The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.
We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.
This position is to work alongside Professor Kate Dommett at the University of Sheffield and Dr Amy Orben at University of Cambridge on a new UKRI Taskforce on social media data access for researchers.
As part of a newly created Taskforce seeking to advance researcher access to social media data in the UK, this fellowship offers the opportunity to work with leading experts to produce an evidence-base and tangible recommendations designed to improve social media data access in the immediate and long-term.
Social media data – data generated through user interactions with digital social platforms – holds immense potential for research and innovation. However, researchers face significant barriers, including inconsistent data availability, limited data scope, and a lack of standardized access mechanisms, as well as complex issues of ethics and public trust. These challenges hinder investigations into critical societal issues and suggest the need for greater data access.
Working as part of a new academic taskforce, the successful applicant will work to advance four objectives:
- Evaluate and compare different models for accessing and analysing social platforms data, including data donation, web scraping, APIs, and others.
- Actively contribute to policy efforts to secure greater access to social media data
- Analyse international approaches to social platforms data access, identify best practices, and draw lessons for the UK context.
- Establish a constructive dialogue with social platforms, researchers and policymakers companies to foster collaboration and understanding around data access for research.
To achieve these objectives, the fellow will work with taskforce members to:
- Develop recommendations for best practices and guidelines for responsible data collection and analysis
- Engage stakeholders, researchers and experts in data access
- Produce policy briefs and whitepapers outlining the Taskforce's position on key policy issues
- Produce case studies and reports showcasing findings
This post therefore provides an exciting overview to research and directly inform efforts to advance social media access in the UK.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Conduct literature reviews of academics and non-academic outputs pertaining to data access, specifically on social media
- Where required, conduct interviews with key stakeholders
- Lead and contribute to policy notes, case studies and reports
- Work with research assistant based at University of Cambridge to coordinate taskforce activity
- Work in collaboration with the PI and taskforce team to develop activities, meetings and events
- Administer research in an efficient and timely manner
- Attend taskforce meetings and liaise with UKRI and external stakeholders
- Work to proactively build a network of others working on issues of data access in the UK and internationally
- Make a full and active contribution to the principles of the ‘Sheffield Academic’. These include the achievement of excellence in applied teaching and research, and scholarly pursuits to make a genuine difference in the subject area and to the University’s achievements as a whole. Further information on the underpinning values of the Sheffield Academic can be found at: Sheffield Academic.
- As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
- Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post
Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Essential criteria
- Have completed a PhD in a relevant subject area, or be able to demonstrate equivalent expertise (Application)
- Knowledge of data access debates, particularly pertaining to social media data (Application and Interview)
- Experience of and skills in undertaking qualitative research and analysis, including interviews and literature reviews of academic and non-academic literature (Application)
- Interest in policy development (Application)
- Experience of developing recommendations designed to achieve change (Application and Interview)
- Ability to work with external stakeholders (Interview)
- Ability to work independently in delivering research goals (Application)
- Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, for academic and non-academic audiences (Application and Interview)
- Ability to collaborate in writing research reports, lead on and contribute to published project outputs: e.g. journal articles (Application)
- Proven ability to work to deadlines and possess good organisational skills (Interview)
Desirable criteria
- A proven ability to adapt skills to new circumstances and acquire new skills of relevance to the post (Interview)
Further Information
Grade: 8
Salary: £48,149 - £57,422 per annum
Work arrangement: Full-time
Duration: Fixed Term for 1 year
Line manager: Professor Kate Dommett
Our website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/social-sciences
