The Department of Communication and Arts (DCA), Roskilde University,
invites applications for a position as Postdoc or PhD-student studying digital
alternative news use from February 1st, 2024, or as soon as possible
thereafter. The position as Postdoc is full-time and limited to 2 years. The
position as PhD-student is a 3 year full-time educational position.
Department of Communication and Arts
Your daily workplace will be Department of Communication and Arts at Roskilde
University. DCA covers RUCs Communication programs (Communication, Journalism,
and Performance Design) and Art programs (Danish, Philosophy, History, and
Cultural Encounters). We conduct excellent, interdisciplinary research in the
intersection between Communication, Cultural Studies, Social Science, and
Humanities, and offer an innovative and interdisciplinary university
environment, characterized by diversity with respect to theory, method, and
area of study in research and education. Our research is characterized by
double impact, i.e. by the highest academic quality, and by a direct
interaction with public, private and civil actors in the society.
We have strong research networks and partnerships with local, regional,
national, and international partners with the goal of ensuring the highest
quality in all our research-based activities.
The position is part of the research project AlterUse Digital
Alternative News Use in Denmark, funded by the Independent Research Fund
Denmark. The project is located at Roskilde Universitys Center for Digital
Citizenship (https://ruc.dk/en/forskningscenter/centre-digital-citizenship) and the
successful applicant will be associated with the newly established research
group Digital Publics and the Digital Media Lab at the Department of
Communication and Arts. The successful applicant will collaborate closely with
the project leader Associate Professor Eva Mayerhöffer, as well as with the
other members of the research group.
About the project
The AlterUse project will analyze to which degree and in what ways Danish news
users are exposed to alternative news sources on digital platforms. Todays
digital media landscape offers a wealth of different, non-traditional sources
of information, including providers of so-called alternative news that seek to
provide a counterweight to a perceived political and media mainstream. The
exposure to such alternative news sources can contribute to a more diverse and
inclusive news diet, but also bears the risks of exposing users to misleading,
biased or even hateful or conspiratorial messages. Yet, we still know
relatively little about who the users of alternative news sources are, how they
find these sources, and how they integrate them into their overall news
repertoires. To answer these questions, AlterUse will combine a large-scale web
tracking study with representative survey data and qualitative audience
research.
As part of the project, the successful candidate will have the opportunity
to impact the development of an innovative and collegial research environment
centered around a shared interest in digital publics and the social and
political consequences of current developments in digital technologies. As part
of a larger network of related research projects we aim to push the boundaries
of mixed-methods research in media and communication studies, combining
state-of-the-art computational methods and qualitative approaches to study
digital media users and content.
AlterUse is conducted in close cooperation with the research projects AlterPublics
- Alternative Media and Ideological Counterpublics and #echopol Modelling
polarization dynamics on Danish Social Media, as well as international partners
at the University in Bern, Switzerland and other European universities. The
successful candidate will have the opportunity for an extended mobility period
at a relevant international research institution, as well as the possibility to
attend international conferences and workshops. The project also provides
opportunities for advanced method training.
Specifically for the Postdoc position:
The successful candidate can apply for a 1-year teaching position as extension
to the postdoc position to obtain pedagogical training and gain teaching and
supervision qualifications. The extension is subject to the teaching demand at
the department.
Specifically for the PhD position:
Applicants for the Phd position will be enrolled as a PhD student at The
Doctoral School of Communication and Arts, Roskilde University, which offers a
doctoral programme in an active, dynamic and cross-disciplinary research
environment. The PhD program in Communication and Arts offers a number of
activities from international PhD courses and master classes with researchers
from around the world to writing retreats, frequent work-in-progress seminars
as well as informal activities. Read more here
https://ruc.dk/en/doctoral-school-communication-and-arts.
Qualifications
Applicants for the Postdoc position must hold a PhD or the equivalent within
media and communication studies, journalism studies, digital humanities, social
data science or an adjacent field in the humanities, social sciences or data
sciences.
Applicants for the PhD position must have a strong educational background
and a completed masters degree (or equivalent) within the social sciences and
the humanities, for instance in media and communication studies, journalism
studies, political science, sociology/anthropology, social data science,
digital humanities or related disciplines.
The candidate is furthermore expected to demonstrate:
- Experience or documented interest in quantitative audience research through
surveys
- Experience or documented interest in either
- computational methods to collect and analyze web tracking and other forms
of digital trace data or
- methods within qualitative audience research (such as qualitative
interviewing, media diaries, Q-methodology, netnography).
