Two postdoctoral positions in platform studies at the Faculty of Humanities

at  Kbenhavns Universitet

The research project Power over Platforms hosted at The Center for Tracking and Society in the Department of Communication, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), invites applications for two full-time postdoctoral position to be filled by 1 March 2025 (or as soon as possible thereafter). The chosen candidates will be employed at the Faculty of Humanities, Department of Communication.
The positions are fixed term positions for three years.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Employment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.
Applicants must have a background in digital media and communications research, including as a social scientist researching digital media and communications.
More information on careers at UCPH and the requirements for different academic positions is available at:
Career at The University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
For more about postdoc positions and qualification requirements, see the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities: Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (ufm.dk)
Applicants will primarily be assessed in relation to their research qualifications, including their publications, ability to conduct independent research and participate in research collaborations, and their experience with research management. In addition, the applicant’s research plan and research potential will be assessed in relation to the Power of Platforms project described above.

As a postdoc on the project, you are expected to contribute to an empirical mapping of actors seeking to influence platform companies, analyze their strategies, and how the context, object, and goal of their efforts influence outcomes.
We are especially interested in applicants with theoretical and methodological qualifications from within the broad field of digital media and communications research, and social scientists interested in digital media and communications.
Experience with platform studies with an emphasis on governance and a track record of relevant empirical work is an advantage. An interest in governance issues around content moderation, privacy and data protection, and generative artificial intelligence is welcome. So is an ability to work in one or more major EU languages (e.g. German, French) in addition to English. Applicants with previous experience in qualitative fieldwork, document analysis, and similar relevant empirical approaches will be preferred.

The work will include:

• Mapping actors involved in platform governance across different countries.
• Identifying key individuals working in this area, documenting their career trajectory.
• Interviewing individuals involved in platform governance networks, across civil society, interest groups, platform companies, companies in other sectors, and other relevant actors.
• Fieldwork at relevant events across the world, including potentially longer research stays in relevant locations.
• Capturing and analyzing platform governance debates as they play out online and offline.

You will be expected to publish scientific articles within the context of the project, and to participate in the organization of activities and research events. As postdoc at the Department of Communication you will be part of an internationally oriented interdisciplinary environment focused on advancing theoretical, methodological and empirical research about digital society.