Research Group on Political Communication
Organisation / Company University of Granada Department Political Science Laboratory Research Group on Political Communication Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Professor Óscar García Luengo, from the DepartmentofPoliticalScience at the University of Granada, welcomes postdoctoral candidatesinterested inapplying for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF)in 2026 at this University. Please note that applicants must comply with the Mobility Rule (for more information about the 2026 call, please consult this link ).
Brief description of the institution:
The University of Granada (UGR), founded in 1531, is one of the largest and most important universities in Spain.With more than 57,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and almost 7,000 members of staff, the UGR offers 97 undergraduate degrees, 157 master’s degrees (7 of which are double degrees) and 28 doctoral programmes via its 124 departments and nearly 50 centers. Accordingly, the UGR offers one of the most extensive and diverse ranges of higher education programmes in Spain.
The UGR has been awarded with the "Human Resources Excellence in Research (HRS4R)", which reflectsthe institution’s commitment to continuously improve its human resource policies in line with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.The UGR is also internationally renowned for its excellence in diverse research fields and ranked among the top Spanish universities in a variety of ranking criteria, such as national R&D; projects, fellowships awarded, publications, and international funding.
The UGR is one of the few Spanish Universities listed in the Shanghai Top 500 ranking - Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). The 2025 edition of the ARWU places the UGR in 301-400th position in the world and as the 3-8 highest ranked University in Spain, reaffirming its position as an institution at the forefront of national and international research. From the perspective of specialist areas in the ARWU rankings, the UGR is outstanding in Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence and Dentistry & Oral Sciences (ranked between 51th-75th position), Computer Science & Engineering, Education and Hospitality & Tourism Management (between 76-100th position),



and in the areas of Food Science & Technology and Business Administration (between 101-150th position). A little lower in the ranking, the UGR also stands out in the areas of Earth Sciences, Law, Management, Nursing, Psychology and Statistics, in which the UGR is positioned in the 151-200th position.
Internationally, the University of Granada is firmly committed to its participation in the calls of the Framework Programme of the European Union. For the duration of the prevoius Framework Programme, Horizon 2020, the UGR obtained a totalof 124 projects with a total funding of more than €30 million .For the current Framework Programme, Horizon Europe, the UGR has obtained 136 projects, so far, with a total funding of more than €38 million .
Brief description of the Centre/Research Group:
The Political Communication Research Group at the University of Granada, led by Dr. Óscar Luengo, stands as a premier academic colletive dedicated to deciphering the complexities of modern democracy. Within the Department of Political Science and Administration, this team has transitioned from traditional media analysis to a sophisticated study of the digital ecosystem. Under Luengo’s leadership the group examines how the intersection of technology and information shapes citizen behaviour and institutional stability.
A central pillar of their current work is the study of political polarization. By employing advanced Computational Social Science techniques, such as Machine Learning and Big Data, they analyse how algorithms and social networks foster affective polarization and create "echo chambers" that threaten social cohesion. Their research doesn't merely observe these trends;
it seeks to diagnose the health of the public sphere by investigating the viral nature of disinformation and the mechanics of fake news. Furthermore, the group is a pioneer in analysing new forms of digital activism and e-participation,



exploring how digital platforms have redefined political mobilization since movements like the 15-M.
The group’s methodology is notably multidisciplinary, blending political science with data analytics. This allows them to offer a holistic view of electoral campaigns and the "crisis" of traditional journalism. Through high-impact international publications and integral collaborations, the UGR Political Communication group continues to provide essential insights into how representative systems can adapt to a landscape defined by rapid technological change and fragmented discourse.
The candidate will be integrated into the Political Communication Research Group at the University of Granada, a leading hub in analysing the impact of digital media on democratic quality. While our group’s foundation is rooted in Social Sciences, our current strategic expansion focuses on multidisciplinary convergence. The applicant’s background as a computer scientist/technologist is essential to bridging the gap between theoretical political analysis and advanced computational methodologies.
The researcher will contribute to three specific strategic lines:
Algorithmic Polarization: Applying machine learning to detect patterns of affective polarization and the formation of digital echo chambers.
Advanced News Coverage Analytics: Utilizing Big Data and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to perform large-scale longitudinal studies on media bias and information flow.
Biometric Responses to Media Stimuli: This innovative line investigates unconscious reactions to political messaging. The candidate will be pivotal in developing the technical infrastructure for processing neuro-physiological data and eye-tracking metrics to understand how citizens process toxic or emotional content.
By incorporating a technologist, the group transitions from traditional observation to Computational Social Science. This integration ensures that the applicant not only benefits from our deep expertise in political theory but also provides the group with the technical edge required to tackle the information ecosystem's most pressing challenges, such as disinformation and digital fragmentation, from a disruptive and highly innovative perspective.
Research Area:
Social Sciences and Humanities (SOC)
Information Science and Engineering (ENG)
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📌 Msca-Pf: Joint Application At The University Of Granada. Department Of Political Science. (Madrid)
🏢 International Research Projects Office
📍 Madrid