[ecrea] Call for Applications: Visiting Postdoctoral Fellowships “Algorithmed Public Spheres” (Hamburg)

***Visiting Postdoctoral Fellowships “Algorithmed Public Spheres” 
(Deadline: April 1st)***

SUMMARY:
The Hans Bredow Institute for Media Research  in Hamburg, Germany, 
invites applications for international postdoctoral research fellows who 
will conduct innovative research on the social and cultural impact of 
algorithms during stays of 3-12 months in Hamburg in the academic year 
2017/2018.

DESCRIPTION:
The Hans Bredow Institute for Media Research is a publicly funded 
research institute that focuses on the study of mediated public 
communication. Its research encompasses both broadcast and digital 
communication from an interdisciplinary and comparative perspective.

The postdoctoral research network Algorithmed Public Spheres was 
established to study the relevance of algorithms for the constitution of 
the public sphere. We emphasize in particular the importance of 
algorithms for filtering, ranking and selecting media content and for 
structuring digital communication. In contrast to the use of data mining 
in areas such as healthcare, credit scoring and general business 
analytics, where such techniques have a long tradition, the impact of 
algorithms on the public sphere poses novel challenges. How are 
communication, media, and public discourse impacted by transferring the 
dominant logics of consumption from other industries to news, 
information, and political deliberation, implemented in social media 
platforms, search engines, and on news websites?

Research in this area could include:
- Measurement of algorithmic bias and discrimination
- Feedback effects in recommender systems
- Assessment of potential filter bubbles
- Algorithms in news production, distribution and consumption processes
- User interaction with and rationalization of algorithms

We invite applications for international postdoctoral research fellows 
from fields including, but not restricted to, computer and information 
science, communication and media studies, law, sociology and philosophy, 
who will conduct innovative research on the social and cultural impact 
of algorithms during stays of 3-12 months in Hamburg in the academic 
year 2017/2018. We particularly welcome cross-cutting research proposals 
that integrate technical and social perspectives and result in concrete 
outcomes, for example in the form of peer-reviewed research articles or 
proposals for externally funded projects.

Up to two funded fellowships will be awarded as result of this call. The 
fellowships cover airfare and a contribution to the accommodation and 
subsistence in Hamburg. In specific cases, we may offer a temporary 
employment contract instead of a scholarship.

To apply, please send a cover letter (one page), a project proposal (up 
to three pages) and your CV (up to four pages), including a list of your 
most relevant publications (maximum of five), to Cornelius Puschmann 
((c.puschmann /at/ hans-bredow-institut.de) 
<mailto:(c.puschmann /at/ hans-bredow-institut.de)>). Please note that 
applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

IMPORTANT DATES:
Application deadline: April 1, 2017
Announcement of 2017/2018 Fellows: May 1, 2017

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