The Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP) has four postdoc opportunities open for the 2020-2021 academic year. All positions require Phd in hand by July 2020 and are located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP) is a bold initiative at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill dedicated to researching, understanding, and responding to the growing impact of the internet, social media, and other forms of digital information sharing. Center goals include: tackling broad research questions with real-world implications for information gathering, social media regulation, democratic governance, journalism, and civic understanding; developing a comprehensive understanding of information environments that will serve as a baseline for emergent research focused on the interaction of information and technology, particularly in the context of misinformation, partisanship, polarization, propaganda, and political institutions; and making subsequent research and data publicly available to inform technological development, journalistic best practices, and policymaking. The successful applicants will join a vibrant research community anchored by CITAP’s four principal researchers—Deen Freelon (Hussman School of Journalism and Media), Daniel Kreiss (Hussman), Alice Marwick (Dept. of Communication), and Zeynep Tufekci (School of Information and Library Sciences)—as well as a fifth principal who will join us in August 2020. CITAP affiliates will meet regularly for research updates and internal presentations, as well as travel to present their work at domestic and international conferences. All postdoc positions feature a complete benefits package including health, vision, and dental insurance. If you are interested please apply now - listings are open until position filled. Postdoc 1: Knight Postdoctoral Research Fellow https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/177305 - PhD in any related field required The CITAP invites applications for postdoctoral research fellows interested in the relationship between information and public life, with a particular focus on algorithms, misinformation, polarization, propaganda, political institutions, and platform companies. Successful applicants will be mentored by one or more of the CITAP’s principal investigators, but will be expected to conduct their own independent research projects as well as assist on pre-existing center studies. The positions require no teaching, but fellows may opt to teach up to one class per academic year. Strong research, analysis, and writing skills are used and required for this position. Duties include: 1) Conceptualizing and carrying out an independent research project related to CITAP’s core mission (1-2 year in scope) 2) Assist PIs with pre-existing research projects and streams as appropriate 3) Write reports and briefs aimed at journalists, the tech policy community, and the general public. 4) Write academic publications (papers, books, conference papers) as appropriate. Postdoc 2: Hewlett Postdoctoral Research Fellow https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/177994- PhD in communication, political science, information science, sociology, or a related social science field required CITAP is broadly focused on the intersection of misinformation, partisanship, polarization, propaganda, political institutions, and journalism. One of its major long-term projects, supervised by Dr. Deen Freelon, is the development of a next-generation media monitoring tool that will allow researchers to better understand internet users’ content consumption patterns. The successful candidate will assist in the development, testing, deployment, and evaluation of this tool, as well as design and lead research studies based on the data it will generate. This person will collaborate closely with Dr. Freelon and the full-time programmer who will be hired to develop the system’s technical infrastructure. The successful candidate will demonstrate skills and a sustained interest in media monitoring, public opinion, survey design and analysis, and/or secondary analysis of administrative records (e.g. US Census data). More specifically, we are looking for a scholar who believes that the future of social media analysis is individual-centered rather than platform-centered, and whose research record amply reflects this commitment. Accordingly, a promising body of relevant peer-reviewed publications and/or external funding is strongly preferred. The position will run for up to three years with renewal contingent upon performance. Postdoc 3 & 4: AI/Machine Learning/Encryption Postdoctoral Research Associates (2 positions) https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/173657 - PhD in Computer Science Required https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/173589 - PhD in Social Science Field Required This position will assist the PI (Zeynep Tufekci) in studying how digital connectivity, artificial intelligence and the technology industry intersect in terms of social, political and cultural dynamics, with emphasis on Global South but also including Western nations and liberal democracies. There will be special emphasis on the role of surveillance, security and encryption in mediating these dynamics. Duties include: 1) Carry out research on artificial intelligence and digital technologies, including data analytics, machine learning and related fields. Interest, work or understanding of encryption is a plus. 2) Show interest in, and ability to conceptually think about how technical developments, practices and affordances interact with dynamics of human societies, especially including conflict, violence and instability. This is a core job requirement. 3) Researching relevant news and incidents on the above topics. 4) Assisting the PI in assessing literature and, conducting field and other research. 5) Creation and writing of bibliographies, reports and papers based on the research and investigations. Alice E. Marwick, PhD (she/her) Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Principal Researcher, Center for Information, Technology and Public Life (CITAP) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill amarwick@gmail.com http://www.tiara.org <http://www.tiara.org> http://citap.unc.edu <http://citap.unc.edu>