Research Fellow (UKRI Social Media Data Access for Researchers)

This post offers the chance to work alongside Professor Kate Dommett and Dr Amy Orben (University of Cambridge) on a new UKRI Taskforce on social media data access for researchers.

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. The successful candidate will be based at Sheffield, but will work with Taskforce members at Cambridge, York and from civil society to shape the future of social media data access in the UK.

This post provides the opportunity to identify and seek to address key challenges frustrating research into social media currently being experienced by scholars. The Taskforce will work not only to influence live policy developments, but also to design a roadmap for future means and mechanisms of social media data access in the UK.

We are looking for an individual with a PhD, or with alternative equivalent experience. The successful candidate will have a strong interest in the topic of data access, especially with regards to social media or digital data, and a deep understanding of the legal, ethical and infrastructural barriers to access. They will have the ability to consolidate information from both academic and non-academic sources, and to work with a range of stakeholders to produce recommendations to improve social media data access. The successful applicant will have considerable organisational skills and a willingness to adapt and take on new tasks. They will need to work independently, and as a part of a wider team to drive forward the Taskforce’s work.

As part of this post, we are committed to providing training, mentoring and support to develop the successful candidate’s skills and will help you advance your own career goals.

This post is fixed-term for 1 year, with a negotiable start date in July 2025.

Enquiries about the position should be directed to Professor Kate Dommett, at k.dommett@sheffield.ac.uk.

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.

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