[phd studentships: multidisciplinary new media learning]

KTH – The Royal Institute of Technology – in Stockholm, Sweden
School of Computer Science and Communication (CSC) seeks
3-6 PhD students in Human Computer Interaction and
1 PhD student in Media Technology

The department of HCI conducts research within Human Computer Interaction, which is the study of the interaction between humans and computerized technical systems. The subject is multi-disciplinary and embraces computer science methods and tools to design system functionality adapted to the user, human science theories and methods to understand, evaluate and improve computerized technical systems for human use. It also includes methodologies for design of interactive computer systems.

Anticipated specializations
1. Perceptualization
2. Processes of change
3. Mobile digital services
4. Visualization
5. Computer supported cooperation
6. E-learning


The Department of Media Technology and Graphic Arts is a multidisciplinary group focused on technology and methods for supporting human communication over distances in time and space. This includes a wide area of media, from printing and publishing to digital interactive media, from broadcast media to mobile social media. Our education and research also cover the implications and effects of using media technologies from human, social and design perspectives.

Anticipated specialization
7. E-learning

Application deadline: May 17, 2010


For more information, please visit:
http://www.kth.se/om/work-at-kth/vacancies/phd-students-in-human-computer-interaction-and-media-technology-1.58530?l=en_UK

[fellowship opportunity at warwick]

Research Fellow

University of Warwick - Department of Film and Television Studies

£27,319 - £35,646 pa

This is an exciting opportunity to work on a major new project funded by the AHRC. You will assist the project investigators (Dr Rachel Moseley, Dr Helen Wheatley, (University of Warwick) Dr Helen Wood (De Montfort University) in the successful execution of the project, undertaking original research to explore television programming made for and watched by women viewers during this significant period. You will explore the production culture, policies and decision-making which have produced television programming for women in Britain in the specified period. You will also reconstruct and analyse the programming itself, contributing to a project that aims to establish and protect that programming available in the archives. Your research will address some of the gaps in existing histories of British television and will involve substantial time working in written and audio-visual archives in Britain. There is scope within this project for you to develop your own research themes within the bounds of the project.

You will have a PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant field, experience of conducting archival research and textual analysis of television programmes or similar, a developing profile of research publications, administrative experience or capabilities and a commitment to a feminist research agenda.

Fixed Term Contract for 36 months

Informal enquiries: Dr Helen Wheatley, Department of Film and Television Studies, University of Warwick e-mail: Helen.Wheatley@warwick.ac.uk or tel: 024 7657 3871

Interview date: w/c 31 May 2010

Read more about the post here.

Note: Image from Wikimedia.

[creative industry phd opportunities: queensland uni]

Calling for applications for the upcoming scholarship round at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation in Brisbane, Australia:

Queensland University of Technology
ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation (CCI)
Research Higher Degree Project Opportunities

                   
September 2009 Scholarship Round

If you are considering applying for a scholarship in the current September round to pursue postgraduate research studies you may wish to consider connecting with projects we have in development here at the Centre (CCI) and pursue your studies with us at QUT. These projects will link you with industry, government or other partners in order to enhance your networks, the applications of your research, and potentially open up career opportunities as a result of your studies.

Here are a few of the project areas to give you a taste of these opportunities:

* Innovation and sustainability in Australian games and interactive entertainment with companies such as Firemint and Infinite Interactive, and government agencies such as the Australia Council (key contact person John Banks Ph: (07) 3138 8764; email: ja.banks@qut.edu.au)

* Australia's creative engagements with Asia in such fields as design, architecture, fashion and digital media with partners such as Austrade (Key contact person Michael Keane Ph: (07) 3138 3757;email: m.keane@qut.edu.au)

* Designing creative clusters in China and Japan with partners such as Arup (Key contact person Justin O'Connor ph: 0402 395 008; email: justin.oconnor@qut.edu.au)

* International development and empowerment through ICTs in south Asia with partners such as Intel and UNESCO (Key Contact Person: Jo Tacchi Ph: (07) 3138 8178; email: j.tacchi@qut.edu.au)

* Urban regeneration and creative reuses of space with partners such as eastern seaboard city councils and state government agencies (Key Contact Person: Justin O'Connor Ph: 0402 395 008; email: justin.oconnor@qut.edu.au)

Please note the QUT closing date for scholarship applications is Wednesday 30 September for international students and Friday 9 October 2009 for domestic students.

