[Air-L] BT/EPSRC funded studentship (Oct 08) - "The life-course of public and private media assets"

[Ben Anderson]

This is a re-advertisement due to technical problems with the  
University online application form. If you have already seen and  
responded to this opportunity please contact me directly.

New deadline = 31st July 2008

BT/EPSRC CASE Studentship "The life-course of public and private media  
assets"

http://www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk/node/3232

ISTR - Institute for Social and Technical Research
University of Essex
Subjects: Geography - Human | Information Sciences | Information  
Technology | Media and Communications | Sociology | Telecommunications

The explosive growth of public media services such as youtube, flickr,  
Slide and the like together with the widespread penetration of  
domestic broadband are starting to cause significant challenges for  
telecommunications networks which were not designed with the  
instantaneous viral spread of multi-media content in mind. This  
studentship will develop ways of studying and conceptualising high  
bandwidth multi-media content usage that can take account of the  
'flow' of media across geographically dispersed social networks  
through a range of hosting services such as facebook, youtube, Slide,  
blogs and the like. The student will be expected to carry out  
conceptual and empirical work applying (for example) theories of  
exchange and reciprocity to the emerging arena of the sharing of  
public (published/broadcast) and private (within closed groups) media  
content.

Whilst the successful applicant will be based at the Technology and  
Social Change Research Centre (http://istr.essex.ac.uk/tasc/ -  
Colchester campus) they will also spend time with BT’s R&D teams (who  
are located at Adastral Park) gaining industrial experience and access  
to unique datasets and other resources. Although pursuing their own  
research agenda the student will be expected to work closely with and  
contribute to the research team and the programme in which they will  
be embedded.

The studentship would suit a qualitative social scientist with an  
interest in technology mediated consumption and social behaviour.  
Applications are therefore invited from graduates with a first or  
upper second class degree in a demonstrably relevant discipline.

The studentship covers fees, research expenses and the standard RCUK  
tax-free living allowance with an additional contribution from the  
industrial partner.

Desirable experience, skills and attributes would also include one or  
more of the following:
• Qualitative social science research methods
• The ability to engage with non-academic researchers
• The ability to work as part of a collaborative team
• An interest in the relationship between social and technological  
change

To apply please email a CV and covering letter (both in pdf format) to  
Dr Ben Anderson (benander at essex.ac.uk).

----
Dr Ben Anderson
Director, Technology & Social Change Research Centre
University of Essex
http://istr.essex.ac.uk/tasc/