Deadline: Tuesday 11 April 2023
The ESRC Centre for Sociodigital Futures (CenSoF) is delighted to announce a fully ESRC funded +3 (three year) PhD studentship to commence in Autumn 2023 or January 2024 on ‘Researching Sociodigital life’.
CenSoF explores how sociodigital futures are claimed, acted on and made. It seeks to build capacity to direct sociodigital futures in the making towards fairer and more sustainable ways of life.
The project descriptor provided below offers a broad indication of the thematic focus for this studentship which should be the starting point for applicants to develop their own research proposals. In doing so, the expectation is that all proposals should be directly relevant to CenSoF and connect to one or more elements of the Centre (domains of practice, technical affordance projects, the four threads of the Futures Studio).
Project descriptor: Researching Sociodigital Life
The phenomenal growth of digital data, devices and infrastructures has become a defining feature of the 21st Century. While the social sciences have much to say about the social dimensions or effects of digital phenonena, we are less well equipped to engage with or account for their materialities and affordances. We invite applicants to propose a project – with a focus of their own choosing (for example high performance networks, computer visions, algorithms) – which investigates how digital phenomena and social life are interwoven and co-evolving in what is now a sociodigital world. This could include, for example, theoretical examination of digital phenomena that draws on Critical Data Studies, Actor Network Theory and/or Feminist Materialisms and/or empirically studying new forms of sociodigital practice with an emphasis on what is included and excluded in different sociodigital formations. We particularly welcome applications that pay attention to the methodological challenges of researching sociodigital phenomena as well as proposals from applicants keen to work across Social Sciences and/or, Engineering, and/or the Arts.
As members of the Centre’s PhD Programme and ECR network, all CenSoF PhD students will be offered opportunities for mentorship, support (both peer and from experienced researchers), and career development training. In addition, this studentship will be affiliated with the Sociology (Bristol) SWDTP pathway; accordingly, the successful applicant will benefit from further opportunities, including through the South West Doctoral Training Partnership as well as the Bristol Doctoral College.
Studentship Awards cover tuition fees as well as a maintenance grant (based on the UKRI rates); and include access to an additional Research Training Support Grant (RTSG). Other opportunities will be available for studentship holders to apply for additional funds to support research and career development activities.
In line with UKRI policy, this ESRC studentship is open to both UK and International applicants. ESRC will fund international students at the home fee and stipend rate. This does not cover the difference between the UK rate and the international fee set by universities. The University of Bristol has committed to waive the difference in fees for all UKRI PhDs. However, please note that you will be expected to pay your own travel costs, visa fees and other associated costs (e.g. immigration health surcharge to access the National Health Service).
The closing date for CenSoF applications is noon Tuesday 11 April 2023
For queries relating to the application process, please contact censof-enquiries@bristol.ac.uk.
For queries about the studentship, please contact Professor David M. Evans <d.m.evans@bristol.ac.uk> and Professor Susan Halford Susan.Halford@bristol.ac.uk.
Further information about how to apply for this studentship can be found at https://www.bristol.ac.uk/fssl/research/sociodigital-futures/opportunities/