PhD vacancies
Addressing mental health issues through interventions based on large language models.
University: University College Dublin
School: Information and Communications Studies (ICS)
Supervisor: Dr. Arjumand Younus (arjumand.younus@ucd.ie)
Starting date: September 2024
Deadline for application: 29th April 2024
Interviews with short-listed candidates: 13-14th May 2024
Position: 100%, full-time position, tuition fees waived by the School of Information and Communication
Studies (ICS).
Remuneration: PhD studentship renewable for up to four years and consisting of:
- PhD student stipend of €22,000k per annum (tax free)
- Scholarship students will be prioritised when applying for travel funding and overheads from ICS.
- Some equipment and travel funding will be available.
Eligibility: EU and non-EU students are equally eligible for studentships under this award
Requirement: Students accepted under this scheme must meet the university entry standards.
Description of the Post:
The School of Information and Communication Studies (ICS) at University College Dublin (UCD) is inviting one fully funded PhD scholarship under the supervision of Dr. Arjumand Younus.
The successful candidate will be interested in developing methods and techniques for mental health
interventions that make use of the newly emerging large language models. The candidate will complete a project of their own design. Suggested topics of focus include:
- AI chatbots for mental health: With the success of chatbots like ChatGPT there have been questions around the use of chatbots for mental health interventions. The focus for the PhD will be on the development and integration of large language models for personalised, persuasive chatbot interventions to promote positive mental health outcomes. Candidates interested in focusing on this or a similar topic should have strong technical and programming skills together with some amount of knowledge of artificial intelligence ethics.
- Social Media Mental Health Behavioural Analysis Detecting signs of mental disorders through automatic analysis of social media posts. This would involve use of pre-trained language models (popularly known as large language models) to guide the learning process over mental health terminology and social media data for a coupling between the two. It is also envisaged that some form of qualitative analysis will be performed over the proposed methods to help inform healthcare policymakers on the effectiveness of technology-mediated mental health support. Candidates interested in focusing on this or a similar topic should have some technical and programming skills and a mixture of quantitative and qualitative analysis skills.
Candidates are also encouraged to modify and build upon one or more of these topics, or to propose their own PhD topic which will help to propose newer research directions in addressing mental health issues via technology-mediated interventions.
Depending on the topic, the successful candidate should have a background in Computer Science and/or Data
Science. The candidate should also demonstrate that they are willing to learn new methods, techniques, tools,
and technologies as necessary to undertake research related to this PhD. Candidates should be methodical,
rigorous, analytical and have a strong attention to detail. They should be capable of working independently, while also making contributions to the related projects at ICS (https://www.ucd.ie/ics/), UCD.
Research Area
The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr. Younus, and will contribute to her overall research within
social computing. The candidate is expected to have a strong general interest in natural language processing
and text mining. An understanding of qualitative methods within social computing is desirable.
Dr. Younus’s work is focused on the use of artificial intelligence for social good applications. Common topics in
her work include studying vulnerable populations, technology-mediated communications, and social media analytics.
Responsibilities
The post-holder will be expected to write and successfully defend a PhD thesis focused on the areas listed in
the description of the post and meet the degree requirements set by UCD to advance through the PhD programme.
The candidate is also expected to produce research outputs in relation to their doctoral research and attend
conferences to disseminate the research findings. The post-holder will collaborate closely with their supervisor
to produce outputs on their combined research areas. The candidate will ideally produce single-, first-, and co-
authored research by the end of the post.
The candidate is expected to take part in seminars, workshops, and events organised within ICS and across
UCD that are relevant to the project. The post-holder will be expected to contribute to the intellectual life in
ICS and UCD and participate in research activities to the level and extent of their qualifications.
The candidate will also be expected to complete a total of 30 ECTS credits spread across the post as part of the
university’s structured PhD path.
Finally, the candidate will engage in teaching and tutor training and module support during their studies.
Role profile
The topic requires that the successful candidate be familiar with and/or proficient in (or willing to learn) the
necessary research and technical skills. This is a PhD with a heavy technical focus, and hence, candidates are
expected to have a strong technical background with good knowledge of programming, and some knowledge
of qualitative research methods within the social computing domain. They should have experience of or must
be willing to learn quantitative research methods and data analysis techniques. It would be beneficial if candidates had a Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence or a similar technical background,
and/or they can demonstrate practical and applicable technical skills.
Post Requirements
Strong written command of English is required. English proficiency at the C2 or C1 level of the Common
European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is advised.
