DIGSUM's Digital Sociology group is looking for a new PhD candidate. The position is fully funded and salaried for four years. The work is to be carried out with us at Umeå University, Sweden.
Research profile
The work of the candidate will be in the area of public opinion dynamics, broadly defined. This includes the study of disinformation and misinformation, and also related phenomena such as conspiracy theories, propaganda, hate speech, and so on. A particular focus for the research is how these forms may occur under societal threats. Processes and phenomena of interest include polarization (of opinion), issue alignment, and other communicative practices on social media in relation to politics and democracy. The position is connected to the WASP-HS graduate school, which means that an emphasis on the role of algorithms, automation, and datafication is implied.
Requirements and qualifications
To possess basic eligibility, the applicant should hold an advanced degree, have completed studies equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, at least 60 of which at an advanced level, or in some other ways have acquired skills which are equivalent to this requirement.
To meet the requirements for individual eligibility, an applicant must have satisfactorily undertaken courses within sociology or any other relevant discipline equivalent to at least 90 higher education credits and 60 higher education credits at advanced level (magister level), or equivalent competence.
We are looking for a candidate who will work with digital communication data using a mixed-method approach. This means that an orientation towards both interpretive/qualitative and computational methods is qualifying for the position. Some of the research may have an experimental element, which means that a background in social psychology can be a merit.
Since the research will be conducted in an international and interdisciplinary research environment, the ability to collaborate and contribute to teamwork, and a very good command of the English language is important.
Application and deadline
The application is to be submitted via our e-recruitment system no later than August 16 2023. Click the button below for more details about the position and how to apply.