Now is the ideal time to apply for a PhD - from January 2024, we are launching a large project DigiWELL - Excellent Research in Digital Technologies and Wellbeing, supported by the Operational Programme Jan Amos Komenský (OP JAK) in the Excellent Research Call (project duration: 2024 - 2028).

DigiWELL is a project connecting eight universities and research institutes in the Czech Republic. IRTIS focuses on research on the short- and long-term impacts of the use of digital technologies on well-being of the general population. We will analyse existing data (mainly from the FUTURE project) as well as design and implement new studies (longitudinal design, ecological momentary assessment studies, experimental studies). Our primary target population is adolescents (12-17 years) and adults (18-59 years).

We will focus on psychological, social, and physical well-being. This includes topics such as the impact of social networking sites on body image or aggression, the impact of using mHealth apps on physical activity, the impact of online interactions on relationship quality and loneliness, etc. In a longitudinal data collection in the adolescent population (5 waves), we will also collect data from one of the adolescents' parents and thus, we will also address aspects related to digital parenting. The specific content of the planned collections (the selection of well-being indicators or specific online activities) will be addressed in the first year of the project and is quite flexible. It is therefore possible to come up with your own idea, prepare and pre-register a study with the support of supervisor(s), and then implement it within the project.

  David Šmahel: leads ecological momentary assessment studies using objective smartphone data. Similar studies have already been done in the FUTURE project; see information: https://irtis.muni.cz/working-groups/adolescents-on-smartphones. He will also be involved in longitudinal studies. He mainly deals with ICT and health, physical well-being, the impact of mHealth apps, eHealth literacy, AI, etc. Contact David at smahel@fss.muni.cz

 Hana Macháčková: in DigiWELL, she leads experimental studies focusing on factors influencing the use of technology for health purposes (e.g., issues related to dis/trust in health apps). Since January 2024, Hanka has also been working on PACC, a project about online anonymity (exploring how to measure it and how anonymity affects our online behaviour). In longitudinal studies, she will focus on psychological well-being. Contact Hanka at hmachack@fss.muni.cz

 Lenka Dědková: leads a research line on parents and the internet. In DigiWELL project (see https://irtis.muni.cz/research/projects/digiwell), she is responsible for the longitudinal survey on adolescents and parents, and she is the principal investigator of her project focused on parental knowledge of early adolescent's online social activities (see https://irtis.muni.cz/research/projects/parka). She can supervise doctoral students with interests in digital parenting, online socializing and the effects of ICTs on social well-being, or generally topics related to understanding online risks. Contact Lenka at ldedkova@fss.muni.cz

All three can supervise doctoral students at the Department of Media Studies and Journalism and the Department of Psychology (FSS MUNI). David Šmahel is also available to supervise at the Faculty of Informatics of MU.

What to send:

• A cover letter (including what topic you are interested in),
• CV (specifically elaborate on your methodological and analytical skills and your research experience, if you already have some, mention what you have written/are writing your thesis about)

Contacting your selected supervisor to talk about your ideas is important for your successful application. For information about the specifics of the program (study program, requirements, how to apply, when and how your application should look), please see https://www.fss.muni.cz/en/faculty-of-social-studies/admissions/doctoral-studies (or Czech version, https://www.fss.muni.cz/pro-uchazece/doktorske-studium). Please note that students in English doctoral programs have to pay tuition. You can find the amount on the provided websites.

This text was translated using DeepL.