Postdoc in Digital Counterpublics and Echo Chambers

Raket Webbyrå AB; Roskilde; On-site; DKK 373,134 - 522,388; Full time

Job summary

Raket Webbyrå AB is seeking a Postdoc in Digital Counterpublics and Echo Chambers at Roskilde University for a 24-month period. The successful candidate will conduct independent research on ideological counterpublics and echo chambers, contribute to projects funded by the Carlsberg Foundation and the Independent Research Fund Denmark, and engage in teaching duties. Ideal candidates have a PhD in relevant fields, strong skills in digital methods, and proficiency in English. The position offers opportunities for collaboration within a dynamic research environment.

Qualifications

• Experience or documented interest in digital and computational methods and analysis of digital trace data.
• Very good command of oral and written English.
• Good command of Danish or another Scandinavian language is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Be an active collaborative partner in the research projects.
• Conduct and complete independent research.
• Publish independently in peer-reviewed journals.
• Participate and present research findings at international conferences.
• Co-organise and participate in project-related seminars.

Skills

Digital and computational methods

Automated text analysis

Natural language processing (NLP)

Agent-based modelling

Communication skills

Publishing in English

Education

PhD or equivalent in media and communication studies, social data science or related field

Job description

Postdoc in Digital Counterpublics and Echo Chambers

The Department of Communication and Arts (DCA) at Roskilde University invites applications for a postdoc position in Digital Counterpublics and Echo Chambers. The position has a duration of 24 months, and the successful applicant is expected to start February 1st, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Postdoc’s daily workplace will be the Department of Communication and Arts at Roskilde University. DCA covers RUC’s Communication programs (Communication, Journalism, and Performance Design) and Art programs (Danish, Philosophy, History, and Cultural Encounters). We conduct interdisciplinary research in the intersection between Communication, Cultural Studies, Social Science, and Humanities, and offer an innovative and interdisciplinary university environment, marked 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 society. We have strong research networks and partnerships with local, regional, national, and international partners to ensure the highest quality in all our research-based activities.

The successful candidate will be connected to the section Technology and Publics, as well as the research group Digital Publics and Trust (DOT), Centre for Digital Citizenship, and Digital Media Lab.

The Position

The postdoc position is part of the research projects Alternative Media and Ideological Counterpublics (AlterPublics), funded by the Carlsberg Foundation, and #Echopol – Modelling polarization dynamics on Danish social media, funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark. The postdoc will contribute to these projects independently but will benefit from a high level of theoretical and methodological synergy between the two projects.

The AlterPublics project investigates the formation of digital ideological counterpublics by empirically mapping alternative news sharing environments on social media in four European countries (Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Austria). The #Echopol project aims to investigate the formation of digital echo chambers and related polarization dynamics in a Danish context. The use and development of computational methods, including large‑scale social network analysis, natural language processing and agent‑based modelling, is a defining feature for both projects. In AlterPublics, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop and conduct a sub‑study that builds on the project’s existing large‑scale social media data set. In #Echopol, the successful candidate will contribute to the development of agent‑based models (ABM) with particular focus on the analysis of social media data used for the external validation of ABM.

The postdoc will work in close collaboration with the PI, Associate Professor Eva Mayerhöffer, and #Echopol Co‑PI Jens Ulrik Hansen.

The postdoc position includes some teaching duties and tasks related to the section and research group.

The successful candidate can apply for a 1‑year teaching position as an extension to the postdoc position to obtain further pedagogical training and gain teaching and supervision qualifications. The extension is subject to the teaching demand at the department.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in media and communication studies, social data science, or an adjacent field in the humanities, social sciences, or data sciences.
• Experience or documented interest in digital and computational methods and analysis of digital trace data.
• Experience or documented interest in automated text analysis and natural language processing (NLP).
• Previous experience or documented interest in agent‑based modelling is considered an asset, but not a requirement.
• Very good command of oral and written English and experience in publishing in English.
• Good command of Danish or another Scandinavian language is considered an asset.

The ideal candidate shall be enterprising and possess good communication skills, be visible, and involved in the department’s daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration across the DCA.

Responsibilities and tasks

• Be an active collaborative partner in the research projects.
• Conduct and complete independent research in collaboration with the group.
• Publish independently and in collaboration with the PIs and the group in relevant peer‑reviewed journals.
• Participate and present research findings at relevant international conferences.
• Co‑organise and participate in project‑related seminars, network meetings and research workshops.
• Contribute to popular dissemination of research findings and stakeholder activities.
• Be an active and present colleague.

The employment is full time, 37 hours per week, and refers to Section Chair, Ib T. Gulbrandsen.

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.