Postdoctoral position in the study of digital interfaces of mobilization and participation at the Department of Communication, University of Copenhagen

The Center for Tracking & Society, Department of Communication (COMM), Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), invites applications for a postdoctoral position in the study of digital interfaces of mobilization and participation with computational social science methods from 1 March 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position is a fixed term position for 2 years.

Job content
The postdoc will be part of the project INTERFACED Interfaces for Democratic Participation: Deliberation, Mobilization and Contestation Since the Onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic funded by Horizon Europe and will work alongside co-principal investigator Associate Professor Christina Neumayer. Amidst the rise in protest, democratic and scientific mistrust, as well as growing societal divisions and inequalities heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic, INTERFACED investigates the diverse forms of political participation that have arisen subsequently. Across eight European countries (Austria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom) and Tunisia, we distinguish participation interfaces between citizens and representative institutions to then investigate their capacity to include citizens within decision-making and governance. Combining large-scale surveys and experiments with computational, ethnographic, textual, and comparative qualitative methods, INTERFACED will produce new and innovative research findings, from which to scaffold policy recommendations to maximize the mobilization and minimize the demobilization of the least engaged and most disadvantaged social groups.

In collaboration with the co-PI at UCPH, the postdoc investigates digital citizen mobilization interfaces (e.g., social media, chat-groups or online petition platforms) during the pandemic and the period following it to understand the role they played in political participation; and consider how flows of (dis)information have led to protest, and participation of other kinds. We study the linkages made online between actors, how networks of pandemic-related movements developed over time and in relation to democratic institutions; identify key moments of participation as well as relevant case studies of de/mobilization and relational mechanisms that are at play and traceable through digital interfaces; and illuminate modes of mobilization and participation of otherwise disengaged and underrepresented groups through digital interfaces. We combine methods from computational social science to map linkages between actors (e.g., social network analysis); quantitative methods from media and communication studies to identify themes and issues for mobilization and participation (e.g., content analysis), and qualitative analysis to identify visual narratives and emotional visual appeals (e.g., visual metaphors of anger, pride and sympathy), discourses and symbols that travel through digital interfaces (e.g., visual media analysis or visual framing analysis).

The postdoc will be affiliated with the Center for Tracking & Society at the Department of Communication at UCPH and will work in close cooperation with the international INTERFACED consortium. There will be ample opportunity for exchange and collaboration with postdocs and senior researchers in the consortium.

Qualification requirements and assessment criteria
Employment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.

More information on careers at UCPH and the requirement for the different academic positions is available on: 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.

The successful candidate will have, or is about to be awarded, a PhD in computational social science, media and/or communication studies, sociology, political science, or a related discipline, have good command of computational social science methods and/or digital media analysis methods as well as an interest in civic or political participation, social movements, political parties, and digital/social media.

Furthermore, emphasis will be placed on the following:

• Experience with computational social science methods / digital data analysis methods, and data collection from various digital/social media platforms.
• A developing publication record in good quality publications.
• Good written and verbal communication skills and an ability to communicate research findings effectively to both specialist and lay audiences including project stakeholders such as policymakers, party, or social movement representatives, in order to generate impact.
• Interest in civic or political participation, social movements, political parties, digital media, and political communication.
• Knowledge of a range of research methods.
• Ability to work effectively in a team, together with the principal investigator at UCPH and the other members of the consortium, as well as independently; to recognize when to seek advice and to meet collective deadlines.

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 of research management. In addition, the applicant’s research plan and research potential will be assessed in relation to the overall project described above.

Application
Applications must be submitted online in PDF or Word format. Click on the Apply now button at the bottom of this advertisement to apply.

Applications may be written in English and must include the following attachments:

1. Letter of motivation
2. CV
3. Documentation of qualifications (exam certificates and PhD diploma)
4. Complete publication list (attached publications must be marked with an asterisk). The list must be structured systematically and divided into the following categories:
   • Peer-reviewed publications:
     • Monographs and anthologies
     • Articles in journals
     • Book chapters/anthology contributions, etc.
   • Non-peer-reviewed publications:
     • Publications disseminating research findings, etc.
   • Applicants can attach a maximum of 3 publications. The publication dates must be clearly marked on the list. The selected publications must be uploaded as attachments and numbered 1-3.
5. Research plan

Only documentation in English or Danish will be assessed.

Applicants are invited to familiarize themselves with the faculty’s strategic landmarks here: Strategic landmarks – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

Salary and terms of employment
Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The salary range starts at DKK 38,575 (EUR approximately 5,170) + a 17,1 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

The recruitment process
Once the deadline for applications has expired, the Head of Department will consider advice from the appointment committee and select applicants for assessment. All applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted. The Head of Department will then set up an expert assessment committee to consider the applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. They will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee’s assessment of their application before the appointment is announced.

Further information on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here: Recruitment process – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

An Equal Opportunity Workplace
The University of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc. For more on the diverse working place environment at the University and the University’s participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in Research, see HR Excellence in Research – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

International applicant?
The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark here: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

Contact information
Information about the recruitment process is available from HR, email: [email protected] - please refer to ID number: 211-2013/24-2I #1,

Additional information about the position can be obtained from Associate Professor Christina Neumayer, email: [email protected].

The deadline for applications is 22 December 2024, 23:59 (Central European Time).

Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered.