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

***Visiting Postdoctoral Fellowships “Algorithmed Public Spheres” 
(Deadline: May 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 
2018/2019.

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 
(https://aps.hans-bredow-institut.de/) has been 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? How do we adapt as individuals as well as as a society to the 
growing prevalence of algorithmic systems?

Research in this area could include:
- Governance of and by algorithms
- Algorithm awareness and algorithm literacy
- Measurement of algorithmic bias and discrimination
- 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, political science, 
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 2018/2019. 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: May 1, 2018
Announcement of 2018/2019 Fellows: May 18, 2018


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