Research Assistant

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 have an exciting opportunity to join the Digital Wellbeing Group at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford.   

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 looking to appoint a Research Assistant for the Fairwork project. Fairwork is an action research project that assesses digital labour platforms against principles of fair work, and uses that research to push for positive change in the gig economy. The project currently operates in 39 countries on five continents.

This is a full-time post for 37.5 hours per week, available immediately for a fixed term until 31 October 2025. This post is based in Oxford, with some work expected remotely within the UK.

Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the post holder will act as a Research Assistant for the Fairwork project. Fairwork is an action research project that assesses digital labour platforms against principles of fair work, and uses that research to push for positive change in the gig economy. The project currently operates in twenty-nine countries on five continents, and studies both geographically-tethered gig economy platforms and cloudwork (or ‘remote work’) platforms. The Research Assistant role will involve provision of research support for Fairwork.

The successful candidate will:

• Manage own research and administrative activities, within guidelines provided by senior colleagues
• Contribute to wider project planning, including ideas for new research projects
• Perform primary and secondary research whilst drawing on our existing work to evaluate platform companies against the Fairwork principles of good work.
• Contribute to the design of research materials and make arrangements for data gathering
• Gather, analyse, and present qualitative data from a variety of sources
• Undertake comprehensive and systematic literature reviews and write up the results for publication in peer-reviewed journals or for presentation at conferences or public meetings
• Contribute to research publications, book chapters and reviews
• Be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the research project
• Represent the research group at external meetings/seminar, either with other members of the group or alone
• Contact potential stakeholders and have discussions with them participating in Fairwork research
• Contribute to discussions and share research findings with colleagues in partner institutions, and research groups

Full details of the requirements for this post can be found in the Job Description, click the 'Apply' button above. 

Further queries can be directed to Manzer Imam, Project Manager for Fairwork – manzer.imam@oii.ox.ac.uk. Feel free to reach out to him for any questions or clarification.

You will be required to upload a supporting statement including details of when you would be able to take up the post, a CV, and details of two referees as part of your online application. The closing date for applications is midday UK time on 19 May 2025.

Only online applications received before then will be considered. You should expect to hear if you have been shortlisted by 26 May 2025.

Interviews for those short-listed are currently planned to take place on 28th or 29th May 2025.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity.

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