Postdoc position to Study Misinformation Campaigns @ Scale (RyersonU, Social Media Lab, Toronto)
Anatoliy Gruzd
The Social Media Lab at Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada is seeking a highly motivated and creative Postdoctoral Researcher with expertise in the development and evaluation of distributed computing systems and familiarity with large-scale network visualization and analysis.
Network visualizations are frequently used to study group dynamics and their underlying structures as well as to form research hypotheses and communicate results. It can reveal information about the network’s structure that may be difficult to determine through quantitative and qualitative methods alone. However, networks such as those coming from social media are quite large and getting larger, existing visualization layout techniques are computationally expensive, and often their implementations are not easily scalable.
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
1) developing and evaluating distributed computing solutions for large-scale network visualization and analysis; and then
2) applying the proposed methods to study the dissemination and reach of known dis/mis-information campaigns on social media sites such as Twitter, Reddit, Facebook, etc…
Applicants must have demonstrable expertise in applications of distributed computing and visualization techniques. Knowledge of social network analysis (SNA) is an asset. In addition, applicants must also have strong research writing and communication skills and a passion for data analysis.
The position will be for a period of one year with a preferred start date of January 13, 2020 (an earlier start date is also possible). The salary is $55k CAD per annum plus a comprehensive benefits package.
The successful candidate will be a member of and work with an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Ryerson University’s Social Media Lab, headed by co-directors Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd, Canada Research Chair and Associate Professor at the Ted Rogers School of Management and Philip Mai, Director of Business and Communications. The researcher must be available to work onsite at the Social Media Lab in Toronto, Canada.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The postdoctoral fellow will be expected to collaborate actively with all team members and contribute to the intellectual life of the lab. These responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Contributing substantially to research projects and publications of the lab,
- Developing, evaluating and applying computational techniques to study social media data,
- and other related tasks as they arise,
- Communicating regularly with the project team,
- Actively participating in the knowledge management and translation of the lab research via journals, conferences, the lab’s website and via our various social media channels.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- A doctorate in one of the following areas: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systemsor a related field is required;
- Hands-on experience with Apache Spark’s frameworks (such as GraphX or similar technologies) is a must;
- Working knowledge of social network analysis (SNA);
- Excellent English writing skills is critically important.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Strong publication record in the field of expertise
To apply to this opportunity, the applicant must:
- have earned a first doctorate from an accredited university no earlier than September 2016 (date all degree requirements were completed, not the date of graduation), or have completed a first doctorate no earlier than September 2013, but have since had their career interrupted or delayed for the purpose of maternity, illness, or health-related family responsibilities;
- not hold a permanent faculty position or a faculty position leading to permanency.
TO APPLY:
- Candidates should submit the following materials electronically to Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd and Mr. Philip Mai at in...@socialmedialab.ca
Please email one PDF file that includes the following:
- Cover Letter that describes your relevant background and skills, range of interests and career goals,
- Academic CV,
- The name and contact information for three research references (one reference should be your doctoral advisor); Reference letters will only be solicited from the short-listed candidates,
- Sample publication.
DEADLINE:
- Review of applications will begin on September 2, 2019 and continue until the position is filled.
INSTITUTIONAL BACKGROUND:
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, the largest and most culturally diverse city in Canada, the Social Media Lab is an internationally engaged multi- and interdisciplinary research laboratory at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University. The lab studies how social media is changing the ways in which people and organizations communicate, disseminate information, conduct business and form communities online, and how these changes impact society. The lab’s research seeks to advance the public’s understanding of the benefits and pitfalls of social media adoption.
The Social Media Lab was established in 2010 and is the first of its kind in North America. It is led by co-directors, Anatoliy Gruzd (PhD) – Dir. of Research and Philip Mai (JD) – Director of Business and Communications. The lab is internationally recognized and attracts a diverse range of outstanding multidisciplinary scholars from around the world each year. It is a leader in social media studies and is the convener of the annual International Conference on Social Media and Society (#SMSociety).
The lab’s expertise lies in studying online communities and social networks, and developing new methods for analyzing and visualizing social media data. The Social Media Lab conducts research in a wide variety of areas including: Academia, Health, Information Privacy, Mis/Dis-information, Online Communities, Organizational Social Media Use, and Politics. The broad aim of the lab’s various research initiatives is to provide decision makers with additional knowledge and insights into the behaviors and relationships of online social network members, and to understand how these interpersonal connections influence our personal choices and actions. We also develop research apps, tools and methods for collecting, analyzing and visualizing publicly available social media data.
Ryerson University (with over 45,000 undergraduate and graduate students) is located in the heart of one of the world’s most culturally and linguistically diverse urban centres. Research at Ryerson is on a trajectory of success and growth, as evidenced by externally funded research doubling in the past 5 years. Longstanding partnerships with community, industry, government, and professional practice drive research and innovation that responds to real-world problems. The University’s academic plan, Our Time to Lead, can be found at https://www.ryerson.ca/provost/academic-plan/.
Ryerson University is strongly committed to fostering diversity within our community. We welcome those who would contribute to the further diversification of our staff, our faculty and its scholarship including, but not limited to, women, visible minorities, Aboriginal people, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply but applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.