Our research is funded by a Consolidator Grant from the Italian Ministry of Research. We are looking for postdoctoral researchers interested in applying for a two-year postdoc position (with possibility of extension) in the following areas of research:

 

AREA 1: EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL SCIENCE 

We are looking for candidates with a background in psychology, economics, or political science with proven experience designing and implementing lab-in-the-field or field experiments. 

Key skills: advanced data analysis (R, Stata, or Python); experience leading experimental research projects. This researcher will play a central role in the design and coordination of RCTs in schools. 

 

AREA 2: EPISTEMOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

We are looking for candidates with a background in epistemology or philosophy of science who are keen to work on philosophical, ethical and epistemological issues concerning the problem of demarcation between science and pseudoscience, as well as the connection to the problem of science disinformation, junk science, and related topics.

Key skills: Attitude and experience working at the intersection between philosophy and science, interest in interdisciplinary and applied epistemology.

 

AREA 3: MISINFORMATION RESEARCH 

We are looking for candidates with expertise in misinformation research using lab or online experiments, ideally within psychology, economics, or political science. Key skills: proficiency in R, Stata, or Python; experience conducting lab or online experimental studies. Experience in the scientific dissemination of research results, including outreach to stakeholder and public engagement activities within the project’s network.

 

AREA 4: DATA SCIENCE

Candidates with a strong background in data science, computational social science, or a related field, with proven experience applying machine learning and large-scale data analysis to social or political phenomena, including misinformation or disinformation. Key skills: proficiency in Python or R; experience with NLP, network analysis, or AI-based detection methods; familiarity with large datasets from social media platforms or digital trace data. 

 

If you think your profile fits any of the areas above please get in touch with us by writing to uni.c.martini@gmail.com 

Please send:

Short Research Proposal (1 page)
Academic CV
Complete list of publications highlighting 3 most relevant to the proposed research

 

Timeline

• Expression of Interest submission deadline: 20 March 2026
• Communication of preliminary selection: 30 March 2026
• Official Applications: Mid-April 2026
• Close of Applications: Mid-May 2026
• Final Results: end-of-May 2026
• Estimated start of position: June 2026 (negotiable)

Salary
The salary follows the standard Italian rate for postdoctoral researchers: €34,000 gross per year (before taxes), inclusive of social security and pension contributions. The salary is fixed and non-negotiable.

About ODD 

We are a research team funded by Horizon Europe and Italian Fund for Science (FIS2 Consolidator Grant) that studies science disinformation with both philosophical and experimental methods. We study the philosophical underpinnings of science disinformation, with a focus on pseudoscience and the problem of demarcation, and we apply our epistemological tools to designing social science experiments on the phenomena of mis- and disinformation. We also study how to limit the damage caused by disinformation, using experiments and our social lab, where we create simulated digital environments to understand how people can protect themselves against false or misleading information.

Our work extends beyond research. We are committed to fostering critical digital competencies from an early age, enabling individuals to make informed and responsible decisions concerning their health and psychological and physical well-being. To this end, we design and implement educational programmes in collaboration with schools, many of which participate in our randomised field experiments. Cognitive mechanisms that support the evaluation of information sources emerge early in development. However, these mechanisms are neither infallible nor immune to distortion; they can fail systematically and are often vulnerable to strategic manipulation. Our research investigates the structure and functioning of these evaluative processes, with particular attention to adolescence, and develops evidence-based interventions aimed at strengthening them.