Postdoctoral Associate in Human-Computer Interaction

Position Details
Position Information

Recruitment/Posting Title	Postdoctoral Associate in Human-Computer Interaction
Department	SC&I - Library & Info Science
Salary	Annual Salary
Posting Summary	The Department of Library and Information Science at Rutgers University is recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Associate. The post is part of a larger investment focusing on interdisciplinary research relating to online harms and content moderation on social media websites. The ideal applicant will have prior experience in conducting qualitative research on content moderation and an interest in examining online harms and evaluating the use of various approaches to address them. About the Project In this specific role, you will contribute to an NSF-funded project on understanding the use of flagging mechanisms to address online harms. The Principal Investigator (PI) for this project is Prof. Shagun Jhaver. Social media platforms expose users to online harm, such as hate speech, non-consensual sharing of sexual photos, impersonation, harassment, and doxing. The widespread occurrence of such harm has had damaging effects on individuals and society. To alleviate such harm, platforms offer flagging, a technical feature that empowers users to report inappropriate posts or bad actors. Flags play a critical role in maintaining the feasibility of content moderation systems — an initial step to identifying content that requires careful review by moderators or automated tools. However, prior research shows that reporting harms can be experienced as secondary victimization, especially when victims perceive a lack of procedural justice. It is, therefore, vital to design flagging interfaces in ways that ease the negative experiences of reporting. To accomplish this goal, we must understand how users make sense of flagging, what information they seek, and how they navigate flagging interfaces. Toward this goal, this project will be executed in two phases: 1) A user study with interactive prototypes to examine the awareness, navigation, and usage issues encountered while using flagging interfaces to report a post. 2) Participatory design workshop sessions to develop prototypes for post-flagging information and communication systems. In each phase, the appointee will work closely with the PI to codesign research outputs with individuals from marginalized communities, including BIPOC users, LBGTQ+ users, and women, who face disproportionate online abuse. The research team will draw from the interpretive lens of procedural justice and its notions of voice and consistency to investigate how users develop their fairness perceptions of the flagging processes. About the Role Ideally, you will have advanced skills in reviewing and integrating relevant literature, independently writing research manuscripts, and deploying qualitative methods such as interviews and design workshops. Prior experiences with building HCI systems or interactive prototypes would be an advantage. The team will publish research results for multiple outputs, including peer-reviewed papers for leading HCI venues, e.g., ACM CHI and ACM CSCW, and white papers for industry-focused organizations, such as the Trust & Safety Professional Association. You will have an opportunity to work alongside student researchers from historically underrepresented groups in computing and the academy for this project. You will also be part of the vibrant research community at Rutgers School of Communication & Information , and especially have the ability to engage with the Rutgers Computational Social Science Lab . There would be additional opportunities to collaborate on research other than the above project and engage in grant seeking activities. The funding for this position is available for two years. The candidate will initially be hired for one year. This appointment would be renewed for an additional year, conditional on satisfactory performance. This is a full-time research position. No teaching is required. Contact Prof. Shagun Jhaver (sj917 at rutgers.edu) if you have any questions about this position. Priority consideration will be given to applicants who apply by May 10, 2024. Application Deadline is May 25, 2024.
Position Status	Full Time
Posting Number	24FA0453
Posting Open Date	04/30/2024
Posting Close Date	05/25/2024

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience	● You must have earned a Ph.D. in Information Science, Computer Science, Communication, or a related field by the appointment start-date (07/01/2024). The start-date is flexible. ● You must have strong writing skills, expertise in qualitative research methods, and evidence of excellence in conducting peer-reviewed research on content moderation or online harms in higher education settings.
Certifications/Licenses
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities	● Your responsibilities will include all aspects of conducting research, such as reviewing relevant literature, designing research questions, selecting appropriate research methods, collecting and analyzing data, writing research manuscripts, responding to peer review, and presenting findings at relevant venues. You will also be expected to assist with managing the PI’s lab and mentoring junior research assistants.
Equipment Utilized
Physical Demands and Work Environment
Overview	Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university and the state of New Jersey’s preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. Established in 1766, the university is the eighth oldest higher education institution in the United States. More than 67,000 students and 22,100 faculty and staff learn, work, and serve the public at Rutgers locations across New Jersey and around the world. Rutgers is committed to building a diverse community and encourages women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply. We are currently in an exciting period of transformation and growth as we form a hub for data science across departments at Rutgers University. The School of Communication and Information (SC&I) is a dynamic center of learning at the heart of the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus. Founded in 1982, SC&I research and teaching is delivered by three academic departments: Communication, Journalism and Media Studies, and Library and Information Science. Through ?ve undergraduate majors and minors, three masters degrees, and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program, the school teaches over 8400 students each year, of whom 2,500 are its own undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students. Geographically adjacent and closely connected to the world’s largest media and information hubs and supported by Rutgers’ vibrant scholarly community, SC&I embraces the university goals of promoting diversity throughout our networks and programs and is committed to social engagement. For more about the school see: http://comminfo.rutgers.edu The LIS department is a charter member of the iSchools Consortium, has a dynamic research and learning culture, is international in scope, and local in impact, and is in an exciting period of growth. We seek candidates whose work advances scholarly agendas in their given fields and complements our faculty’s strengths, and who can deliver excellent instruction for students within our undergraduate and graduate programs. As their careers advance, ideal faculty hires will be well positioned to lead externally funded research projects and to initiate and strengthen collaborative research efforts within the LIS Department, SC&I, and across Rutgers University.
Statement

Posting Details

Special Instructions to Applicants	Applications will only be accepted through the Rutgers Jobs Portal. APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 25, 2024- Priority consideration will be given to applicants who apply by May 10, 2024. Candidates are asked to submit 1) A letter of application that articulates your fit to the position; 2) A CV, detailing your education and prior publications; 3) Three reference letters alongside the contact information for your references; and 4) 1 or 2 writing samples where you served as the lead author. Contact Prof. Shagun Jhaver (sj917 at rutgers.edu) if you have any questions about this position.
Quick Link to Posting	https://jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/226625
Campus	Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Home Location Campus	College Ave (RU-New Brunswick)
City	New Brunswick
State	NJ
Location Details

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Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals , if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate’s offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

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