Postdoc Researcher in Computational Methods

ASCA currently has a vacant Postdoc researcher position as part of the CAT4SMR project, led by main researcher Dr. Bernhard Rieder. ASCA is one of the five Research Schools within the Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research.

What are you going to do?

This postdoctoral position is part of the CAT4SMR (Capture and Analysis Tools for Social Media Research) project, which seeks to stabilise and further develop a set of existing and heavily used tools for the collection and analysis of social media data (such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, and 4chan). Developed within the framework of the UvA’s Digital Methods Initiative, CAT4SMR tools have been mainstays of the Dutch and international research landscape for years, allowing researchers to make sense of these increasingly dominant online platforms and the cultural practices they host.

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher that can help us improve and expand the analytical capabilities of these tools, particularly in terms of methodological innovation. You will explore creative computational methods for researching online platforms through data analysis. Rather than doing just distant reading through counting approaches, you will take stock of and implement innovative ways of accessing data and disclosing relevant data analyses to social science and humanities researchers. You will test and implement such medium specific digital methods in our main toolset, 4CAT. You will also design and perform case studies to test such methods, and write a co-authored paper detailing and positioning your work. You will work in close collaboration with Dr. Bernhard Rieder, Dr. Stijn Peeters and Dr. Erik Borra, who are specialists in the field, and strengthen and complement the CAT4SMR team.

Your tasks and responsibilities:

• implementation of new computational research methods in 4CAT;
• conducting research, presenting intermediate research results at workshops and conferences and publishing one co-authored, peer reviewed article;
• participating in meetings of the project research group and developing a shared knowledge base;
• co-organising knowledge dissemination activities.

What do you have to offer?

Your experience and profile

Candidates need to have the following qualifications:

• a PhD in Media studies, information retrieval, or a similarly relevant discipline;
• excellent research skills demonstrated by a track record of publishing in relevant journals or a demonstrable capacity to develop such a record;
• a strong cooperative attitude and willingness to engage in collaborative research;
• enthusiasm for communicating academic research to non-academic audiences;
• fluent in Python programming, proficient in data science libraries (such as Pandas, Matplotlib or NetworkX) and familiar with front-end development techniques (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
• proven experience with empirical data science or digital methods projects;
• intimately familiar with multiple social media platforms and at least some experience with working with (research) APIs and/or data scraping;
• proven knowledge of relevant media studies and data science literatures;
• good command of English.

What can we offer you?

The Postdoctoral researcher will be appointed at the Media Studies department of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Amsterdam, and will conduct the research in the Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis (ASCA). The employment contract will be for ten months. The employment contract is temporary due to the temporary external funding for this position. The employment contract is for 28,8 hours a week. Preferred starting date is 1 March 2024.

Your salary, depending on relevant experience on commencement of the employment contract, ranges between € 4,332 to € 5,929 gross per month on the basis of a full working week of 38 hours. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8,3% year-end allowance. Favourable tax agreements may apply to applicants moving from abroad. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

What else do we offer?

• excellent possibilities for further professional development and education;
• an enthusiastic and professional academic team;
• an inspiring academic and international work environment in the heart of Amsterdam;
• the opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers at research institutes that - partly as a result of their interdisciplinary approach - are world renowned.

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 42,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strong international profile in a large number of disciplines in de field of language and culture. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the faculty maintains close ties with many cultural institutes in the capital city. Research and teaching staff focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and are active in several teaching programmes.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the position or the department, please contact during office hours:

Job application

If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the link below. We will accept applications until 26 January 2024.

Your application should include the following information:

• A letter of motivation that includes a short reflection about emerging digital research methods in a humanities / social science context, showing your affinity with the field.
• An academic CV, including a list of publications.
• The names and contact details of two references who may be approached by the selection committee.
• A link to your GitHub profile (or similar).

Please submit the required information in 1 pdf by uploading in the required field ‘CV’.

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

No agencies please.