[Air-L] Funded PhD studentship in algorithmic bias @ University of Sheffield

[Helen Kennedy]

*Title:* Algorithmic bias: patterns, consequences and alternatives

*Lead supervisor:* Professor Helen Kennedy, Sociological Studies

*Co-supervisors: *Dr Jo Bates & Professor Paul Clough, Information School

*External partner:* Department for Work and Pensions

*Start date:* October 2018

*URL:* https://datacdt.org/projects/sh26/



Data-driven technologies are transforming society, as governments,
businesses and other sectors are increasingly adopting automated and
algorithmic systems in the search for greater efficiency in the delivery of
their services. Among these actors government departments, often
resource-poor and in need of effective, streamlined, automated systems, are
increasingly turning to digital technologies. But data-driven and
algorithmic systems are far from straightforward. As a number of
researchers have noted, they can discriminate in opaque ways through bias
written into the systems, which can be intentional or unintentional. This
is something that government departments providing support and services to
the most vulnerable in society wish to avoid, but how to do so is in need
of investigation. Similarly, more knowledge is needed about the
expectations of citizens and related questions of ethics and trust. Using a
combination of methods, this PhD project involves working closely with one
such government department to explore algorithmic bias, its risks and
consequences, alternative approaches, communicating about algorithmic
processes with service users, and integrating alternative, or ‘fairer’,
processes into existing workflows. The partner on this PhD project is the
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which is responsible for welfare,
pensions and child maintenance policy.



This is a 4-year PhD which incorporates an MSc in Data Analytics. It is
funded by the ESRC Data Analytics and Society Centre for Doctoral Training (
https://datacdt.org/). It offers an excellent opportunity to develop
research methods, data analysis and critical thinking skills while carrying
out research with real-world applications. The precise details of the PhD
will be agreed with the successful applicant and DWP upon commencement of
the project.



The deadline for applications is 8th July 2018. Interviews will take place
in the week of 16th July. To apply, visit: https://datacdt.org/entry-crit
eria-applying/.



Due to funder eligibility restrictions, we can only consider home/UK
applicants for a full scholarship, and EU applicants for a fees only
scholarship. International applicants cannot be considered.


-- 
Professor Helen Kennedy, Chair in Digital Society
University of Sheffield
T: 0114 2226488
E: h.kennedy at sheffield.ac.uk

OUT NOW: 'Living with data: aligning data studies and data activism through
a focus on everyday experiences of datafication', *Krisis, Journal for
Contemporary Philosophy*, 2018, http://krisis.eu.