Postdoctoral Researcher - Digital Parenting and Youth

Location: Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG

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.

This is a full-time, fixed-term position for 18 months with the successful candidate expected to start in Spring/Summer 2026. It will be based at the Schwarzman Centre, Oxford - with opportunity for occasional remote working within the UK.

The Digital Parenting and Youth Online Behaviour project at the Oxford Internet Institute invites applications from enthusiastic and motivated candidates for a postdoctoral position working on cutting-edge research at the intersection of Family Sociology, Digital Sociology and Public Policy.

The project aims to use Ofcom's Children’s & Parents’ Media Literacy Tracker Surveys (2005-2025) to examine how families have been supporting children's media literacy and managing online behaviours over the past two decades.

We are looking for an individual who is interested in carrying out the project’s research programme under the supervision of Dr Ekaterina Hertog and Dr Victoria Nash. The successful candidate will join a small but growing connected families research group which looks at how families navigate, negotiate, and manage digital tools in everyday life and what happens when families are unable to support young people’s digital lives.

Responsibilities include:

• Supporting and conducting data collection across the research phases the project
• Collaborating in the publication of research articles
• Engaging with policy and civil society initiatives to maximise research impact
• Assisting the group in obtaining grants from national and international funding bodies

You will hold a PhD/DPhil in Social Sciences or a related subject and possess a track record of original qualitative research and sufficient knowledge of research methods to design, plan, and carry out high quality data analysis.

A full list of responsibilities, essential and desirable selection criteria are found in the Job Description provided.

You will be required to upload a supporting statement setting out how you meet the selection criteria, curriculum vitae, and the names and contact details of two referees as part of your online application.

Please contact OII Recruitment (recruit@oii.ox.ac.uk) with any queries relating to this vacancy.

Only applications received online before noon UK TIME on Wednesday 4 March can be considered.

We cannot accept late applications due to time constraints.

Interviews are due to take place on 23 March 2026.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity

Advert information