Candidates are expected to hold a strong Masters degree of 2:1 and above (or equivalent GPA) in Computer
Science and/or Data Science or other relevant subject areas.
The candidate should be able to demonstrate exceptional organisational experience and skills. Preference will be given to candidates who:
- Can demonstrate experience and skills that match their proposed PhD topic - i.e., Those who propose a quantitative or data focused project should be able to demonstrate that they are technical, analytical, detailed and process orientated. Those who propose a non-technical PhD should be able to demonstrate an understanding of social science and qualitative methods and an ability to integrate or build upon robust theories from the literature.
- Have read some of the main literature related to their proposed topic
Applications are open to students of all nationalities and backgrounds. Women and people of colour are
especially encouraged to apply.
Enquiries
Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Arjumand with the following before submitting a formal application.
1. A one-page cover letter describing how you meet the mandatory/desired requirements.
2. A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) including education history, programming skills, research
projects/publications and other relevant information.
3. A one or two page outline of a proposed research topic, which may be based on one of the two topics
above, or be of their own design on the topics of mental health interventions through large language
models
4. Scanned copies of relevant academic transcripts.
5. English Language Proficiency for non-native English speakers, in line with UCD requirements
(https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/policiesandgeneralregulations/generalrequ
irements/minimumenglishlanguagerequirements/).
How to Apply
Applications need to be submitted via UCD’s application portal:
https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/graduateapplicants/applying/
The candidate should apply to Programme Code W139 using the UCD Admissions online application portal (a
€50 application fee applies). Please see the main ICS and UCD Graduate Studies sites for detailed application
requirements:
https://www.ucd.ie/ics/study/phdresearchprogrammes/ and https://www.ucd.ie/graduatestudies/studywithu
s/applicationprocess/
The School of Information and Communication Studies (https://www.ucd.ie/ics/) requires PhD applicants to
submit their curriculum vitae, an applicant statement (500-700 words), and a personal statement (up to
32,000 characters). Candidates are advised to describe their research interests, explain why they believe this
position fits their profile, and include a brief description of the topic they would like to explore in their PhD project. In addition to that, applicants should submit a writing sample, preferably a piece that has been
published or a chapter of a thesis, as additional information.
Applications will be reviewed through our system of open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment of
researchers. Short-listed candidates will be invited to an interview for the position, which will be held online.
Candidates will be given at least five days’ notice if selected to interview.
For any questions related to this post please contact Arjumand Younus (https://people.ucd.ie/arjumand.younus) at arjumand.younus@ucd.ie
---------
Combating the spread of disinformation linked to Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) across Europe.
University: University College Dublin
School: Information and Communications Studies (ICS)
Supervisor: Dr. Brendan Spillane (brendan.spillane@ucd.ie)
Starting date: May 2024
Deadline for application: 1st March 2024 CLOSED
Interviews with short-listed candidates: Mid March 2024
Position: 100%, full-time position, tuition fees waived by the School of Information and Communication Studies (ICS).
Remuneration: PhD studentship renewable for up to four years and consisting of:
- PhD student stipend of €22,000k per annum (tax free)
- Scholarship students will be prioritised when applying for travel funding and overheads from ICS.
- Some equipment and travel funding will be available from the two Horizon Europe research projects depending on the level of contribution the proposed PhD makes to each.
Eligibility: EU and non-EU students are equally eligible for studentships under this award
Requirement: Students accepted under this scheme must meet the university entry standards.
Description of the Post:
The School of Information and Communication Studies (ICS) at University College Dublin (UCD) is inviting one fully funded PhD scholarship under the supervision of Dr. Brendan Spillane. The successful candidate will be interested in developing methods and techniques to monitor and counter the spread of disinformation linked to Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) across Europe. The candidate will complete a project of their own design. Suggested topics of focus include:
- Developing methods and techniques to identify common, new, and trending disinformation narratives in countries and regions across Europe. This may include identifying common markers and cues in disinformation which may indicate whether it is part of a FIMI campaign. Candidates interested in focusing on this or a similar topic would possess strong technical, programming and quantitative data analysis skills.
- Identifying which countries and regions are the most susceptible to FIMI linked disinformation campaigns. This would include analysing their cultural, political, media, and regulatory environments to understand the underlying causes of the susceptibility and developing policy, legal, media and societal recommendations to counter it. Candidates interested in focusing on this or a similar topic would have some technical and programming skills and a mixture of quantitative and qualitative analysis skills.
