[Commlist] Two full-time 4-year PhD fellowships in the context of ERC project on Digital Wellbeing (imec-mict-Ugent, Ghent University)

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*The research group imec-mict-UGent at Ghent University (Belgium) is 
pleased to invite applications for 2 full-time 4-year PhD fellowships in 
the context of the ERC project “Digital Wellbeing in a Culture of 
Ubiquitous Connectivity: Towards a Dynamic Pathway Model [DISCONNECT]”.*

Digital technologies such as smartphones, laptops and smart watches 
enable an ever-present connectivity. This connectivity both empowers us 
and threatens our autonomy. On the one hand, digital technologies help 
us manage our everyday life and reach our personal goals. On the other 
hand, they divert our attention away from our primary activities, and 
exert pressure to be permanently online and permanently connected. This 
paradox creates an urgent challenge: How can individuals balance 
connectivity and “disconnectivity? This connectivity has both advantages 
and disadvantages. People struggle in finding a healthy balance between 
digital connectivity and disconnection. But how do people experience 
digital wellbeing? What actions to they take to enhance it? Does a 
healthy digital wellbeing protect against burnout or stress? And how 
effective are digital wellbeing interventions such as digital detoxes? 
Are you interested to examine these questions by means of either 
quantitative, or qualitative research methods? Make sure to take a look 
at the two vacancies below. These vacancies can also be found on our 
website: 
https://www.ugent.be/mict/en/news-events/news/job-offer-two-full-time-phd-fellowships-to-work-on-an-erc-project-about-digital-wellbeing 
<https://www.ugent.be/mict/en/news-events/news/job-offer-two-full-time-phd-fellowships-to-work-on-an-erc-project-about-digital-wellbeing>.

*Subproject A: Modeling Digital Wellbeing with Intensive Longitudinal Data.*

In this subproject, we examine whether we can model people’s experiences 
of digital wellbeing as a dynamic system in which the advantages and 
drawbacks of digital connectivity form a delicate balance. To build this 
model, we collect and analyze intensive longitudinal data from 700 
Flemish adults by logging their smartphone and laptop use, and 
administering short questionnaires multiple times per day. These data 
are subsequently combined with traditional survey data, to build 
dynamic, person-specific models that help explain when people experience 
(a lack of) digital wellbeing, and what role personal predispositions, 
technological factors and contextual factors play in these experiences.

/Job content/tasks/

You will be a member of an interdisciplinary team, in which your task 
will be to model the collected intensive longitudinal data to gain 
further insights into digital wellbeing. You school yourself in the use 
of state-of-the-art statistical and computer scientific analysis 
techniques, including network analysis and machine learning, and 
subsequently apply these techniques to the project data. You develop a 
theoretical framework, actively contribute to the data collection, write 
scientific articles, and participate in (inter-)national scientific 
congresses. Additionally, you are expected to complete a doctoral 
dissertation based on your research. Finally, you participate in the 
daily activities of the ERC-team, the research group imec-mict-UGent, 
and the department of Communication Sciences at Ghent University. After 
successfully completing the dissertation, you have acquired skills that 
put you on the map as ‘computational social scientist’.

/Profile of the candidate/

·You have a master’s degree in Communication Sciences, Psychology or 
Sociology, and can demonstrate an outspoken interest in statistical and 
computer scientific analysis techniques. Candidates with degrees from 
other programs (e.g., Data science or Informatics) may also apply when 
they can show sufficient knowledge of the research domain and can 
demonstrate relevant expertise and/or interest. Students who are 
currently finalizing their master’s degree are welcome to apply.

·You are an excellent and motivated researcher with an analytic mind. 
Your profile becomes more competitive if you have already acquired 
methodological and analytical skills for collecting and analyzing 
intensive longitudinal data, and/or have command of R, Python or another 
programming language.

·You are fluent in English and have mastered the basics of academic 
writing in English.

·You are pro-active, and are capable of independently developing your 
own research line within the confines of the ERC project.

·You are communicative, work well in a team and are capable of both 
giving and receiving feedback, as well as transforming feedback 
adequately in your activities.

·You enjoy being involved also in the work of colleagues working on 
other subproject of DISCONNECT, which will be performed by other team 
members.

·You are not afraid to roll up your sleeves. At times when the project 
asks a lot of energy, you can motivate both yourself and others.

/What we offer/

·We offer you a fulltime fellowship for a period of maximum 4 years. The 
earliest starting date of the contract is 1 September 2021. Note: If you 
have been employed as a fellow or research assistant at a Flemish 
university below, this may have consequences for your contract.

·In addition to the doctoral grant, you can count on a number of 
benefits, such as 38 days of paid leave per year, a wide range of 
training and education opportunities, bicycle commuting reimbursement, 
ecocheques, etc. A complete overview of all benefits can be found on the 
UGent website 
<https://www.ugent.be/intranet/en/human-resources/financial/overview.htm>.

·You will work in a dynamic and stimulating research environment. You 
will work in the brand new ‘De Krook’ buiding in Ghent, a place where 
knowledge, creativity and entrepreneurship are central.

