PhD position in Media Use, Publics and Personalization
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PhD position in Media Use, Publics and Personalization
The Department of Communication and Arts (DCA), Roskilde University, invites applications for a salaried PhD position in the AUTOPUBLICS project, which investigates how citizens relate to issues of common concern through and despite their personalized media experiences. The position as PhD fellow is limited to 3 years of full-time employment with DCA as the daily workplace and the start date is 1 February 2026.
Description of the PhD project
The PhD project is a part of AUTOPUBLICS, a larger research project funded by the Danish Research Council. AUTOPUBLICS will deploy a range of qualitative and digital methods to investigate the automation and personalization of media experiences with AI-driven technologies and the wider ramifications of such personalization for people's engagement with public issues. The PhD project will contribute to this research agenda by pursuing a well-defined sub-project whose methodological and theoretical emphasis can be specified in the project description to be enclosed in the application (see below), but which will be situated in ethnographic approaches to studies of individual mediascapes and/or digital methods approaches to studies of issue publics. The PhD will collaborate closely with a postdoc and two senior researchers, professor Jannie Møller Hartley (PI) and associate professor Andreas Birkbak (co-PI), who will lead an analysis of the broader ecology of contemporary mediated issue publics and investigate personalization algorithms as socio-technical systems.
Department of Communication and Arts
Your daily workplace will be Department of Communication and Arts at Roskilde University. DCA covers RUC’s Communication programs (Communication, Media and Communication, Journalism) and Art programs (Danish, Philosophy, History, and Cultural Encounters).
We conduct excellent, interdisciplinary research in the intersection between Communication, Cultural Studies, Social Science, and Humanities, and offer an innovative and interdisciplinary university environment, characterized by diversity with respect to theory, method, and area of study in research and education. Our research is characterized by double impact, i.e., by the highest academic quality, and by direct interaction with public, private, and civil actors in society. We have strong research networks and partnerships with local, regional, national, and international partners with the goal of ensuring the highest quality in all our research-based activities.
The Doctoral School
You will be enrolled as a PhD student at The Doctoral School of Communication and Arts, Roskilde University. The Doctoral School for Communication and Arts (ARTS-PHD) offers a doctoral program in Communication and Arts in an active, dynamic, and cross-disciplinary research environment.
The PhD program in Communication and Arts offers a number of activities from international PhD courses and master classes with researchers from around the world to writing retreats, frequent work-in-progress seminars as well as informal activities. We expect you to be actively involved in all PhD activities and that you will contribute to a dynamic and inspiring PhD environment.
Read more here https://ruc.dk/en/phd-roskilde-university.
Responsibilities and tasks
The PhD position is an educational position and the main tasks are in accordance with chapter 3, Ministerial Order on the PhD Program at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions (https://ufm.dk/en/legislation/prevailing-laws-and-regulations/education/files/engelsk-ph-d-bekendtgorelse.pdf)
Qualifications
Applicants are expected to have a strong educational background and have a completed master’s degree (or equivalent) in media studies, sociology, anthropology, STS, or related fields. If an applicant has handed in a master thesis, but the thesis has not been assessed, it is required that the applicant attaches a statement from the supervisor confirming that the thesis is likely to pass.
The ideal candidate has an interest in critical data studies, theories of public formation, and the field of audience studies.
Applicants are asked to submit a PhD project description (max. 5 pages of 12,000 characters, incl. spaces). The project description should outline the project proposed by the applicant and specify how the project relates to the research objectives of the overall project.
Moreover, applicants are asked to submit their Master’s thesis (if this is written in English or in a Scandinavian language).
The PhD candidate is expected to:
In addition, the PhD candidate is expected to demonstrate the following:
The successful candidate should possess good communication skills and be a visible, involved participant in the department’s daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Assessment
In the assessment of the candidates, consideration will be given to:
Find guidelines for PhD applications here: https://ruc.dk/en/doctoral-school-communication-and-arts#accordion-Application-and-admission
Questions
For further information about the PhD and the overall project, please contact project leader Jannie Møller Hartley on e-mail: jath@ruc.dk.
Terms of employment
The employment is full time, 37 hours per week, and you will refer to Dean Ida Willig.The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.
Application procedure
After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.
Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.
The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.
Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.
Application
To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/
Only applications in English or Danish are accepted.
Applications must include:
1. Cover letter, stating the motivation for applying
2. CV
3. Documentation of education including grades from Master’s programme or equivalent. The Master’s thesis (if this is written in English or Scandinavian languages).
4. The project description should be 5 pages (each of 2400 signs, incl. spaces), incl. everything (title, study plan, figures, tables, references, etc.) but excl. bibliography.
Please submit your application no later than 01-10-2025.
Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration.
Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
Description of the PhD project
The PhD project is a part of AUTOPUBLICS, a larger research project funded by the Danish Research Council. AUTOPUBLICS will deploy a range of qualitative and digital methods to investigate the automation and personalization of media experiences with AI-driven technologies and the wider ramifications of such personalization for people's engagement with public issues. The PhD project will contribute to this research agenda by pursuing a well-defined sub-project whose methodological and theoretical emphasis can be specified in the project description to be enclosed in the application (see below), but which will be situated in ethnographic approaches to studies of individual mediascapes and/or digital methods approaches to studies of issue publics. The PhD will collaborate closely with a postdoc and two senior researchers, professor Jannie Møller Hartley (PI) and associate professor Andreas Birkbak (co-PI), who will lead an analysis of the broader ecology of contemporary mediated issue publics and investigate personalization algorithms as socio-technical systems.
Department of Communication and Arts
Your daily workplace will be Department of Communication and Arts at Roskilde University. DCA covers RUC’s Communication programs (Communication, Media and Communication, Journalism) and Art programs (Danish, Philosophy, History, and Cultural Encounters).
We conduct excellent, interdisciplinary research in the intersection between Communication, Cultural Studies, Social Science, and Humanities, and offer an innovative and interdisciplinary university environment, characterized by diversity with respect to theory, method, and area of study in research and education. Our research is characterized by double impact, i.e., by the highest academic quality, and by direct interaction with public, private, and civil actors in society. We have strong research networks and partnerships with local, regional, national, and international partners with the goal of ensuring the highest quality in all our research-based activities.
The Doctoral School
You will be enrolled as a PhD student at The Doctoral School of Communication and Arts, Roskilde University. The Doctoral School for Communication and Arts (ARTS-PHD) offers a doctoral program in Communication and Arts in an active, dynamic, and cross-disciplinary research environment.
The PhD program in Communication and Arts offers a number of activities from international PhD courses and master classes with researchers from around the world to writing retreats, frequent work-in-progress seminars as well as informal activities. We expect you to be actively involved in all PhD activities and that you will contribute to a dynamic and inspiring PhD environment.
Read more here https://ruc.dk/en/phd-roskilde-university.
Responsibilities and tasks
The PhD position is an educational position and the main tasks are in accordance with chapter 3, Ministerial Order on the PhD Program at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions (https://ufm.dk/en/legislation/prevailing-laws-and-regulations/education/files/engelsk-ph-d-bekendtgorelse.pdf)
Qualifications
Applicants are expected to have a strong educational background and have a completed master’s degree (or equivalent) in media studies, sociology, anthropology, STS, or related fields. If an applicant has handed in a master thesis, but the thesis has not been assessed, it is required that the applicant attaches a statement from the supervisor confirming that the thesis is likely to pass.
The ideal candidate has an interest in critical data studies, theories of public formation, and the field of audience studies.
Applicants are asked to submit a PhD project description (max. 5 pages of 12,000 characters, incl. spaces). The project description should outline the project proposed by the applicant and specify how the project relates to the research objectives of the overall project.
Moreover, applicants are asked to submit their Master’s thesis (if this is written in English or in a Scandinavian language).
The PhD candidate is expected to:
- Complete an article-based PhD dissertation within the three-year project period. This will require producing international journal articles and/or book chapter publications, of which some may be written with other members of the project team, including the project supervisor.
- Participate actively in the seminars and work of the research group Digital Publics and Trust (DOT).
- Participate actively in PhD activities at the doctoral school.
In addition, the PhD candidate is expected to demonstrate the following:
- Good command of English (oral and written) is necessary, and experience with writing academically in English is considered an asset.
- Excellent academic record (as shown by a list of master level grades and timely completion of master level education and, potentially, academic work experience or academic publications).
- Ability to work independently and in collaboration with other members of the project team.
- Interest in being part of an international research community.
The successful candidate should possess good communication skills and be a visible, involved participant in the department’s daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Assessment
In the assessment of the candidates, consideration will be given to:
- Relevant Master’s degree or equivalent (according to Danish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/transparency-tools/qualifications-frameworks/other-qualifications-frameworks/danish-qf-for-higher-education?set_language=en&cl=en)
- Any additional academic requirements stated in the job advertisement.
- Educational skills and any further professional qualifications.
- Grade of Master’s thesis or equivalent (assessment by the supervisor in case the thesis has not yet been assessed).
- Quality and relevance of the original PhD project proposal, including the quality and relevance to the research project.
Find guidelines for PhD applications here: https://ruc.dk/en/doctoral-school-communication-and-arts#accordion-Application-and-admission
Questions
For further information about the PhD and the overall project, please contact project leader Jannie Møller Hartley on e-mail: jath@ruc.dk.
Terms of employment
The employment is full time, 37 hours per week, and you will refer to Dean Ida Willig.The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.
Application procedure
After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.
Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.
The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.
Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.
Application
To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/
Only applications in English or Danish are accepted.
Applications must include:
1. Cover letter, stating the motivation for applying
2. CV
3. Documentation of education including grades from Master’s programme or equivalent. The Master’s thesis (if this is written in English or Scandinavian languages).
4. The project description should be 5 pages (each of 2400 signs, incl. spaces), incl. everything (title, study plan, figures, tables, references, etc.) but excl. bibliography.
Please submit your application no later than 01-10-2025.
Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration.
Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.