Student(s) for the research project DISTRACT, SODAS

We are looking for skilled, thorough, and patient student(s) for the research project DISTRACT at the Copenhagen Center for Social Data Science (SODAS) at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen. SODAS is an interdisciplinary research center that works at the intersection of a cross-disciplinary new field that we call social data science. The research project DISTRACT is located at SODAS and is a project that brings together social science and data science methods to explore the political economy of distraction in the post-digital age. Combining qualitative and quantitative data, our interdisciplinary team investigates the mental, social, and material techniques by which attention is captured, retained, and distracted in the world’s most digitized country, Denmark. SODAS (and thereby DISTRACT) is located at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353, København K.

The tasks and the project

The DISTRACT research project has been running since 2020 and is soon entering into its final year (the project ends 31st August 2025). This means that the position as student assistant at DISTRACT is limited to 1 year, but in this year, you will have ample opportunity to use and develop your research related skills in assisting the projects researchers finalize their research and papers related to the project, take part in a large international conference that we’re hosting in November 2024, and much more. In this osition some of the main tasks would be:

• Assist in making data visualizations
• Assist researchers in preparing publications for journal submission (incl. proof reading, bibliography work, deciphering submission rules and guidelines)
• Assist researchers in literature reviews
• Perform annotation tasks
• Different programming tasks
• Assist the research coordinator with ad-hoc practical tasks

Prerequisites and skills

• Open, curious, and eager to work with people from different discipline
• Skilled in either Python or R (or both) - and interested to learn the one you are not familiar with.
• Good Danish and English skills, both written and spoken, including skills in proof reading. 
• Comfortable with working independently with highly varied, but also sometimes monotone, tasks
• An interest in data science and/or social sciences

A prerequisite for employment is that you are enrolled at an institution of higher education.

Working Hours and Salary

The working hours are flexible, averaging about 10 hours per week. Employment and remuneration are in accordance with the Collective Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Public Employees' Organizations - the State Sector (OAO Collective Agreement) and the Organizational Agreement for Office Workers, Laboratory Technicians, and IT Staff (HK) § 35. Your salary placement will be based on previous employment.

The University of Copenhagen aims to reflect the surrounding society and encourages all qualified individuals to apply for the position, regardless of personal background.

Application and Additional Information

Applications including a CV, a half-page motivational letter, a transcript of grades, and contact information  must be uploaded in Talent Recruiter.

The application deadline is 1st August 2024.

The starting date is 1st September 2024, or as soon as possible.

For more information, please contact research coordinator Karoline Husbond Andersen ([email protected] ). Additional information about SODAS can be found at https://sodas.ku.dk .

UCPH is in the process of designing a new shared administrative organisation at UCPH, which is expected to lead to changes within the next 12 - 18 months. The purpose of the administrative reform is, among other things, to strengthen cross-organisational cooperation, increase efficiency, and ensure good career paths for administrative staff members at UCPH. The reform will lead to cutbacks on administration. You are encouraged to contact Morten Axel Pedersen [email protected] to learn more about the connection between this position and the administrative reform.

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.