MSCA PF 2026 hosting in Algorithmic Literacy, Youth Well-being and Cognitive Autonomy in Digital Environments

ThinkOnMedia is a Consolidated Research Group at Universidad CEU San Pablo, focused on the study of digital transformations and their impact on society, with particular attention to youth and adolescents. Its main research areas include digital vulnerability, media literacy, and the phenomenon of disinformation. The group has participated in seven projects under the Spanish National R&D Plan, two projects funded by the Madrid Regional Government, one European project, and other initiatives supported by public and private institutions. 

The group is equipped with NeuroLabCom, a laboratory specialized in neurotechnology applied to communication. It features advanced tools such as eye-tracking systems and emotional response analysis, allowing the study of how users interact with digital content. This infrastructure enables empirical research on information reception and processing in digital environments, contributing to a deeper understanding of communication in the digital age.

Prof. Tamara Vázquez is a Full Professor at Universidad San Pablo CEU and Principal Investigator of the research group Think On Media and the project AlgorLit. She has an extensive track record in competitive research projects at national and international level.

Her research explores youth digital practices, media literacy, digital vulnerability, and political communication, with a strong focus on how social media influence behaviour, well-being and democratic participation. 

Research Project

Disinformation remains one of the greatest challenges in today’s communication landscape, with serious implications for democracy, public health and social cohesion. While prior research has addressed its typologies and spread, much less is known about how individuals cognitively and emotionally react to false information compared to verified news. This project aims to explore the reception of disinformation using neurotechnology applied to communication, with the goal of better understanding the attentional, emotional and brain processes involved. 

The study will follow an experimental methodology using the facilities of NeuroLabCom (Universidad CEU San Pablo), equipped with advanced technologies such as Bitbrain Diadem (EEG with 12 dry electrodes), Bitbrain Ring (GSR and BVP sensors), and Tobii Pro screen-based eye-tracking. These tools will measure attention levels, emotional response and neural activity as participants are exposed to a controlled sample of real and fake news. 

Beyond identifying physiological differences in how these contents are processed, the project will incorporate an analysis of the underlying causes of emotional reactions, with special focus on how pre-existing beliefs influence the acceptance or rejection of information. This approach allows a deeper insight into the interaction between individual cognition and external stimuli. The results will contribute to the development of more effective media literacy strategies and public communication interventions to mitigate the impact of disinformation. 

Candidate Profile: Postdoctoral researchers (max 8 years after PhD) with:

• PhD in Communication, Psychology or Social Science

• Interest in the study of disinformation and digital media

• Familiarity with neuroscientific tools and techniques or the motivation to be trained in their use. 

Applicants are encouraged to submit an expression of interest to tamarav@ceu.es(Attn.:Tamara Vázquez Barrio). The application should include the following documents:

• A short CV (Max. 2 pages)

• A one-page research proposal

• Two letters of reference (recommended)

USP‑CEU is a competitive and supportive host institution for MSCA‑PF candidates, with a strong track record including 10 awarded fellowships, an exceptional 100/100 score, and two recent successes in the MSCA‑PF 2025 call. We offer personalised guidance throughout the proposal preparation process, as well as our International Talent Retention Programme, which provides successful MSCA Fellows with an additional 6–12‑month contract to support long‑term career development.

https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/hosting/postdoctoral-hosting-algorithmic-literacy-youth-well-being-and-cognitive-autonomy