- An interest in mixed-method research designs and the willingness to acquire
competencies in the remaining research methods applied in the project.
- Very good command of oral and written English; experience in publishing in
English is considered an asset.
- Good command of Danish or another Scandinavian language is considered an
asset.
Responsibilities and tasks
The contribution of the successful candidate to the overall project will be
determined based on the candidates academic profile and interest and can consist
in the collection and analysis of representative survey data, of large-scale
web tracking data, as well as qualitative audience research of alternative news
users in Denmark. The successful candidate is expected to contribute to the
further development of the overall research design as well as the
interpretation of research findings across work packages.
The candidate is moreover expected to:
- Be an active collaborative partner in the research project.
- Conduct and complete an independent research project in collaboration with
the group.
- Publish independently and in collaboration with the research PI and group
in relevant peer reviewed journals.
- Present research findings at relevant international conferences.
- Plan and participate in research seminars and network meetings.
- Contribute to popular dissemination of research findings.
- Participate actively in the research group Digital Publics and potentially
other relevant research groups at the department (Journalism & Democracy,
Audiences & Mediated Life).
- Be involved in the academic life at the Department of Communication and
Arts.
Specifically for the PhD position:
The PhD position is an educational position and the main tasks are in
accordance with chapter 3, Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the
Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions
(https://ufm.dk/en/legislation/prevailing-laws-and-regulations/education/files/engelsk-ph-d-bekendtgorelse.pdf)
The Phd student will be expected to:
- Complete an article-based PhD dissertation within the three-year project
period. This will require producing international journal articles and/or book
chapter publications, of which some may be written with other members of the
project team, including the project supervisor.
- Participate actively in PhD activities at the doctoral school and
contribute to a dynamic PhD environment.
Assessment
Specifically for the Postdoc position:
Applicants are asked to submit an individual research plan (max. 2 pages,
4800 signs, incl. spaces) that outlines the applicants proposed contribution
to the implementation and further development of the project design. A full
academic description of the projects aims is available upon request.
In the assessment of the candidates, consideration will be given to:
- Quality of the individual research plan
- Scientific production and research prospective.
- Ability to promote and utilize research results.
- Ability to collaborate closely with research partners.
- Ability to contribute to the development of the departments internal and
external cooperation.
- Any additional academic requirements stated in the job advertisement.
Specifically for the PhD position:
Applicants for the PhD position are asked to submit a PhD project description
(max. 5 pages, i.e. 12,000 signs, incl. spaces). The project description should
outline the project proposed by the applicant and specify how the project
relates to the research objectives of the overall project. The project
description should also specify, how the proposed PhD project can be
accomplished theoretically, methodologically and empirically.
Find guidelines for PhD job applications here: https://ruc.dk/en/doctoral-school-communication-and-arts#accordion-Application-and-admission.
In the assessment of the candidates, consideration will be given to:
Questions
The successful candidate who is offered the position can apply for a 1-year
teaching position as extension to the postdoc position to obtain pedagogical
training and gain teaching and supervision qualifications. The extension is
subject to the teaching demand at the department.
For further information about the position, and to obtain a full academic
description of the project, please contact PI Eva Mayerhöffer: evamay@ruc.dk or
tel. (+45) 71720445.
For questions about the doctoral school, please contact the Head of the
Doctoral School, Rikke Andreassen (rikkean@ruc.dk).
For questions about the Department of Communication and Arts, you are also
welcome to contact Dean Ida Willig, idaw@ruc.dk.
The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish
Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC)
and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.
Application procedure
After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for
assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the
chairperson of the assessment committee.
Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified
whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.
The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the
assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to
comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.
Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed
of the outcome of their application.
Application
To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/
Only applications in English are accepted.
Postdoc - Applications must include:
- Cover letter
- CV
- Documentation of education
- Teaching portfolio (read more about teaching portfolio at Roskilde
University here)
- A complete list of publications
- A maximum of 5 relevant scientific works that you want included in the
assessment
If any of the publications that you want included in the assessment
are the result of a joint effort, the extent and the nature of your
contribution to each individual work must then be clarified in a co-author
statement (find template here)
Ph.d. - Applications must include:
- Cover letter
- CV
- Documentation of education including grades from Masters programme or
equivalent
- Your description of the PhD project
- Your time schedule of the PhD project
- If applicable: Documentation for any research experience, work
experience or publications.
We expect job interviews to be held in week 50, 2023.
Please submit your application no later than October 20, 2023.
Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration.
Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes
applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal
background.
Roskilde Universitets
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