José van Dijck

José van Dijck is a Professor of Comparative Media Studies at the University of Amsterdam and President of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) since 2015. She has held academic leadership roles including Dean of Humanities (2008-2011) and Chair of the Department of Media Studies (2002-2007) at the University of Amsterdam, as well as founding director of the Research School for Mediastudies (RMeS) (2011-2015). Her work is situated within media technologies, digital culture, social media, and the popularisation of science and medicine, among other fields.

• BA/MA: University of Utrecht
• PhD: Comparative Literature, University of California, San Diego (UCSD, 1992)

Van Dijck’s research focuses on the intersection of media technologies and digital culture, emphasizing the role of social media in shaping contemporary communication. She has extensively explored the popularisation of science and medicine through media, alongside television’s cultural impact. Her seminal book, The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of Social Media (Oxford University Press, 2013), synthesizes her work on digital culture and connectivity.

She has received prestigious honors, including election as a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (2010) and the Royal Dutch Society of Sciences (2012). Notable awards include a National Roadmap for Large-scale Research Infrastructures grant (co-applicant, 2014) and Fulbright scholarships (1992, 1996). Her international academic engagements include visiting professorships at institutions like the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School and the University of Technology, Sydney.

• Grants (2001-2015): Total principal and co-applicant grants of 4.1 million euro
• Leadership: Co-founder of RMeS, Chair of Media Studies (2002-2007)