Research Assistant, Mis-/Dis-information & Hate Speech in African Countries

Internal Applicants Only

Deadline: 10 February 2023

Nicole Stremlau and Caitlyn McGeer are looking for one research assistant to help with the cleaning and analysis of survey data on mis/disinformation and hate speech online in Africa. The survey has been rolled out in Kenya and Ethiopia so far, and the ConflictNET team is scaling up to other African countries as well. The research assistant will be required to support ongoing analysis and dissemination of the survey, particularly as it relates to cleaning the data for analysis and conducting aspects of the analysis.

Duration and hours

Working hours: a total of up to 96 hours across the duration of the project, to be agreed with the Supervisor.

Start date: 27 February 2023

Date by which the work must be completed: 21 May 2023, or 12 weeks after the start of the project.

Reporting

The Research Assistant will report to Nicole Stremlau.

Requirements

• A specialty in research methods, surveys, and/or media/internet studies is essential.
• Knowledge of survey data cleaning for is essential.
• Good admin and IT skills are essential.
• Ability to conduct basic survey analysis is desirable.
• A reasonable understanding of contemporary African societies and politics is desirable.
• A general understanding of the field of mis/disinformation and online hate speech is desirable.
• A knowledge of other research programmes and organizations working in this field would be desirable.

The work can be done in any place in the UK where you have access to a good library and internet. Meetings with the PI/team members will be held in-person in Oxford or, if required, online.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to current graduate students in the Faculty of Law and to other current Oxford graduate students with a relevant social science background. The hours are in line with the restrictions on working hours for students within the Law Faculty.

It is expected that the work will be undertaken in the UK.

Rate of Pay

The work will be paid at £16.49 per hour (including the exceptional non-consolidated uplift for 2022-23), which equates to University Grade 6, point 1, on the basis of completed and approved timesheets, which must be submitted to payroll@law.ox.ac.uk by the last Friday of each calendar month for payment on the last working day of the following month.

In addition, paid annual leave will be assumed to be taken in the month in which it was accrued.

Funding

This opportunity is funded by the ERC ConflictNet project (CXR00100).

How to Apply

A short CV and cover letter (including the name of your supervisor) should be sent by email to caitlyn.mcgeer@csls.ox.ac.uk by the 10th of February 2023. Please explain how you meet the requirements for the role, and give details of your availability. Supervisors may be asked for a reference.

Enquiries about the project are welcome, and may be addressed to Caitlyn McGeer (caitlyn.mcgeer@csls.ox.ac.uk). General queries, e.g. about the appointment process, or eligibility, may be addressed to research@law.ox.ac.uk.