To apply go to: http://www.rsc.qut.edu.au/future/scholarships/Annual_round_awards.jsp

If you have any questions in regards to the application process please contact Britta Froehling (Ph: (07) 3138 3716; email: britta.froehling@qut.edu.au).

General inquiries about the Centre's research agenda and supervision capacity can be addressed to the Director, Stuart Cunningham Ph: (07) 3138 3743; email: s.cunningham@qut.edu.au.

[blog survey: participation request]

I know very well what it's like as a ph.d researcher, trying to get first-hand responses. If you have time, consider helping out a ph.d student with his research:

My name is Ibrahim Yucel and I am a PhD candidate in the college of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State University. I am asking for participants in my study regarding reading internet blogs. This study is being conducted for research. Participation is completely voluntary, confidential, and there is no compensation.

Please follow the link below if you wish to participate. Thank you for your time. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=q8kT3okNwBP5VzFTKNTpVw_3d_3d

Ibrahim Yucel
PhD Candidate
College of Information Sciences and Technology
Penn State University
321D IST Building
University Park, PA 16802

[employment: phd in digital literacy practises of immigrant youth]

The digital literacy practices of immigrant youth for the formation of identity and learning networks (0.9 fte)

This project is focused on the analysis of the everyday digital literacy practices of Moroccan immigrant youth.While the past several years have seen an increasing amount of research on the digital literacy practices of youth, within and well beyond theNetherlands, relatively little of this work to date has focused on immigrant youth and their productions and interpretations of social media (e.g. weblogs, Hyves, YouTube, texting, Twitter, gaming). This project will provide a unique contribution to the field by developing ethnographic studies of youth as they use social media and integrate it into their everyday lives in the Netherlands.

We are particularly interested in how digital literacy practices are used to produce identities and learning networks. What are the shapes and scales of new media networks for Moroccan immigrant youth? How are these new networks changing, and how are they related to social networks with longer histories (e.g., extended family, community)? How do networks formed through practices with social media support the development of local, national, and transnational identities? How do such networks also structure new social spaces for learning?

These questions are addressed in this project through ethnographic research that will be augmented with other research methods, including social network analysis and survey data.

For more information see: www.uu.nl/wireduphttp://www.academictransfer.nl/organisaties/?adm_pin=00351&fuseaction=detail&Vacature_ID=B3KTUQY9

[socio-technical summer residency: US scholars only]

Such a shame that this amazing opportunity is only open to PhD students, post-docs and pre-tenure scholars at US institutions... If you're one of them, you'll definitely be interested in this call for participation:

2009 Summer Research Institute for the Science of Socio-Technical Systems: 11-15 June, 2009
At Syracuse University's Minnowbrook Conference Center, Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Application screening begins 2 March, 2009

Eligibility: Doctoral students, Post-doctoral scholars and pre-tenure faculty at US-based institutions.

Notification: Late March, 2009 Cost: Most will be covered for accepted participants

Background
---------------
A science of socio-technical systems is emerging from research in the fields of HCI, social computing, social informatics, CSCW, sociology of computing, and other domains. The Consortium for the Science of Socio-Technical Systems (CSST) is a new organization devoted to advancing research on socio-technical systems. Building on the success of the 2008 Summer Research Institute, the CSST will, again, be hosting a summer research institute for advanced doctoral students and pre-tenure faculty in summer, 2009. A primary goal of the institute is to build a new cohort of faculty and graduate students who are interested in research on the design and interplay of technology and humans at the level of individuals, groups, organizations, and larger communities.

Examples of this kind of work include research on:
* new forms of organizing (e.g., virtual organizations, massive online activities)
* social computing (e.g., online communities, social network sites);
* distributed work (e.g., collaboratories, virtual teams and organizations);
* new technologies (e.g., recommender systems, prediction markets, ubiquitous computing);
* novel forms of production (e.g., open source software, Wikipedia);
* new forms of expression and entertainment (e.g., blogs, wikis, massive multiplayer online role-playing games);
* information and communication technologies for developing regions (e.g., cell phone-based applications to assist economic development, infrastructure development for local economic action).

