Postdoctoral Researcher

The Oxford Internet Institute – founded in 2001 - is a multidisciplinary research and teaching department of the University of Oxford, dedicated to the social science of the Internet.

We are recruiting two Postdoctoral Researchers to work on a new research program funded by the Huo Family Foundation, to study the possibility that the mental well-being of young people across the globe is undergoing a pronounced shift.

These are two full-time posts, available from 1 April 2023 for a fixed-term duration until 30 September 2025 and based in Oxford.

This work will consider the effect of the widespread availability of the Internet, smartphones, online social media and video games platforms. Special emphasis will be placed on exploring the social, individual, and biological risk and resilience factors which might promote or thwart thriving in an environment where the boundaries between the digital and analogue childhood are blurred.

The post-holder will report to Professor Andrew Przybylski and work in collaboration to undertake:

• wrangling, harmonising, and analysing large scale social and health data,
• collecting new data in collaboration with technology companies
• exploration of how transparent and reproducible science can be brought to bear to study the health and well-being of young people in the digital age. 
• collection and quantitative analysis of large-scale epidemiological, survey, and behavioural data.
• building of open and replicable data pipelines,
• advancing the scientific rigour in the research area, and
• discovering new things about how the behaviour, health, and motivation of young people using digital technologies are interrelated.
• transparent, robust, and rigorous research aimed at addressing the most pressing questions of well-being in digital age
• guidance of junior members of the research group including research assistants, PhD students, and/or project volunteers

The position is suited to candidates who hold or are working towards a PhD/DPhil in cognitive or experimental psychology, computational psychiatry, quantitative epidemiology, or a highly relevant discipline.  

Excellent writing and presentation abilities plus experience in contributing to publications is required. Demonstrated ability working with the statistical programming language R, R markdown, and R Studio as well as data visualisation is also essential.

The successful candidate must have experience with general linear and non-linear modelling, multilevel modelling, time series analysis, classical test theory, item response theory, gaussian modelling, and psychometrical approaches.

Full details of the requirements for this post can be found in the Job Description link via 'Apply'.   

Further queries can be directed to Professor Andrew Przybylski andy.przybylski@oii.ox.ac.uk. 

You will be required to upload a supporting statement, a CV, and details of two referees as part of your online application. The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday on Tuesday 28th February 2023.

Interviews for those short-listed are currently planned to take place the week commencing 13th March 2023.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity

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