/How to Apply/

All applications must be received no later than June 30, 2021 at 23:59 
(CET) at , with the following documents attached as one file 
(jobs.mict /at/ ugent.be) 
<https://ugentbe-my.sharepoint.com/personal/evelien_dewaeledeguchtenaere_ugent_be/Documents/Personeel/Vacatures/ERC%20DISCONNECT/(jobs.mict /at/ ugent.be)>:

·A cover letter, in which you motivate why we should consider your candidacy

·A CV, in which you include the names and contact information of 2 
persons who we may contact as referents

·A transcript of your degree(s)

·A scan of your study results

·A document that demonstrates your writing skills (e.g., a paper or your 
thesis)

As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity 
policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.

Please contact the principal investigator of the project, Prof. dr. 
Mariek Vanden Abeele, if you have further questions about this position 
and the vacancy: (mariek.vandenabeele /at/ ugent.be) 
<mailto:(mariek.vandenabeele /at/ ugent.be)>.

More information about the imec research group mict can be found here: 
www.mict.be <http://www.mict.be/>

*Subproject B: A digital-ethnographic approach to how individuals 
experience digital wellbeing*

In this subproject, we closely follow a small numbers of persons (30 
Flemish adults) during a period of 2 years using ethnographic research 
approaches to gain greater understanding of what digital wellbeing means 
to them, and what helps and hinders them in finding a healthy balance 
between connectivity and disconnection. To that end, we observe and 
interview people in their daily life. We collect information about the 
participants’ smartphone and laptop use, but also spend longer amounts 
of time in their presence (participatory observation) to gain a better 
understanding of the role that digital media play in their lives, and we 
talk to them about their data. By means of triangulation, we attempt to 
gain insight into when individuals experience (a lack of) digital 
wellbeing, and which factors contribute to this experience.

/Job content/tasks/

You will be a member of an interdisciplinary team, in which your task 
will be to analyze qualitative data that you collect among a small group 
of Flemish adults. You school yourself in both classical and innovative 
digital-ethnographic research methods. These include participatory 
observation and interviewing, but also concern the use of digital data 
(log data) to garner insights. You subsequently apply these techniques 
and methods in the project. You contribute to the development of an 
overarching theoretical framework, actively contribute to the data 
collection, write scientific articles, and participate in 
(inter-)national scientific congresses. Additionally, you are expected 
to complete a doctoral dissertation based on your research. Finally, you 
participate in the daily activities of the ERC-team, the research group 
imec-mict-UGent, and the department of Communication Sciences at Ghent 
University. After successfully completing the dissertation, you have 
acquired skills that put you on the map as ‘digital ethnographer’.

/Profile of the candidate/

·You have a master’s degree in communication Sciences, anthropology, or 
sociology, and can demonstrate an outspoken interest in ethnographic 
research methods. Candidates with degrees from other programs (e.g., 
psychology) may also apply when they can show sufficient knowledge of 
the research domain and/or can demonstrate relevant expertise and/or 
interest. Students who are currently finalizing their master’s degree 
are welcome to apply.

·You are an excellent and motivated researcher with an analytic mind. 
Your profile becomes more competitive if you have already acquired 
methodological and analytical skills for collecting and analyzing 
qualitative research data.

·You are fluent in both Dutch and English, and you have mastered the 
basics of academic writing in English.

·You are pro-active, and are capable of independently developing and 
managing your own research line within the confines of the ERC project.

·You are communicative, work well in a team and are capable of both 
giving and receiving feedback, as well as transforming feedback 
adequately in your work activities.

·You enjoy being involved also in the other subproject of DISCONNECT, 
which will be performed by other team members.

·You are not afraid to roll up your sleeves. At times when the project 
asks a lot of energy, you can motivate both yourself and others.

/What we offer/

·We offer you a fulltime fellowship for a period of maximum 4 years. The 
earliest starting date of the contract is 1 September 2021. Note: If you 
have been employed as a fellow or research assistant at a Flemish 
university below, this may have consequences for your contract.

·In addition to the doctoral grant, you can count on a number of 
benefits, such as 38 days of paid leave per year, a wide range of 
training and education opportunities, bicycle commuting reimbursement, 
ecocheques, etc. A complete overview of all benefits can be found on the 
UGent website 
<https://www.ugent.be/intranet/en/human-resources/financial/overview.htm>.

·You will work in a dynamic and stimulating research environment. You 
will work in the brand new ‘De Krook’ buiding in Ghent, a place where 
knowledge, creativity and entrepreneurship are central.

Apply

All applications must be received no later than June 30, 2021 at 23:59 
(CET) at (jobs.mict /at/ ugent.be), with the following documents attached as 
one file:

·A cover letter, in which you motivate why we should consider your candidacy

·A CV, in which you include the names and contact information of 2 
persons who we may contact as referents

·A transcript of your degree(s)

·A scan of your study results

·A document that demonstrates your writing skills (e.g., a paper or your 
thesis)

Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy. 
Everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.

Please contact the principal investigator of the project, Prof. dr. 
Mariek Vanden Abeele, if you have further questions about this position 
and the vacancy: (mariek.vandenabeele /at/ ugent.be) 
<mailto:(mariek.vandenabeele /at/ ugent.be)>.

More information about the imec research group mict can be found here: 
www.mict.be <http://www.mict.be/>


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