prison communities produce media and how these practices reshape understanding of justice across France, Türkiye, the UK, and the US. Against the backdrop of expanding incarceration regimes and enduring racial and social inequalities, WALLS2BRIDGES examines how incarcerated people, their families, and anti-prison activists engage in media production (from letters and newspapers to podcasts, films, and digital platforms) to contest dominant narratives and reimagine justice. The project conceptualizes prison communities as active media producers, foregrounding the interplay between media practices, systems of surveillance, sensory experience, and struggles for justice. Using a transnational and interdisciplinary approach, the project combines: Archival research on prison-produced media since the mid-1960’s century; Qualitative interviews and collaborative research with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, families, and activists; Analysis of diverse media forms, including print, audiovisual, and digital content. Your Role You will conduct in-depth research in France, focusing on abolitionist groups and prison-related NGOs and their media, cultural, and educational practices. You will explore how these actors establish communication with people in prison, mobilize media for advocacy, and how they intervene in public debates on incarceration and justice. You will contribute to the project’s comparative and transnational framework alongside team members working on Türkiye, the UK, and the US. Research Strands Studying NGOs and abolitionist groups “from above” Analysing policy frameworks, institutional structures, funding models, and public discourses shaping prison-related media and cultural initiatives. Studying NGOs and abolitionist groups “from below” Examining everyday practices of NGOs, educators, artists, and activists, including their interactions with prison administrations and municipalities. Exploring lived experience, and communicative practices Investigating how incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals engage with NGOs and abolitionist groups, media and cultural initiatives, and analysing their creative outputs (letters, films, audio, digital media), with attention to preservation, access, ethics, and afterlives. The University of Antwerp will be your home base, with extended research stays in France. Profile What do we expect from you? Master’s degree in media studies, sociology, anthropology, criminology, or a related field; Fluency in English and French; Familiarity with, or willingness to develop, engagement with organisations working in prison abolition, education, arts, and media in France; Experience with qualitative research methods (e.g. interviews, ethnography, discourse analysis), and an interest in working with creative and media-based materials; Sensitivity to ethical questions related to working with vulnerable communities and to issues of representation, access, and consent; You will: Conduct independent doctoral research leading to a PhD dissertation; Publish in peer-reviewed academic journals and contribute to collective project outputs; Present research at international conferences; Contribute to the organisation of workshops and public-facing events; Engage in societal dissemination of research findings, particularly with NGOs and educational organisations; Work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and international research team. Assets (not required, but considered an advantage): Experience researching prisons, carceral systems, or social justice issues; Experience working with NGOs or community-based organisations; Familiarity with media production or collaborative creative practices; Interest in or experience with publishing, editing, or curating media content; Familiarity with debates on media justice, prison abolition, or critical prison studies; Existing networks related to prison or abolitionist work in France or Europe. What We Offer We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of one year. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed for another three years. The planned start date is September 2026, or as soon as possible after that date. Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders. You will receive eco cheques, Internet-connectivity allowance, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting. As a doctoral researcher, you will have access to a wide and varied range of courses and an educational credit through the Antwerp Doctoral School. Apart from the fieldwork, you will do most of your work at the City Campus of the University of Antwerp in a dynamic and stimulating working environment. Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here. Want to Apply? You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including June 15, 2026 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button and complete the online application form. Be sure to include the following attachments: Your CV (including the contact details of two referees); A motivation letter outlining your interest in the project and relevant experience; A writing sample in English (e.g. master’s thesis, student or academic paper); Your course transcript and diploma (not applicable for University of Antwerp alumni); A short research proposal (max 2 pages, excluding references) in relation to the project, indicating how you would approach research on NGOs, media and prisons in France. Selection Process Step 1: Initial selection based on the application file; Step 2: Interview with shortlisted candidates. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview (online or in person) in July 2026. As part of the interview process, candidates will be asked to present their short research proposal aligned with the objectives of the WALLS2BRIDGES project. Contact Information Questions about the online application form: check the frequently asked questions or email jobs@uantwerpen.be Questions about the job: contact İpek A. Çelik Rappas (Principal Investigator) at ipeka.celik.rappas@uantwerpen.be Equal Opportunities Statement The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply. If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Academicoxy

Department: Department of Communication Studies
Regime: Full-time

Let’s shape the future – University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

Position

The Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Communication, The Visual and Digital Cultures Research Center is looking for a full-time PhD-student within the ERC-funded project WALLS2BRIDGES - Media Production of Prison Communities.

