BEMÆRK: Ansøgningsfristen er overskredet
The Department of Political Science at Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, invites applications for a one-year position as full-time research assistant, offering applicants an exciting opportunity to join the ERC Consolidator Grant project “Standing by: Pro-social Bystander Reactions to Online Political Hostility” (STANDBY) research team, and specifically work on the ERC Proof-of-Concept subproject “Development and Mass-dissemination of Intervention to Mobilize Pro-social Bystander Reactions to Hostile Content on Social Media” (STANDBYCOMMS).
The starting date is May 1, 2024, or subject to mutual agreement. The position is full time but if desired it is possible - subject to mutual agreement- to be employed part time for the first three months.
The research project
Online political hostility, such as online hate speech, constitutes a challenge to democracy through negative effects on political participation. To combat online hostility, social media platforms and providers of comment sections, e.g. online news media, invest significantly in moderating content via automated detection and take-downs as well as flag-and-delete procedures. However, the sheer number of posts and comments that need moderation often far exceed what is feasible to handle.
The apparent inability of top-down content moderation to tackle online hostility on social media calls for consideration of alternative strategies. One strategy is to turn attention to further user engagement in moderation, i.e. mobilizing users to report hostile content by other lay authors, but also to engage in counter-speech. Sadly, research suggests that only in 10-30% of cases of online hostility do bystanders intervene and take action to help victims or express disapproval. The challenge to political participation and democratic deliberation posed by online hostility is amplified by this widespread apathy among bystanders. This is regrettable, as research suggests that pro-social bystander reactions can be effective in countering online hostility and improve the quality of online deliberation.
To realize the potential of pro-social bystander reactions to online hostility, we need to overcome the tendency for bystander apathy in situations of online hostility. We must promote a behavioral change away from the current norm of passivity by encouraging pro-social bystander reactions through interventions providing guidance and motivation. Building on an extensive behavioral analysis of bystander behavior in response to online hostility conducted within the ERC-CoG STANDBY-project, we have developed and tested a guidance message – the ‘Speak up, Report, Support’ intervention – which has proven effective in mobilizing pro-social bystander reactions to online hostility.
The aim of STANDBYCOMMS is to improve this intervention in collaboration with world-leading experts in behavior change, field test the intervention at scale, and build and market an online library facilitating mass-dissemination of the intervention free of charge to end-users (media corporations, government bodies, NGOs, political parties, individual politicians etc. who provide comment sections on social media platforms).
The project is led by Professor Lasse Lindekilde and funded by an ERC Proof-of-Concept Grant for the period of November 2023 – May 2025. The overall STANDBY-project website can be found here. A short interview about the STANDBYCOMMS-project can be found here .
Job description
We invite applications for one position as research assistant for a period of one year.
The STANDBYCOMMS-project consists of five work packages. The successful candidate will be involved in all five work streams. First, we will conduct a set of interviews with end-users of our ‘Speak up, Report, Support’-intervention as well as conduct a handful of feasibility studies, where end-users try out the intervention in practice. Second, we will collaborate with world-leading experts at the Melbourne Center for Behavior Change to improve and fine-tune our intervention. Third, we will conduct a large-scale field experiment testing the effect of the intervention. Fourth, we will work in collaboration with a software developer to design a website offering our intervention to end-users free of charge, ready to use, in different languages along with implementation guides. Finally, we will work together with a marketing company to create a campaign marketing our intervention website to potential end-users.
The successful applicant will be involved in designing and carrying out research tasks (interviews, feasibility studies, field experiment etc.) and in organizing collaboration with stakeholders (e.g. end-users, MCBC, software developer). Furthermore, the successful applicant will be involved in writing up research evidence and content for the intervention website.
The successful applicant will be employed as part of a research group consisting of Professor Lasse Lindekilde (project leader/principal investigator), three assistant professors/postdoctoral candidates and several research assistants. Research will primarily be carried out collaboratively with other project members, while the successful applicant will oversee certain work streams.
