Vacancy: Research Associate for social aspects of software engineering (f/m/d)

[Sol Martinez Demarco]

* Apologies if you receive multiple copies of this PhD position *
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Dear colleagues,

The DFG-funded project INKleSS - Understanding the Importance of Non-Knowledge for Software Engineering on Social-Coding Platforms is looking for a PhD candidate who is intrigued to study social aspects of software engineering. The project is based at the Harz University of Applied Sciences. Deadline for applications is 10.12.24.

More information below and in attachment.

Please share the announcement widely.

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We are looking for a PhD candidate who is intrigued to study social aspects of software engineering.

The PhD position is part of the DFG-funded research project INKleSS - Understanding the Importance of Non-Knowledge for Software Engineering on Social-Coding Platforms. The project is based at the Faculties of Business Studies and Automation & Computer Science of the Harz University of Applied Science, Wernigerode.

The project aims to gain new insights into the dynamics and processes of non-knowledge and knowledge in software engineering. A challenging aspect of software engineering is dealing with various forms of non-knowledge related to implementing, re-engineering, maintaining, updating, and enhancing increasingly complex pieces of software. Non-knowledge can appear as missing knowledge, intentionally hidden knowledge, tacit knowledge, or strategically used non-knowledge. The project aims to improve understanding of the roles that these forms of non-knowledge plays in social interactions within software development teams. This will enable the development of strategies for better managing non-knowledge in this context, and provide guidance for organizations and open-source communities in their non-knowledge management. The project comprises an engineering component and a social science component.

The PhD candidate will focus on the phenomenon of non-knowledge in software engineering from a technical perspective, including contextualizing it within software development and implementing new analysis techniques.

The PhD candidate is expected to

• Develop a doctoral project in the thematic field of non-knowledge dynamics in software engineering practices,
• Participate in and contribution to the research project,
• Develop and program technical solutions,
• Collect data in/related to software engineering projects (semi structured interviews, qualitative text analysis, data mining, natural language processing),
• Complete a dissertation for a PhD degree (possible at the IWIT virtual faculty) within the time frame of the position,
• Present research outputs at conferences

Your profile

• Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in Software Engineering/Computer Science, or relevant disciplines (sociology, psychology) with computer science background (particularly programming),
• Documented experiences with and/or well described interest in the following fields: Programming, Software Engineering, Social-Coding Platforms (ideally GitHub),
• Basic background in natural language processing or related AI topics may be helpful,
• Fluency in English,
• The ability to work autonomously and collaborate in teams.

We offer

• 3 years fixed-term position, full-time, classification up to EG 13 TV-L,
  
• Ongoing supervision by Prof. Thomas Leich and Prof. Jacob Krüger (PIs) with continuous exchange with the project team: PhD candidate from social sciences and the respective PI Prof. Alena Bleicher,
• Collaborative work in an interdisciplinary project team (software engineers, social scientists),
• Remote work is possible, regular presence on site for joint research is recommended,
• Opportunity to conduct research that is both, theoretically innovative and practically relevant,
• Scientific engagement in national and international networks.

Apply online in just a few steps via our application system by December 10, 2024.

Information about the Harz University of Applied Sciences is available on the Internet at www.hs-harz.de

If you have any questions about the requirements or criteria, please feel free to contact Dr. Thomas Leich (tleich [at] hs-harz.de) or Prof. Jacob Krüger (jkrueger [at] hs-harz.de).

Best wishes,
Sol Martinez Demarco

-- 
Sol Martinez Demarco (they/them)
Wissenschaftliche*r Mitarbeiter*in / Research Associate
Projekt INKleSS / Project INKleSS
FB Wirtschaftswissenschaften / Faculty of Business Studies
Hochschule Harz / Harz University of Applied Sciences
Friedrichstr. 57-59, 38855 Wernigerode, Deutschland / Germany
+49 39-4365-9285
https://www.hs-harz.de