- Identify common Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) of FIMI campaigns with the aim of being able to attribute them to specific foreign actors. Candidates would be expected to identify or create their own datasets using real examples FIMI campaigns across Europe and apply standard quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques. Candidates interested in focusing on this or a similar topic would have some technical and programming skills and a mixture of quantitative and qualitative analysis skills.
- Develop new and innovative methods for policy makers and state institutions to counter FIMI linked disinformation campaigns. Candidates would review and analyse existing methods to combat disinformation at a national level to understand their effectiveness, identify how they can be improved upon and develop new and innovative methods to counter disinformation. Candidates interested in focusing on this or a similar topic would have some technical skills and a mixture of quantitative and qualitative analysis skills.
- Candidates are also encouraged to modify and build upon one or more of these topics, or to propose their own PhD topic which will help to counter the spread of disinformation linked to Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) across Europe. There is a preference for topics with an empirical and quantitative focus, but social science and qualitative projects will be considered.
Depending on the topic, the successful candidate should have a background in Computer Science, Information Science, Media and Communications, Journalism, or other related subject areas. The candidate should also demonstrate that they are willing to learn new methods, techniques, tools, and technologies as necessary to undertake research related to this PhD. Candidates should be methodical, rigorous, analytical and have a strong attention to detail. They should be capable of working independently, while also making contributions to the related projects, The School of Information and Communication Studies (ICS) (https://www.ucd.ie/ics/), UCD, and to the ADAPT Centre (https://www.adaptcentre.ie/).
Research Area.
The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr. Spillane, and will contribute to the ongoing €4m Horizon Europe VIGILANT (https://www.vigilantproject.eu/) and a new €3.1m Horizon Europe ATHENA project focused on combatting disinformation in Europe, and to the wider body of knowledge on combating disinformation. The candidate is expected to have a strong general interest in FIMI, misinformation and disinformation (and related forms of problematic content e.g., hate speech, radicalisation, extremist), their effect on society and ongoing efforts to combat it. This PhD will intersect with other related domains including politics, geopolitics, international relations, public policy, security, news and current events, journalism, information studies, and sociology.
Dr. Spillane’s work is focused on Human Judgement of Information which is at the intersection of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Behavioural Science and Information Science. Common topics in his work include Bias, Credibility, Misinformation and Disinformation, News, and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).
The successful candidate will be encouraged to draw upon the interdisciplinary research and expertise within ICS to suggest new and innovative methods and techniques to complete their PhD.
Responsibilities
The post-holder will be expected to write and successfully defend a PhD thesis focused on the areas listed in the description of the post and meet the degree requirements set by UCD to advance through the PhD programme. The candidate is also expected to produce research outputs in relation to their doctoral research and attend conferences to disseminate the research findings. The post-holder will collaborate closely with their supervisor to produce outputs on their combined research areas. The candidate will ideally produce single-, first-, and co authored research by the end of the post. The candidate is expected to take part in seminars, workshops, and events organised within ICS and across UCD that are relevant to the project. The post-holder will be expected to contribute to the intellectual life in ICS and UCD and participate in research activities to the level and extent of their qualifications. The candidate will also join and contribute to the Science Foundation Ireland (https://www.sfi.ie/) ADAPT Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology (https://www.adaptcentre.ie/) in which Dr. Spillane is a Funded Investigator and where he founded a Harmful Information Working Group. The ADAPT Centre can provide significant additional resources to its member researchers who are spread across eight Irish universities.
The candidate will also be expected to complete a total of 30 ECTS credits spread across the post as part of the university’s structured PhD path. Finally, the candidate will engage in teaching and tutoring during their PhD.
Role profile
Depending on the topic chosen or proposed, the successful candidate is expected to be familiar with and/or proficient in (or willing to learn) the necessary research and technical skills.
- For PhDs with a heavy technical focus, candidates are expected to have a strong technical background with good knowledge of programming. They have experience of or must be willing to learn quantitative research methods and data analysis techniques. It would be beneficial if candidates had a Computer Science, Information Science, Engineering or a similar technical background, or they can demonstrate practical and applicable technical skills.
- For PhDs requiring a balance of technical and non-technical skills, candidates are expected to have some quantitative analysis skills. Programming experience is a bonus but not a requirement. Candidates must have or be willing to learn quantitative and qualitative research methods and analysis techniques. Candidates should have an Information Science, Journalism, or Media and Communications background. Candidates with no technical experience must demonstrate a willingness to learn any necessary technical skills.