Institute faculty
-------------------
With funding from the NSF, the institute will bring together a faculty of distinguished scholars in the domain of socio-technical systems with up to 30 campers, drawn from among advanced doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows, and pre-tenure faculty conducting research on socio-technical systems.

Steve Sawyer, Syracuse University, Director Tom Finholt, University of Michigan, Co-Director Mark Ackerman, University of Michigan Bill Dutton, Oxford University Jonathan Grudin, Microsoft Corporation C. Suzanne Iacono, National Science Foundation Wendy Kellogg, IBM Wayne Lutters, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Tony Salvador, Intel Corporation Suzanne Weisband, University of Arizona

Institute goals
-----------------
The goals of the institute are to:
* Expand on and strengthen connections among the cohort of researchers in this area, and build on the network of relations formed through the 2008 Summer Research Institute.
* Guide the work of the new researchers by having experts in socio-technical systems research give advice.
* Provide encouragement and support for the selection of socio-technical systems research topics.
* Illustrate the interrelationship and diversity of the field of socio-technical systems research.

How to apply
----------------
The application process requires two parts:

1. A 300 word response to this question:
*How does your research advance our scientific understanding of socio-technical systems?
* A few references, particularly if they are not to your own work, may be helpful but are not required.

2. Your current curriculum vitae (as PDF or in a Word or WordPerfect format).
Please send this response as an attachment in a common word processor format or as PDF of an email with the email subject being CSST'09 application to csst2009@syr.edu.


For further information please visit si.umich.edu/csstinstitute.

[phd position: social media]

PhD Position in Sociality and Social Media

University of Amsterdam

(Noord-Holland), hours per week

Job description
We are seeking an individual who is excited about engaging in multidisciplinary approaches to studying information, communication and related technologies in a social context. The appointee will be expected to conduct research on sociality and social media; the research should lead to international journal publications and a PhD thesis. The research can combine multiple methods of investigation, qualitative as well as quantitative. The candidate will be supervised by Prof. Rik Maes and Dr Ard Huizing, who have extensive experience in guiding doctorate students' research, and can provide guidance in a wide range of research methods as well as access to a large set of local and multinational organizations.

Human relationships are increasingly mediated by social media such as social networking sites, micro-blogging services and social recommendation sites. Such new media are said to host new forms of group interaction and togetherness. Appealing to the human tendency to bind oneself with others and thus to form and join groups to engage in interdependent relationships, they afford sociality. In turn, the design and usage of social media are continually re-created and reshaped by participants or members translating, enacting and modifying these technologies to suit their various contexts. This project will explore the co-constitutive interplay between sociality and social media, and the implications of this interplay for design and design theory. Theoretical lenses are provided by those who theorize such notions as ‘object-centred sociality' or ‘the materialization of the subject', which are mainly being developed in social theory, social studies of technology and, increasingly, organization theory. The particular research questions will be framed in line with the interests of the PhD candidate.

Requirements
Required education/skills:

• Master's degree in one of the social sciences (e.g. Information or Communication Science, Management or Business Studies, Sociology or Anthropology)
• Interest (and preferably experience) in field research
  Demonstrated mastery of both written and spoken English
• Determination to complete a PhD degree within four years

Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Economics)

Organization
University of Amsterdam
The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is a university with an internationally acclaimed profile, located at the heart of the Dutch capital. As well as a world center for business and research, Amsterdam is a hub of cultural and media activities. The University of Amsterdam is a member of the League of European Research Universities.

The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) at the University of Amsterdam conducts international research and provides academic courses in information management/systems, accounting, finance, management, organization behaviour, strategy and marketing, economics, and econometrics. The Amsterdam Business School and the Amsterdam School of Economics form part of the FEB.

The Amsterdam Business School's Information Management section is seeking an outstanding individual to fill a PhD student position in the area of sociality and social media.

