PhD fellow in Human-Centered Computing D-CODE Project

Department of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

University of Copenhagen

Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen is offering a PhD scholarship in multi-sided value in data driven services commencing 01.06.2021 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Description of the scientific environment

The position will be within the Human Centered Computing section (HCC) in collaboration with the Department of Communication (Faculty of Humanities). The Human Centered Computing section is a highly interdisciplinary group that conducts research within the areas of Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Supported Cooperative Work, Ubiquitous and Pervasive Computing and related fields. Our section aspires to be a top research environment that bridges technology, theory, and empirical studies.

The PhD position will be part of D-CODE, a European network of 15 PhD projects on cutting-edge, post-disciplinary research aiming to form the next generation of researchers and leaders capable of anticipating and responsibly guiding the digital transformation of society towards inclusive and sustainable futures, see https://dcode-network.eu/

Project description

This project (one of two at UCPH) is focused on exploring the role of economic exchange in the maintenance of informal social relations bound by data-driven technologies. The research will be based on case studies of existing socio-technical networks ‘in the wild’, to explore how existing services construct value propositions and what is actually delivered in the end.

Principal supervisor is Professor Irina Shklovski, Department of Computer Science, ias@di.ku.dk . Co-supervisor is Professor Jens-Erik Mai, Department of Communication, jemai@hum.ku.dk . The PhD will be conducted in collaboration with Professor Chris Speed and Dr. Ewa Luger at the Institute for Design Informatics, University of Edinburgh.

Job description

The position is available for a 3-year period and your key tasks as a PhD student at SCIENCE are:

To manage and carry through your research project

To work across disciplines and sectors in collaboration with other PhDs within the D-CODE network;

To participate in the research and training activities within the D-CODE network;

To attend progress and management meetings as required and network with the other research groups;

To write articles for scientific peer-reviewed venues and your PhD thesis;

To write progress reports and prepare results for publication and dissemination via journals, presentations and the web;

To disseminate their research in the scientific community (international conferences) and non-scientific community, by teaching, outreach and public engagement.

To stay at an external research institution for a few months, preferably abroad

Work for the department

Formal requirements :

An EU Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field. A multidisciplinary background that spans economics, interaction design, science and technology studies, HCI, anthropology, information studies, communication studies or any combination thereof is preferred;

Ability to conduct and deliver high quality research both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team;

A passion for improving people’s lives through better design and a demonstrable interest in the role of technology in society;

Hands-on programming skills and experience is preferred;

Excellent communication skills in English, both in written and oral;

Demonstrable people skills, including the ability to run workshops, co-design activities and collaborate with various stakeholders are a plus, but not a necessity for this PhD position;

Eligibility Criteria: 

D-CODE is funded by the European Commission’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme and to be eligible for this funding you must meet the following criteria:

You must not already hold a PhD and you must have less than four years of research experience since you gained the degree that qualifies you for this post, that is, an EU master’s degree (MSc, MA or MFA degree) or equivalent (BA or BSc degree 1st class or 2:1 equivalent);

You must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the selected country for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to your recruitment;

You must work on the project full-time.

Please ensure that this information is clear on your CV. Researchers can be of any nationaliti

Mobility Criteria: 

D-CODE is funded by the European Commission’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme and ESRs are expected to be embedded and engage for two to four months at other organizations in the consortium as part of placements and prototeam assignments, before returning to complete their PhD in their respective institutes.

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing major disruptions for many researchers, projects and organisations, including those working with EU funding. In agreement with the European Commission, D-CODE may adopt a flexible approach to how mobility rules are applied, including remote working and online collaboration until the situation has stabilised and travel and relocation become feasible.  

Terms of employment

The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

The MSCA programme offers highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions. The successful candidates will receive a (gross) salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for Early-Stage Researchers comprising of living allowance of 4,414.50 €/month, mobility allowance of 600 €/month, and family allowance of 500 €/month (depending on family status). The approximate gross salary stated above is subject to employer's statutory deductions and the amount varies according to the living costs of the host country. Exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment.

In addition to their individual salaries, all fellows will benefit from support from the hosting organization for secondments, training modules and active participation in workshops and conferences. Visa costs and tuition fees are eligible.

 Application Procedure

The application deadline is February 14th. You are allowed to apply for multiple positions within the D-CODE project as a whole but you are required to indicate this in the cover letter and indicate priority. 

The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below

Please include

A cover letter explaining your personal motivation in pursuing a PhD as part of D-CODE, including how you see the PhD fitting into your career trajectory  (2 page max);

A CV, which should include details of your eligibility (degree and residency);

A statement detailing your main research questions and goals for the specific PhD project you are applying to (5 pages max);

Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc);

1-3 reference letters (if any), a sample of writing, e.g., master thesis, scientific publications, professional or popular science writing;

Other information for consideration, e.g. design portfolio, artworks, patents, professional media content (if any).

Reference letters must be uploaded by the applicant him/herself. The recruiting person must NOT obtain reference letters which content is not known to the applicant him/herself. This is against Danish law.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

This is a two-stage hiring process. After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee. Afterwards an assessment committee comprised of D-CODE project members will be appointed to evaluate the selected applications. An international interview committee of D-CODE project members will conduct an first stage interview. Candidates that move to second-stage interview will be notified. A second-stage interview will be conducted by the same interview committee comprised of D-CODE project members. The applicants will be notified of the composition of the assessment and the interview committees and the final selection of a successful candidate will be made by the Head of Department, based on the recommendations of the assessment committee and the interview committee.

The main criterion for selection will be the research potential of the applicant and the above-mentioned skills. The successful candidate will then be requested to formally apply for enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD school of Science. Hiring is preconditioned on candidate enrollment as a PhD at the PhD school of Science at the University of Copenhagen and obtaining the necessary Visa (if applicable). You can read more about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

Questions

For specific information about the PhD scholarship, please contact the principal supervisor Professor Irina Shklovski, Department of Computer Science, ias@di.ku.dk .

General information about PhD programmes at SCIENCE is available at http://www.science.ku.dk/phd

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.