Job description

The Research Unit investigates how societal communication changes with communicative AI. The focus of the first funding period (2025 - 2028) is on the emergence and constructions of communicative AI. Our research uses highly innovative methods from the social sciences and HCI, including digital and computer-aided methods. For more information on the Research Unit and various opportunities for doctoral researchers, please visit the website www.comai.space.

Job description

The project P4 is based at ZeMKI, University of Bremen. It investigates private ordering as one dimension of ComAI’s sociomaterial constitution with regard to corporate communication and policies in the context of public controversies, focusing on Germany, UK and US.  The project thus investigates the ways in which corporate strategies and product policies of companies such as Alphabet, Amazon, and OpenAI as well as public controversies contribute to and negotiate what ComAI products are and how they are governed. The research uses a multi-method design that analyzes media discourses, interviews, corporate websites and product policies.

Tasks

The research assistants (f/m/d) will be responsible for tasks related to data collection and analysis, to organizing project processes, and to the preparation of publications and presentations.

Responsibilities include in particular:

• Collecting and analysing qualitative and quantitative data on at least two of four focus areas (please specify interest in the cover letter):

1. media discourses and controversies on ComAI
2. product policies and terms of service for AI products
3. corporate communication on ComAI
4. interviews with tech companies

• Data management and documentation, including participation in the development of the Research Unit’s “ComAI Research Space”
• Collaboration on project-related publications, events, and networking activities

The position offers the possibility of a doctorate. 

Requirements

• Very good Master’s degree in the social sciences or related disciplines
• Good knowledge in media and communication studies, technology and AI discourses, and ideally AI governance and regulation
• Experience with or good knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methods of media and communication research, in particular with regard to qualitative and semi-automated content analyses, as well as with expert interview
• Very good knowledge of English (written and spoken)
• for at least one of two positions: Excellent knowledge of German (written and spoken)
• Strong communication skills and willingness to collaborate within the project team and the Research Unit

Also welcome are:

• Knowledge of the development of communicative AI to date
• Knowledge of media discourses and governance of communicative AI or other media technologies (e.g. platforms)
• Experience in working with tools for qualitative analysis
• Experience in working with tools for semi-automated data analysis
• Programming skills in R or Python
• Interest in advanced methods of computational social sciences

General Information

Open to unconventional approaches in research and teaching, the University of Bremen has retained its character as a place of short distances for people and ideas since it was founded 50 years ago. With a broad range of subjects, we combine exceptional performance with great potential for innovation. As an ambitious research university, we stand for the approach of research-based learning and a pronounced orientation towards interdisciplinarity. We actively organise scientific cooperation worldwide in a spirit of partnership.

Today, around 23,000 people learn, teach, research and work on our international campus. In research and teaching, administration and operations, we are firmly committed to the goals of sustainability, climate justice and climate neutrality. Our Bremen spirit is expressed in the courage to try new things, in supportive cooperation and in respect and appreciation for one another. With our study and research profile and as part of the European YUFE network, we assume social responsibility in the region, in Europe and the world.

The University of Bremen is family-friendly, diverse and sees itself as an international university. We therefore welcome all applicants regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.

The University of Bremen endeavours to increase the proportion of women in the academic field and therefore expressly encourages women to apply.

Disabled persons with essentially equal professional and personal qualifications will be given preferential consideration.

If you have any questions regarding the job advertisement, please email Christian Katzenbach (katzenbachprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de).

Please send applications with the usual documents (cover letter, CV, MA thesis, any other publications, certificates) by 27.09.2024, quoting the reference number A269-24, by e-mail (as one file in PDF format) to Ludmila Schmidt (ludmila.schmidtprotect me ?!vw.uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de):

Universität Bremen

ZeMKI, Ludmila Schmidt

Postfach 33 04 40

28334 Bremen

Any travelling expenses for job interviews may be covered after consultation.

We kindly ask you to send us only copies (no portfolios) of your application documents, as we cannot return them. They will be destroyed after the selection process has been completed.