4-year industry PhD scholarship+top-up on online misinformation detection@Uni Adelaide

School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Adelade

Closing date: COB 28 October 2021

The spread of misinformation online is believed to be driven in part by non­human actors: algorithms and bots, often coordinated offshore. Recent research has developed algorithms for identifying such bots through measures of coordination: accounts that post to social media at similar times, or with similar, recognisable patterns of behaviour. State-of-the-art approaches to bot detection nonetheless use relatively naive social media analytics and measures, and not using the full extent of information (e.g., network structure and full post content) available. This project will develop new measures of social information flow to understand the extent of online social influence, and build new tools to counter malicious coordinated behavior, in real time.

4-year PhD stipend ($28,597 p/a) plus $12,500 p/a (Supplementary Scholarship, indexed annually); includes internship with Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). Applicants must be Australian citizens able to obtain security clearance. Applications for this UAiPhD project should be submitted to Associate Professor Lewis Mitchell by no later than COB 28 October 2021.

https://scholarships.adelaide.edu.au/Scholarships/postgraduate-research/faculty-of-engineering-computer-and-mathematical-sciences-35