- For PhDs which mostly have a non-technical focus, candidates are expected to be familiar with and/or be proficient in qualitative methodologies including but not limited to, site-specific fieldwork, case-study, ethnographic and desk research, discourse, policy analysis, planning, and stakeholder analysis. However, as there is a preference for projects with some technical aspects, the successful candidate must be willing to learn any necessary technical skills and quantitative methods. Candidates should have a Media and Communications, Journalism, Political Science, Psychology, or International Relations background. Candidates with no technical experience must demonstrate a willingness to learn any necessary technical skills.
Post Requirements
Strong written command of English is required. English proficiency at the C2 or C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is advised. Candidates are expected to hold a strong Masters degree of 2:1 and above (or equivalent GPA) in Computer Science, Information Science, Media and Communications, Journalism, Political Science, Psychology, International Relations or other relevant subject areas. The candidate should be able to demonstrate exceptional organisational experience and skills. Preference will be given to candidates who:
- Can demonstrate experience and skills that match their proposed PhD topic - i.e., Those who propose a quantitative or data focused project should be able to demonstrate that they are technical, analytical, detailed and process orientated. Those who propose a non-technical PhD should be able to demonstrate an understanding of social science and qualitative methods and an ability to integrate or build upon robust theories from the literature.
- Have read some of the main literature related to their proposed topic.
- Have a good understanding of the efforts (research, political, social, NGO etc.) to combat disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).
Applications are open to students of all nationalities and backgrounds. Women and people of colour are especially encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Applications need to be submitted via UCD’s application portal:
https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/graduateapplicants/applying/ The candidate should apply to Programme Code W139 using the UCD Admissions online application portal (a €50 application fee applies). Please see the main ICS and UCD Graduate Studies sites for detailed application requirements:
https://www.ucd.ie/ics/study/phdresearchprogrammes/ and https://www.ucd.ie/graduatestudies/studywithus/applicationprocess/
The School of Information and Communication Studies (https://www.ucd.ie/ics/) requires PhD applicants to submit their curriculum vitae, an applicant statement (1,500-2,000 words), and a personal statement (32,000 characters). Candidates are advised to describe their research interests, explain why they believe this position fits their profile, and include a brief description of the topic they would like to explore in their PhD project. In addition to that, applicants should submit a writing sample, preferably a piece that has been published or a chapter of a thesis, as additional information. Applications will be reviewed through our system of open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment of researchers. Short-listed candidates will be invited to an interview for the position, which will be held online. Candidates will be given at least five days’ notice if selected to interview.
For any questions related to this post please contact Brendan Spillane (https://people.ucd.ie/brendan.spillane) at (opens in a new window)brendan.spillane@ucd.ie.
*Prospective candidates can contact Brendan prior to the application system opening* Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Brendan with the following before submitting a formal application.
1. A one-page cover letter describing how you meet the mandatory/desired requirements.
2. A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) including education history, programming skills, research projects/publications and other relevant information.
3. A one or two page outline of a proposed research topic, which may be based on one of the four topics above, or be of their own design on the topics of disinformation or Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).
4. Scanned copies of relevant academic transcripts.
5. English Language Proficiency for non-native English speakers, in line with UCD requirements
(https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/policiesandgeneralregulations/generalrequirements/minimumenglishlanguagerequirements/).
------
Measuring Bias in News
Measuring Bias in News:
University: University College Dublin
School: Information and Communications Studies (ICS)
Supervisor: Dr. Brendan Spillane (brendan.spillane@ucd.ie)
Starting date: May 2024
Deadline for application: CLOSED.
Interviews with short-listed candidates: Mid March 2024
Position: 100%, full-time position, tuition fees waived by the School of Information and Communication Studies (ICS).
Remuneration: PhD studentship renewable for up to four years and consisting of:
- PhD student stipend of €22,000k per annum (tax free)
- Scholarship students will be prioritised when applying for travel funding and overheads from ICS.
- Some equipment and travel funding will be available from the two Horizon Europe research projects depending on the level of contribution this PhD makes to each.
Eligibility: EU and non-EU students are equally eligible for studentships under this award
Requirement: Students accepted under this scheme must meet the university entry standards.
