Postdoctoral positions in Datafied work
The Center for Tracking & Society at the Department of Communication, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark, invites applications for one or two full-time postdoctoral positions for a duration of up to 2 years in Datafied work to be filled by 1 January 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Job content
The position is part of the Datafied Living research project which runs 2021-2025 and is funded by the ERC (datafiedliving.ku.dk). The candidate’s research activities will advance the aims of the Datafied Living project regarding empirical studies of how digital tracking and datafication affects work practices and decision-making in key welfare institutions (such as education and healthcare) and private sector organisations; and how datafied societies should respond to such developments.
Datafied Living is a collective and interdisciplinary research project that combines infrastructural and user-centered studies of digital tracking of individuals across personal, work, and institutional domains in Denmark. The project team undertakes systematic empirical research on the technological underpinnings, ordinary experiences, and social consequences of datafied life in the Danish welfare state, using qualitative fieldwork as well as data-driven approaches. By leveraging an empirical knowledge base on the datafication of human existence, the project aims to advance human-centric perspectives and policy-oriented impact regarding the use of personal data across domains of everyday life to the benefit of people and society.
As postdoc in Datafied Living you will be expected to, independently and in collaboration with other researchers in the team, contribute to advancing empirical datafication research along one or more of the following lines:
- Developing organizational studies of datafication that can inform current and future policy making around data, work, and algorithmic management.
- Developing empirical studies of how digital tracking and data-driven decision-making transform professional work and workplaces.
- Linking empirical developments in datafied work and algorithmic management to current regulatory efforts at the national and EU levels.
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 within the project. Depending on the pandemic situation, the chosen candidate will have an opportunity for a short research stay with one of the project’s international collaborators.
The postdoc will teach in one of the Department’s educations in up to 20 % of the employment.
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.
Qualification requirements
To be considered for the position, applicants must have research qualifications at least corresponding to what can be achieved as part of a successfully completed PhD within a relevant field. We particularly welcome applicants with a background in organizational studies, HCI, or law to add to our interdisciplinary team.
For more about postdoc positions and qualification requirements, see the Ministry of Education and Research’s Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.
For further information about the position, please contact project PI Stine Lomborg, e-mail: slomborg@hum.ku.dk.
Application
All applications must be submitted online, in PDF or Word format, via the link “Apply for the position” at the bottom of the page.
Applications may be written in Danish or English and must include the following attachments:
- Personal statement (max. one page)
- CV (max. two pages)
- Documentation of qualifications (exam certificates and PhD diploma)
- 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 three publications. The publication dates must be clearly marked on the list. The selected publications must be uploaded as attachments and numbered 1–3.
- Peer-reviewed publications:
- A research plan that includes a brief description of previous research, current research areas and upcoming research, and also accounts for experience with research organisation, research collaborations, international relations and any external/intersectoral collaborations (max. three pages).
- Documentation of teaching competencies/teaching portfolio (see the UCPH guidelines for teaching portfolios here) and other work on the dissemination of research.
Only material in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and English, will be evaluated.
Assessment criteria
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.
Teaching qualifications are not a requirement, but if the postdoc is expected to teach, then documented teaching experience can be included in the overall assessment.
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 Dean 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 about the application procedure can be found on the University of Copenhagen’s website: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ and at HRSC, e-mail: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk. Please state ID number 211-1573/23-2I #1 on request.
Further information about the position is available from project PI Stine Lomborg, e-mail: slomborg@hum.ku.dk.
Remuneration and terms of employment
The appointment is for a fixed term up to 24 months and will be made in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). In addition, a total pension contribution of 17.1% of salary and pensionable supplements will be allocated. It will be possible to negotiate further supplements on the basis of qualifications.
We seek to reflect the breadth and diversity of society and encourage applications irrespective of personal background.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 [CET] on 19 October 2023.
Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.