Your qualifications
Applicants are expected to hold a degree in political science, communication, (social) psychology, sociology or cognitive science. Maybe you are finishing your studies and is thinking about applying for a Ph.D. in the future? If so, this temporary employment can be a good way to gain insight into research-based work. In addition to an interest in conducting collaborative research within the focus area of the project, all applicants should demonstrate some knowledge of social media research, experience with conducting interviews and designing experiments, and have an excellent command of spoken and written English. Experience with website development and/or maintenance is an advantage.
Interested applicants should submit an application letter (2-3 pages) motivating why the applicant is interested in being part of the STANDBYCOMMS-project and how the applicant can contribute to the success of the project. Beyond the application letter, the application should contain a CV, relevant diplomas, and transcripts of grades. Selected candidates will be asked to come for an interview.
Who we are
The Department of Political Science is one of the six departments at Aarhus BSS, one of the five faculties at Aarhus University. Aarhus BSS unites the business and social science-related research fields and brings them closer together to reflect the close relationship between society and the business community. As part of a Top 100 university, Aarhus BSS – and specifically the Department of Political Science – has achieved the distinguished AASCB, AMBA and EQUIS accreditations.
At the Department of Political Science, we emphasise a dynamic and flexible research and teaching profile characterised by pluralism and openness. With around 90 academic staff members and 40 PhD students, we offer a lively and ambitious research and teaching environment.
The research carried out at the department not only covers a variety of political science disciplines, but also represents a variety of methodological approaches. This not only enables us to focus on new problem areas as they appear on the national and international political arenas, but also allows us to contribute actively to the development of the discipline. We also emphasise communicating our research results to the political-administrative system and to the public in general.
For more information about the Department of Political Science, please see here.
Further information
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Professor Lasse Lindekilde (lindekilde@ps.au.dk) prior to submitting their application to learn more about the position and the research project.
If you need help uploading your application or have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Coordinator Mette Fisker Præstegaard, Tel.: +45 9352 2807, Email: mfp@au.dk
Place of work
Department of Political Science, Bartholins Allé 7, DK - 8000 Aarhus C.
Qualification requirements
The qualification requirement for appointment as research assistant is a Master's degree.
International applicant?
Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information here:
https://internationalstaff.au.dk/relocationservice/
Please find more information about research opportunities at Aarhus University here: http://international.au.dk/research/
Terms of employment
The appointment is made in accordance with the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities as well as the circular on the Collective Agreement for Academics Employed by the State (in Danish).
The job content and qualification requirements are described in further detail in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
Application procedure
When you apply for this position it is mandatory to attach the following:
- Application
- Curriculum Vitae. You are encouraged to declare any periods of leave without research activity, including, for example, maternity leave, since your research activities are assessed in relation to your actual research time
- Education (diploma for master's, PhD and possibly higher doctoral degree)
In addition the following documents can be included in the application:
- List of publications (the enclosed publications must be clearly marked on the list of publications)
- Publications. Up to three publications may be submitted. In the event of several authors the publications must be accompanied by a co-author statement concerning the applicant's share of the collaborative work with the consent of the co-authors. Please use this template
- Teaching portfolio. The specific requirements regarding the documentation can be found here
Read more about how to apply for an academic post at Aarhus BSS here
The evaluation process
After the application deadline, an assessment committee is appointed. Please note that the assessment of applicants is based solely on the material received prior to the application deadline. For further information, see Guidelines for Assessment Committee, Aarhus BSS.Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/
INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:
- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:
Aarhus Kommune
-Virksomheden tilbyder:
-Arbejdsgiver:
Aarhus Universitet, Bartholins Allé 7, 8000 Aarhus C
-Ansøgning:
Ansøgningsfrist: 08-04-2024; - ansøgningsfristen er overskredet
Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/CV/FindWork/Details/6000897
