We are currently advertising a fully-funded PhD studentship hosted by the Centre for Social Informatics, (my research centre within the Institute for Informatics and Digital Innovation) at Edinburgh Napier University. (The actual advert can be found on jobs.ac.uk and the Edinburgh Napier University vacancies web site.)
- Applications are due by Thursday 31st July 2014
- Interviews are planned for Tuesday 12th August
- The studentship will start on Wednesday 1st October 2014
The successful candidate will explore the changing role and potential of social networking in the development of career management skills. This work will consider the extent, type and purpose of the use of social media for employment amongst the Scottish labour force, and examine how social networking in general (assisted by social media) influences job search and career development. It will also consider how social networking can be used to sustain and enhance career direction, and will make practical recommendations on the use of social networking in the development of career management skills, and in the operation of career information and advice services. As part of the study, the research will test and develop Social Network Analysis (SNA) as a research approach of value to the study of social media adoption.
The studentship is one of a number supported by a partnership between ESRC Scottish Graduate School for Social Science and Skills Development Scotland. UK/EU fees are covered, plus an annual stipend of £13,863 for 3 years.
The successful candidate will be supervised by me (Professor Hazel Hall, Director of the Centre for Social Informatics) and my colleague Professor Robert Raeside, Director of the Employment Research Institute. The student will join a lively group of PhD students within the Centre for Social Informatics, and also forge links with students and professional researchers in the Employment Research Institute who are using SNA in their research.
We are interested in receiving applications from individuals who:
- Hold a Masters degree in a social science subject (or are nearing completion of such a qualification)
- Hold a good first degree (2.1 or first class)
- Demonstrate in their application an interest in themes related to (1) social networking, social media, online communities, and collaboration and (2) career skills development
- Have a good grounding in social research, including both qualitative and quantitative methods, with a keen desire to develop this further
- Offer practical experience of using social media for a range of applications
- Demonstrate excellent level of spoken and written English. (Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the University’s English language requirements.)
- Meet the eligibility requirements of the ESRC.
We’d be particularly interested in applications from those with qualifications in subjects such as Information Management, Information Science, Information Systems, Knowledge Management, Science and Technology Studies, Social Research, and Sociology. However, this is not a requirement: if you have a qualification in another social science subject and meet the criteria listed above, we’d still be keen to hear from you.
Overseas students are eligible to apply for the studentship, but will be liable to pay the difference between home/EU and overseas fees. Note that fees are subject to change annually throughout the programme of study.
To make an application please follow the instructions “How to apply for an advertised studentship vacancy” on the Edinburgh Napier research degrees application page. Your application should include:
- A completed application form
- Details that address items (3), (4) and (5) above in the personal statement section of the application form
- Two academic references
Your application should be submitted by Thursday 31st July 2014.
For further information about this studentship, please feel free to contact me by email at h.hall@napier.ac.uk.
The successful candidate will join other students in the Centre for Social Informatics
Hazel Hall 