Conditions of employment
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: see below
Additional conditions of employment:
The appointment will initially be for 1.5 year, to be extended to a total of 4 years upon excellent performance (an evaluation will be held after 8 and 14 months). The salary will be in accordance with the university's regulations for academic personnel, and will range from €2042 (first year) up to a maximum of €2612 (final year) gross per month. The collective employment agreement of the Dutch universities will be applicable. The PhD thesis should be finalized within four years. In this period, the candidate will be expected to do some teaching (20% of the time).

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Dr Huizing
Telephone number: 31-20-525-4356
E-mail address: im-phd@uva.nl

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:

• About the organization (http://www.uva.nl/start.cfm/la=en/th=main)
• About the function (http://www.uva.nl/vacatures/vacatures.cfm/0F65D8D6-1321-B0BE-A48F280DF33B0D21)
• Amsterdam Business School (http://www.abs.uva.nl/abshome/home.cfm)
• Information Management section (http://primavera.fee.uva.nl/)

Application
You can apply for this job before 06-04-2009 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

Roetersstraat 11
1018 WB Amsterdam

E-mail: applications-feb@uva.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber AT 09-5006.

[CEDAR: doctoral training and research methods]

AHRC-funded doctoral training scheme, CEDAR (Collaborative Digital Research in the Humanities), organised by the Universities of Bangor (Dr Astrid Ensslin) and Aberystwyth (Dr Will Slocombe).

I'll be running the third session in May at the IOCT at DMU - transliteracy, multimodal writing/reading and (hopefully) the creativity assistant. Attendance is free, and a limited number of travel bursaries are available (see details in attachments). BUT priority is given to Ph.D students who are funded by the AHRC.



Read more about it here: CEDAR.pdf

Download the registration form here: Cedar_registration.doc

[postdoctoral research fellowships at the ioct]

Two fantastic opportunities to work at the IOCT:

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (two posts)

Institute of Creative Technologies (IOCT)

Three years fixed term

£29,138 - £31, 840 pa

You will work on ‘DMU Creative', a project which aims to provide a commercial showcase for the best creative work in the East Midlands by establishing a quality threshold and an advanced content management system. This project is funded by the HEIF (Higher Education Innovation Fund), which is an HEFCE funding stream designed to encourage and facilitate knowledge transfer, collaboration and outreach, in support of the development of innovative goods, services and policies. The undertaking or possession of a PhD is essential.

The two Research Fellows will work closely together to ensure a co-ordinated project. Responsibilities will include literature research, experimental work, software development, field trials, project documentation, seminar/workshop, technical/academic papers and laboratory support. The work will involve travelling within the UK.

Post 1 (ref. 5062): You will, in the first instance, establish a record label and associated internet radio station to connect with a large number of SMEs and micro-businesses working in music production across the region. This will be followed by similar endeavours in other fields of creative production. You will be based in the Music, Technology and Innovation Research Centre, which is a partner of the IOCT.

Post 2 (ref. 5063): You will undertake the creation of an advanced content management system that utilises broadband to bring the creative resources of the region together, to create a portal which promotes the regional creative works nationally and internationally, to establish by making them commercially available over a variety of connected devices, including TVs. You will be based in the Mechatronics Research Centre, which is also a partner of the IOCT.

Please quote relevant reference number.

Closing date: 7 October 2008.

Application forms and further details are available from our website: www.jobs-dmu.co.uk.

Alternatively telephone 0116 250 6433 (24 hour answerphone).

Or write to:
The Human Resources Team, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH.

[employment opportunity - virtual world learning]

Senior Research Assistant

The socio political impact of virtual world learning on higher education

Learning Innovation Group

£28,290 - £34,794 per annum

We are seeking an efficient, experienced researcher for a study funded by The Leverhulme Trust. The study seeks to explore ‘The socio political impact of virtual world learning on higher education' using participatory action research and will examine staff and students from a wide range of disciplines in Higher Education Institutions across the UK. It will investigate their conceptions of and decisions about the way in which they teach and learn at the socio-political boundaries of reality.

You will have a PhD in education or a related discipline and work closely with the Director of the Learning Innovation Group (Professor Maggi Savin-Baden) to ensure the smooth and efficient running of this study. This post will run for the duration of the study until starting on 10 September 2008, or as soon as possible thereafter. The post will be based at Coventry University, in the Learning Innovation Research Group.