Description of the Post
The School of Information and Communication Studies (ICS) at University College Dublin (UCD) is inviting one fully funded PhD scholarship under the supervision of Dr. Brendan Spillane. Free, independent and pluralistic news media is of vital importance to a functioning democracy and cohesive society. It protects and promotes free and open debate on important issues, holds governments accountable, and scrutinises powerful institutions, industry, and individuals. In a healthy and pluralistic media landscape, news publishers, editors and journalists will have different opinions, support different causes, and align themselves with different political parties, ideologies or points of view. These diverse perspectives enrich public discourse and provide the public with multiple perspectives on complex issues. Early signs of a democracy under threat include attacks on free press, a reduction in pluralistic opinions and different perspectives, increased partisan and polarised reporting, legal threats and harassment, concentration in media ownership, reduction in public trust, closure of independent media outlets, blocking access to information and increasingly biased news reporting. The successful candidate will undertake a PhD focused on developing new methods and techniques to measure bias in text based news as an early indicator of a democracy under threat. This will include:
- Identifying, implementing and evaluating existing methods of measuring bias from the literature in the domain, see (Entman, 2007) (Sachsman, 1970) (Terwilleger et al., 2011) (Recasens et al., 2013).
- Developing new, valid and reliable methods of measuring bias in text based news.
- Compare the existing and new methods of measuring bias in text based news in multiple domains, media markets, topics etc. to demonstrate their effectiveness.
The overall objectives of this PhD are to:
- Develop a means of measuring and tracking the (political, issue, social, ideological) bias of individual news agencies to identify shifts news reporting which may indicate a decline in the health of a media outlet, and ultimately, may indicate that a democracy is under threat (see signs above)
- Compare and contrast existing methods of measuring bias in online, traditional long-form text based newsm story reporting (not dialogue or debate) to identify the best approach depending on factors such as topic, domain and type of bias.
As part of the application, candidates are asked to submit a two page expanded outline of a PhD project (aims, objectives, research question, area of focus, methods etc), based on the above. They are encouraged to ‘make the project their own’ by expanding and modifying the above outline to suit their own interests, experience and skillset. Candidates may also submit multiple two-page proposals for projects in the general area of measuring bias in the news.
Depending on the proposed topic, the successful candidate should have a background in Computer Science, Information Science, Media and Communications, Journalism, or other related subject areas. The candidate should also demonstrate that they are willing to learn new methods, techniques, tools, and technologies as necessary to undertake research related to this PhD. Candidates should be methodical, rigorous, analytical and have a strong attention to detail. They should be capable of working independently, while also making contributions to related projects, ICS (https://www.ucd.ie/ics/), UCD, and to the ADAPT Centre (https://www.adaptcentre.ie/).
Entman, R. M. (2007). Framing Bias: Media in the Distribution of Power. Journal of Communication, 57(1), 163–173. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2006.00336.x
Terwilleger, B., McCarthy, P., & Lamkin, T. (2011, March 20). Bias in Hard News Articles from Fox News and MSNBC: An Empirical Assessment Using the Gramulator. Twenty-Fourth International FLAIRS Conference. Twenty-Fourth International FLAIRS Conference. https://www.aaai.org/ocs/index.php/FLAIRS/FLAIRS11/paper/view/2516
Sachsman, D. B. (1970). A Test of ‘Loading’: New Measure of Bias. Journalism Quarterly, 47(4), 759–762.
https://doi.org/10.1177/107769907004700415
Recasens, M., Danescu-Niculescu-Mizil, C., & Jurafsky, D. (2013). Linguistic Models for Analyzing and Detecting Biased Language. Proceedings of the 51st Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics, 1, 1650–1659. http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~cristian/Biased_language_files/neutrality.pdf
Research Area
Dr. Spillane’s work is focused on Human Judgement of Information which is at the intersection of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Behavioural Science and Information Science. Common topics in his work include Bias, Credibility, Misinformation and Disinformation, News, and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI). The successful candidate will be encouraged to draw upon the interdisciplinary research and expertise within ICS to suggest new and innovative methods and techniques to complete their PhD.
Responsibilities
The post-holder will be expected to write and successfully defend a PhD thesis focused on the areas listed in the description of the post and meet the degree requirements set by UCD to advance through the PhD programme. The candidate is also expected to produce research outputs in relation to their doctoral research and attend conferences to disseminate the research findings. The post-holder will collaborate closely with their supervisor to produce outputs on their combined research areas. The candidate will ideally produce single-, first-, and co- authored research by the end of the post.
The candidate is expected to take part in seminars, workshops, and events organised within ICS and across UCD that are relevant to the project. The post-holder will be expected to contribute to the intellectual life in ICS and UCD and participate in research activities to the level and extent of their qualifications. The candidate will also join and contribute to the Science Foundation Ireland (https://www.sfi.ie/) ADAPT Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology (https://www.adaptcentre.ie/) in which Dr. Spillane is a Funded Investigator and where he founded a Harmful Information Working Group. The ADAPT Centre can provide significant additional resources to its member researchers spread across eight Irish Universities. The candidate will also be expected to complete a total of 30 ECTS credits spread across the post as part of the university’s structured PhD path. Finally, the candidate will engage in teaching and tutor training during their studies.