The ERC project WALLS2BRIDGES investigates how prison communities produce media and how these practices reshape understanding of justice across France, Türkiye, the UK, and the US. Against the backdrop of expanding incarceration regimes and enduring racial and social inequalities, WALLS2BRIDGES examines how incarcerated people, their families, and anti-prison activists engage in media production (from letters and newspapers to podcasts, films, and digital platforms) to contest dominant narratives and reimagine justice.

The project conceptualizes prison communities as active media producers, foregrounding the interplay between media practices, systems of surveillance, sensory experience, and struggles for justice.

Using a transnational and interdisciplinary approach, the project combines:

Archival research on prison-produced media since the mid-1960’s century;
Qualitative interviews and collaborative research with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, families, and activists;
Analysis of diverse media forms, including print, audiovisual, and digital content.

Your Role

You will conduct in-depth research in France, focusing on abolitionist groups and prison-related NGOs and their media, cultural, and educational practices. You will explore how these actors establish communication with people in prison, mobilize media for advocacy, and how they intervene in public debates on incarceration and justice. You will contribute to the project’s comparative and transnational framework alongside team members working on Türkiye, the UK, and the US.

Research Strands

Studying NGOs and abolitionist groups “from above”

Analysing policy frameworks, institutional structures, funding models, and public discourses shaping prison-related media and cultural initiatives.

Studying NGOs and abolitionist groups “from below”

Examining everyday practices of NGOs, educators, artists, and activists, including their interactions with prison administrations and municipalities.

Exploring lived experience, and communicative practices

Investigating how incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals engage with NGOs and abolitionist groups, media and cultural initiatives, and analysing their creative outputs (letters, films, audio, digital media), with attention to preservation, access, ethics, and afterlives.

The University of Antwerp will be your home base, with extended research stays in France.

Profile

What do we expect from you?

Master’s degree in media studies, sociology, anthropology, criminology, or a related field;
Fluency in English and French;
Familiarity with, or willingness to develop, engagement with organisations working in prison abolition, education, arts, and media in France;
Experience with qualitative research methods (e.g. interviews, ethnography, discourse analysis), and an interest in working with creative and media-based materials;
Sensitivity to ethical questions related to working with vulnerable communities and to issues of representation, access, and consent;

You will:

Conduct independent doctoral research leading to a PhD dissertation;
Publish in peer-reviewed academic journals and contribute to collective project outputs;
Present research at international conferences;
Contribute to the organisation of workshops and public-facing events;
Engage in societal dissemination of research findings, particularly with NGOs and educational organisations;
Work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and international research team.

Assets (not required, but considered an advantage):

Experience researching prisons, carceral systems, or social justice issues;
Experience working with NGOs or community-based organisations;
Familiarity with media production or collaborative creative practices;
Interest in or experience with publishing, editing, or curating media content;
Familiarity with debates on media justice, prison abolition, or critical prison studies;
Existing networks related to prison or abolitionist work in France or Europe.

What We Offer

We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of one year. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed for another three years.
The planned start date is September 2026, or as soon as possible after that date.
Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders.
You will receive eco cheques, Internet-connectivity allowance, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
As a doctoral researcher, you will have access to a wide and varied range of courses and an educational credit through the Antwerp Doctoral School.
Apart from the fieldwork, you will do most of your work at the City Campus of the University of Antwerp in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to Apply?

You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including June 15, 2026 (by midnight Brussels time).
Click on the 'Apply' button and complete the online application form. Be sure to include the following attachments:
- Your CV (including the contact details of two referees);
- A motivation letter outlining your interest in the project and relevant experience;
- A writing sample in English (e.g. master’s thesis, student or academic paper);
- Your course transcript and diploma (not applicable for University of Antwerp alumni);
- A short research proposal (max 2 pages, excluding references) in relation to the project, indicating how you would approach research on NGOs, media and prisons in France.

Selection Process

Step 1: Initial selection based on the application file;
Step 2: Interview with shortlisted candidates.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview (online or in person) in July 2026.

As part of the interview process, candidates will be asked to present their short research proposal aligned with the objectives of the WALLS2BRIDGES project.

Contact Information

Questions about the online application form: check the frequently asked questions or email jobs@uantwerpen.be
Questions about the job: contact İpek A. Çelik Rappas (Principal Investigator) at ipeka.celik.rappas@uantwerpen.be

Equal Opportunities Statement

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Academicoxy

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