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Introduction

Research Fellow @ the SMOL Project of the Department of Communications and New Media

The Social Media, Online behavior, and Language (SMOL) project at the Department of Communications and New Media, National University of Singapore is dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of humans and algorithms on the Internet, and its implications on the society of the future.

This is an exciting opportunity to join us as a Research Fellow under a new programme centered on the culture and politics of social media discussions.

Job Description*

As a Research Fellow with the SMOL project, you have demonstrated an exemplary track record of research and publishing, so you will be tasked with planning and executing a research project in the broad area of online hate speech.

You will work closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) on quantitative research related to public engagement on and in social media discussions. Project phases are as follows:

• Phase 1 - Literature reviews and research writing.
• Phase 2 - Survey and experiment design, and IRB applications.
• Phase 3 - Data collection and pre-processing.
• Phase 4 - Data analysis and result tabulation.
• Phase 5 - Research communication and writing of papers. The level of responsibility and independence entrusted would be commensurate with prior experience and academic qualifications.

In this role, you will be handling and contributing to research and innovative findings in a team, leading to publications in top-tier conferences/journals as well as exciting real-world implementations.

Job Responsibilities*

As a Research Fellow with the SMOL project, you will be:

• Leading and conducting literature reviews and working on research papers.
• Manage students and research assistants in conducting literature reviews.
• Conduct experiments on human behavior around the perception and consumption of online news.
• Lead the recruitment of participants for experiment sessions.
• Plan the necessary logistics for the administration of survey experiments and prepare IRB documentation
• Liaising with external vendors to purchase necessary equipment/materials for research studies
• Participate in the data collection process for quantitative (e.g. experiments, surveys) studies
• Analyze data for various projects using tools such as SPSS, R, and/or Microsoft Excel
• Draft conference and journal submissions based on research findings
• Prepare financial and progress reports, presentations, as well as other research-related documents
• Keeping track of expenditure and remaining budget in an organized manner, ensuring that the spending is optimized and on track concerning goals set for the grant
• Develop ideas for application of research outcomes.
• Contribute to knowledge exchange activities with external partners and collaborators.

Qualifications / Requirements*

• Minimum PhD or close to completing PhD in Communications (or in any other closely-related field).
• Relevant research experience with publications, in one or more of the following areas:Advanced statistical tests (e.g. moderation/ mediation, hierarchical regression etc.)
  Running standard statistical tests (e.g., using SPSS or SATS or R, for regression, ANOVA, etc.)
  Prior first- or second-author publications and/or technical reports or theses
• A good team player with effective communication skills, exemplary organization skills, and the ability to work closely with faculty, staff, students and external collaborators
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

*Update as per project and role needs.

How to Apply

A full application should consist of the following:

• cover letter, highlighting the applicant's interest in the projects' topics and commitment to diversity
• full curriculum vitae, including the candidate's academic history, relevant research experience (if any), and list of publications (if any)
• one academic writing sample (up to 25 pages)
• at least three (3) names for letters of recommendation, excluding PhD Supervisor. If the applicant is shortlisted, recommender(s) will be approached for their letter(s).

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Inquiries about the position may be directed to Dr Kokil Jaidka at jaidka@nus.edu.sg.