[ecrea] Research Fellow “Algorithmed Public Spheres”

Call for Expressions of Interest
Research Fellow “Algorithmed Public Spheres”

The Hans Bredow Institute for Media Research in Hamburg, Germany, is an
independent non-profit organisation, providing a vibrant academic
environment for innovative research on public communication. In our
research programmes as well as our transfer-oriented activities, we
combine expertise in empirically grounded social sciences with a focus
on regulatory processes and structures. As part of our commitment to
scientific excellence and innovative research, we continuously cooperate
in developing applications for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual
Fellowships or other funding schemes for Postdoctoral fellows (e.g.
Humboldt Foundation, DAAD, DFG) to be situated at the Hans Bredow
Institute. Given recent developments in networked media, we are
currently interested in recruiting prospective fellowships in the field
of “algorithmed public spheres”.

Largely invisible to the average user, software algorithms construct
publics by identifying and connecting users with compatible attributes,
interests, and activity patterns; such constructions are presented with
the help of the specific affordances for networking, participation and
information circulation which particular platforms offer; and users'
compliant or resistant utilisation of such platform functionalities in
their day-to-day media activities finally determines the longer-term
trajectories of these publics. As networked media play a growing role in
how news, information, and knowledge are disseminated across
contemporary society, it becomes increasingly important to investigate
the practices, mechanisms, power structures and dynamics of algorithmed
public spheres. This includes developing theories to explain algorithmed
public spheres, applying innovative methodologies to track and analyse
the communication they entail, and conducting quantitative as well as
qualitative empirical study to understand the impact they have on all
levels of society.

At this stage, we call for *expressions of interest* from postdoctoral
candidates willing to cooperate on an application for a postdoctoral
fellowship. These expressions of interest should contain a short sketch
(about 1 page) of a possible research agenda within the field of
“algorithmed public spheres”, as well as a short CV including the
applicant’s most relevant publications, and should be sent to us until
October 31st, 2014. Based on these expressions of interest, we will
invite prospective candidates to further detail and discuss possible
PostDoc funding options and other aspects of a grant application.
Applicants can expect feedback within six weeks.

For further information as well as for the submission of expressions of
interest, please contact Dr. Jan-Hinrik Schmidt
((j.schmidt /at/ hans-bredow-institut.de)).

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Anja Herzog
Hans-Bredow-Institut
Rothenbaumchaussee 36
D-20148 Hamburg
Tel.: (+49 40) 450 217 41
Fax: (+49 40) 450 217 77
E-Mail:(a.herzog /at/ hans-bredow-institut.de)
URL:www.hans-bredow-institut.de/


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