PhD Candidate on Educational Approaches to Misinformation / PhD Candidate on Educational Approaches to Misinformation

PhD Position on Educational Approaches to Misinformation

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Professorship for Research on Learning and Instruction at ETH Zurich is dedicated to discovering effective, evidence-based methods to improve educational practices, focusing on generalizable principles across various content areas and pressing societal issues. The group is seeking a PhD student to contribute to ongoing research concerning educational approaches to misinformation.

Project Background

Misinformation poses severe threats to personal decision-making and societal integrity. In today's information landscape, misinformation is widespread. Recently, our research group has explored training methods that help individuals recognize misleading data visualizations, thus mitigating their detrimental effects on information extraction (see Rho et al., 2025). Furthermore, we are investigating how pedagogical interventions can shield individuals from misinformation (see Rau & Premo, 2025). Our goal is to expand these efforts by examining how pedagogical strategies that enhance (1) content knowledge and (2) misinformation detection skills can interact. This research aims to bolster individuals' resilience against misinformation while enabling them to integrate new trustworthy information into their knowledge frameworks.

Job Description

• The PhD position focuses on conducting controlled experiments to study the impact of pedagogical interventions on misinformation resilience.
• The dissertation will consist of a series of experiments employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
• The PhD student will receive guidance in conducting their research, publishing findings in academic journals, and presenting at conferences.
• The start date is flexible.

Profile

• A Master's degree in Psychology (preferably with an emphasis in Cognitive or Educational Psychology), Learning Sciences, Cognitive Science, or a related field.
• A strong understanding of experimental design and quantitative statistical analysis.
• Prior research experience is preferred.
• A high level of motivation to conduct independent research on educational strategies addressing misinformation.
• An inherently curious individual with a commitment to working within an interdisciplinary team and a strong desire to learn.
• Excellent proficiency in both spoken and written English; fluency in written and spoken German is advantageous.

Workplace

The successful candidate will join a dynamic research environment at ETH Zurich, which is recognized globally for its academic excellence and innovative research opportunities.

We Offer

• Exceptional research infrastructure and supportive working conditions.
• Opportunities to develop your own research agenda and professional network.
• Collaboration with a highly motivated and welcoming research team.
• A high level of autonomy in your work.
• An inspiring academic environment.

We Value Diversity and Sustainability

ETH Zurich is committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We support equality of opportunity, value diversity, and cultivate a working and learning environment where the rights and dignity of all staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to learn more about our commitment to creating a fair and open environment. Sustainability is a core value, and we consistently work towards a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So Are We.

For more information about the Professorship of Research on Learning and Instruction and our research lab, please visit our website. For specific questions regarding the position, feel free to contact Professor Dr. Martina Rau at martina.rau@gess.ethz.ch.

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

About ETH Zurich

As one of the world’s leading universities specializing in science and technology, ETH Zurich is renowned for its excellent education, cutting-edge research, and the direct transfer of knowledge into society. With over 30,000 individuals from more than 120 countries, our university fosters independent thinking and inspires excellence. Situated in the heart of Europe and connecting globally, we collaborate to develop solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.