Part-time Researcher - Algorithms at Work
Deadline date: Midday on Monday 9 May 2022
Grade 6: £29,614 - £35,326 per annum pro rata
The Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, Faculty of Law, are seeking a researcher with a strong background in employment law and technology to join the core team for the ERC-funded iManage project, led by Principal Investigator (PI) Prof Jeremias Adams-Prassl.
The Researcher will work on the evolving regulation of Artificial Intelligence and algorithmic management, reporting to the Principal Investigator. The post holder will be a member of a research team, working independently to provide research support across work packages 1 including algorithmic responsibility and 4 stakeholder toolkits. Amidst important debates about the gig economy and the automation of jobs, scant attention has been paid to the rise of algorithmic management: the increasingly pervasive reliance on monitoring technology and sophisticated algorithms to measure, control, and sanction workers (also known as ‘People Analytics’ or ‘Big Data HR’). This poses a fundamental threat to the legal regulation of our labour markets. Automated management allows the exercise of hitherto impossibly granular employer control. At the same time, however, the absence of clear decisions and traditional management structures appears to disperse responsibility ‘into the cloud’.
The Researcher will manage their own academic research and administrative activities, within guidelines provided by the Principal Investigator. Responsibilities will include contributing ideas for new research projects; undertaking literature reviews and writing up the results for publication in peer-reviewed journals or for presentation at conferences or public meetings; contributing to research publications, book chapters and reviews; and representing the research network’s interests at external meetings/seminars.
The successful applicant will hold a first degree, together with some relevant experience; hold a graduate degree (LL.M. or equivalent) in a specialist discipline; possess sufficient specialist knowledge in algorithmic governance and employment law to work within established research programmes; have the ability to manage own research and administrative activities; and have excellent communication skills, including the ability to write text that can be published, present data at conferences, and represent the research network at meetings.
The post is part time (0.5 FTE) and fixed term for 12 months to commence on 1 September 2022.
The postholder will be based at the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, Mansfield College, Oxford.
Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via www.recruit.ox.ac.uk and enter vacancy ID: 157082. Closing date for applications is midday on Monday 9 May 2022. Interviews are likely to be held week commencing 16 or 23 May 2022.
Applicants will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement as part of your online application. Candidates should arrange for an item of written work (no more than 10, 0000 words), published or unpublished to be sent in a single email to recruitment@law.ox.ac.uk by the closing date.
Shortlisted applicants will be asked to arrange for two references to be submitted before the interviews take place.