Fully Funded PhD Studentship on Social Media and Politics (London Social Media Observatory)

The London Social Media Observatory welcomes PhD applications on topics related to social media (SM) and politics. Applications focusing on the curation/moderation of political content on SM platforms, and/or those proposing to use quantitative/computational methods will be given preference. Applicants are also encouraged to think about the societal impact of their research, and for example, about how some of the partners of the Observatory (such as Ofcom and the Electoral Commission) and policymakers would benefit from the research. The candidate will work on their own project, but will also have the opportunity to collaborate with other projects within the Observatory. The candidate will also benefit from Observatory resources, such as data engineer time to support their data collections, its wide networks of top international scholars, participation in international projects, and funding for conferences and training. We encourage applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to equality, inclusivity, and creating a welcoming environment where everyone can thrive and contribute.

The Observatory is a new research lab created and directed by Dr. Andreu Casas and funded by UKRI via the Future Leaders Fellowship scheme. The Observatory hosts several projects related to SM and politics, and is composed of 6-8 staff members, including postdoctoral researchers, PhDs, media and policy officers, and research assistants. Apart from conducting cutting edge research in these areas, the Observatory puts special emphasis on public outreach and societal impact. We currently have partnerships with Ofcom and the Electoral Commission to conduct research and produce policy outputs on common areas of interest. We also plan to organize public events for practitioners, journalists, policymakers, and the general public.

This is a fully funded PhD Studentship for 3.5 years (42 months). The student is expected to submit their thesis within their funded period. The award pays tuition fees up to the value of the full-time home UKRI rate for PhD degrees. The stipend for 2025/26 is £22,780/year (which already includes a £2,000/year London Allowance). Additionally, the PhD student will have the opportunity to work a few hours a week on other research projects of the Observatory, or (from the second year onwards) as teaching assistant for the Department of Politics and International Relations. The exact amount of hours however, as well as the hourly rate, will vary depending on the exact needs and duties throughout the PhD. The PhD student will also have access to funds for conference travel, and for data collection (e.g. survey, or survey experiment/s) for their PhD project.

Candidates should have a Master degree (with Distinction, or Merit with a Distinction in the dissertation) in political science, communication science, economics, or in a computational discipline, as long as the candidate also has experience conducting research in a social science field.

Apply by sending the following material via email to Dr. Casas (andreu.casas@rhul.ac.uk) [ include “LSMO PhD Studentship” in the title]:

• A cover letter
• CV
• A brief research proposal (2000 words max.): interest in the topic, novel contribution/approach, and short description of 3 chapters/papers.
• A writing sample (e.g. MA dissertation)

Candidates invited to interview will be asked to supply a transcript of their university-level grades.

Deadline: November 2nd, 2025 at midnight.

Location of Job

Royal Holloway University of London,

(1) 11 Bedford Square

London WC1B 3RE

(2) Egham Hill
Egham TW20 0EX

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