Your experience will include working at a responsible level chiefly in a research environment and use of web 2.0 technologies and use of social networking platforms and familiarity with immersive world such as Second Life will be required. Reporting to the Director of the Learning Innovation Group you will undertake research and support the work of the PhD students appointed to on the project.

It is likely that interviews will take place on the 5th September.

[ioct honorary phd - howard rheingold]

Howard Rheingold received his honorary phd during the afternoon ceremony at DMU on the 16th of July...I received mine during the morning so we didn't managed to cross paths but here is a token from the day: Howard with Professor of New Media, Sue Thomas and Director of the IOCT, Professor Andrew Hugill:



Now...I just need to photoshop myself between my supervisor and advisor! (me jealous of the kodak moment...no........)


Note Howard's advice given during his acceptance address: "Pay attention to irrelevant details and follow intriguing but useless connections."

[my phd graduation day - july 16 2008]

It feels like grad actually arrived quite quickly. I submitted the thesis the first day back after Christmas hols in Jan.'08, had the viva in Feb. and then the graduation ceromony the same year! I was the last graduand to be awarded a degree during the ceremony and had time to admire the surroundings. De Montfort Hall was filled with smiling graduates, the organ player who leant an air of tradition to the proceedings and numerous proud and loud friends and family. I can't believe it's all happened and now I can look back and it's already the past and I got to wear that bonnet!

I had an amazing supervisor - a great teacher and supporter (check out the lovely post she wrote) - Prof. Sue Thomas who was there at grad. dressed up in her finery. Thanks Sue! My thesis advisor, Prof. Andrew Hugill also helped me immensely though sadly I missed him at my grad. ceremony (I think he was busy with honourary PhD recipient Howard Rheingold who received his own degree that same Wednesday afternoon!). Thanks too to my external examiner Dr. Ruth Page who helped me be the first ever IOCT phd graduate!

[phd studentships - virtual worlds and pedagogy]

The Socio-Political Impact of Virtual World Learning on Higher Education

Applications are invited for three three-year, fulltime PhD research studentships for a study funded by The Leverhulme Trust. The study seeks to explore ‘The socio political impact of virtual world learning on higher education' . This study will use participatory action research to examine staff and students from a wide range of disciplines in Higher Education Institutions across the UK. It will investigate their conceptions of and decisions about the way in which they teach and learn at the socio-political boundaries of reality. This study will focus on the exploration of three main themes and a studentship will be attached to each theme

1. Students' experiences of learning in immersive worlds.
2. Pedagogical design.
3. Learner identity.

For more info see here: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/jobs/SL655/Three_fulltime_PhD_research_studentships/

[phd studentships: information networks]

ISTR - Institute for Social and Technical Research> University of Essex> Subjects: Computing and Computer Science Geography - Human > Information Sciences Information Technology Media and > Communications Sociology Telecommunications>>

We invite applications for two BT/EPSRC CASE Studentships:

1. “The life-course of networked public and private media assets” (Supervisors: Dr Ben Anderson & Dr Rebecca Ellis) – based in the Technology and Social Change Research Centre - http://chimeraweb.essex.ac.uk/tasc/
2. “Capturing concerns in information networks” (Supervisors: Dr Michael Gardner & Prof. Vic Callaghan) – based in the Digital Lifestyles Centre - http://www.essex.ac.uk/dces/research/groups/digital/info.htm

The studentships, jointly sponsored by the EPSRC and British Telecommunications plc (BT) will provide an opportunity to carry out research and training in a three-year programme leading to a PhD.

For more info and how to apply see http://www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk/studyfunding/3017

[shameless ego boost!]

Catching up on some blog reading today and happily found myself reading Ruth Page's excellent Digital Narratives blog... her most recent post couldn't have been better (for me anyway!)

Ruth hasn't blogged for a while as she's been super busy and she tells us a few things that formed part of her hectic schedule...including me:

"...and then examining a PhD (which was an absolute pleasure and successful for the candidate - well done Jess)."


ahhhh. basking in some good vibes.

Thanks Ruth!