Role profile
Depending on the topic chosen or proposed, the successful candidate is expected to be familiar with and/or proficient in (or willing to learn) the necessary research and technical skills.
- For PhDs proposals with a heavy technical focus, candidates are expected to have a strong technical background with good knowledge of programming. They have experience of or must be willing to learn quantitative research methods and data analysis techniques. It would be beneficial if candidates had a Computer Science, Information Science, Engineering or a similar technical background, or they can demonstrate practical and applicable technical skills.
- For PhDs requiring a balance of technical and non-technical skills, candidates are expected to have some quantitative analysis skills. Programming experience is a bonus but not a requirement. Candidates must have or be willing to learn quantitative and qualitative research methods and analysis techniques. Candidates should have an Information Science, Journalism, or Media and Communications background. Candidates with no technical experience must demonstrate a willingness to learn any necessary technical skills.
- For PhDs which mostly have a non-technical focus, candidates are expected to be familiar with and/or be proficient in qualitative methodologies including but not limited to, site-specific fieldwork, case-study, ethnographic and desk research, discourse, policy analysis, planning, and stakeholder analysis. However, as there is a preference for projects with some technical aspects, the successful candidate must be willing to learn any necessary technical skills and quantitative methods. Candidates should have a Media and Communications, Journalism, Political Science, Psychology, or International Relations background. Candidates with no technical experience must demonstrate a willingness to learn any necessary technical skills.
Post Requirements
Strong written command of English is required. English proficiency at the C2 or C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is advised. Candidates are expected to hold a strong Masters degree of 2:1 and above (or equivalent GPA) in Computer Science, Information Science, Media and Communications, Journalism, Political Science, Psychology, International Relations or other relevant subject areas. The candidate should be able to demonstrate exceptional organisational skills.
Preference will be given to candidates who:
- Can demonstrate experience and skills that match their proposed PhD topic - i.e., Those who propose a quantitative or data focused project should be able to demonstrate that they are technical, analytical, detailed and process orientated. Those who propose a non-technical PhD should be able to demonstrate an understanding of social science and qualitative methods and an ability to integrate or build upon robust theories from the literature.
- Can demonstrate that they are already familiar with some of the main literature in the domain.
- Can demonstrate an ability to take control of their own project, who can plan in detail the research they want to undertake, and who have both a high level and low level understanding of the research they want to undertake.
Applications are open to students of all nationalities and backgrounds. Women and people of colour are especially encouraged to apply.
Enquiries
Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Brendan with the following before submitting a formal application.
1. A one-page cover letter describing how you meet the mandatory/desired requirements.
2. A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) including education history, programming skills, research projects/publications and other relevant information.
3. A two page proposal outlining the intended PhD (aims, objectives, research question, area of focus, methods etc), which may be based on the sample project above, or be of their own design on the topic of measuring bias in the news.
4. Scanned copies of relevant academic transcripts.
5. English Language Proficiency for non-native English speakers, in line with UCD requirements
(https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/policiesandgeneralregulations/generalrequ
irements/minimumenglishlanguagerequirements/).
How to Apply
Applications need to be submitted via UCD’s application portal: https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/graduateapplicants/applying/ The candidate should apply to Programme Code W139 using the UCD Admissions online application portal (a €50 application fee applies). Please see the main ICS and UCD Graduate Studies sites for detailed application requirements:
https://www.ucd.ie/ics/study/phdresearchprogrammes/ and https://www.ucd.ie/graduatestudies/studywithu
s/applicationprocess/
The School of Information and Communication Studies (https://www.ucd.ie/ics/) requires PhD applicants to submit their curriculum vitae, an applicant statement (1,500-2,000 words), and a personal statement (32,000 characters). Candidates are advised to describe their research interests, explain why they believe this position fits their profile, and include a brief description of the topic they would like to explore in their PhD project. In addition to that, applicants should submit a writing sample, preferably a piece that has been published or a chapter of a thesis, as additional information. Applications will be reviewed through our system of open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment of researchers. Short-listed candidates will be invited to an interview for the position, which will be held online. Candidates will be given at least five days’ notice if selected to interview.
For any questions related to this post please contact Brendan Spillane (https://people.ucd.ie/brendan.spillane) at (opens in a new window)brendan.spillane@ucd.ie
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