[Air-L] Postdoc position to Study Misinformation Campaigns @ Scale (RyersonU, Social Media Lab, Toronto)

[Anatoliy Gruzd]

The *Social Media Lab* <https://socialmedialab.ca/> at *Ted Rogers School
of Management* <http://www.ryerson.ca/tedrogersschool/>, *Ryerson
University* <http://www.ryerson.ca/> in Toronto, Canada is seeking a highly
motivated and creative Postdoctoral Researcher with expertise in the
development and evaluation of distributed computing systems and familiarity
with large-scale network visualization and analysis.

Network visualizations are frequently used to study group dynamics and
their underlying structures as well as to form research hypotheses and
communicate results. It can reveal information about the network’s
structure that may be difficult to determine through quantitative and
qualitative methods alone. However, networks such as those coming from
social media are quite large and getting larger, existing visualization
layout techniques are computationally expensive, and often their
implementations are not easily scalable.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

*1) developing and evaluating distributed computing solutions for
large-scale network visualization and analysis; and then2) applying the
proposed methods to study the dissemination and reach of known
dis/mis-information campaigns on social media sites such as Twitter,
Reddit, Facebook, etc…*

Applicants must have demonstrable expertise in applications of distributed
computing and visualization techniques. Knowledge of social network
analysis (SNA) is an asset. In addition, applicants must also have strong
research writing and communication skills and a passion for data analysis.

The position will be for a period of one year with a preferred start date
of January 13, 2020 (an earlier start date is also possible). The salary is
$55k CAD per annum plus a comprehensive benefits package
<http://www.ryerson.ca/hr/employee-resources/post-doc-fellows/benefits/>.

The successful candidate will be a member of and work with an
interdisciplinary team of researchers at Ryerson University’s Social Media
Lab, headed by co-directors Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd, Canada Research Chair and
Associate Professor at the Ted Rogers School of Management and Philip Mai,
Director of Business and Communications. The researcher must be available
to work onsite at the Social Media Lab in Toronto, Canada.

*RESPONSIBILITIES:*

The postdoctoral fellow will be expected to collaborate actively with all
team members and contribute to the intellectual life of the lab. These
responsibilities include but are not limited to:

   - Contributing substantially to research projects and publications of
   the lab,
   - Developing, evaluating and applying computational techniques to study
   social media data,
   - and other related tasks as they arise,
   - Communicating regularly with the project team,
   - Actively participating in the knowledge management and translation of
   the lab research via journals, conferences, the lab’s website and via our
   various social media channels.

*QUALIFICATIONS:*

   - A doctorate in one of the following areas: Computer Science, Computer
   Engineering, Information Systemsor a related field is required;
   - Hands-on experience with Apache Spark’s frameworks (such as GraphX or
   similar technologies) is a must;
   - Working knowledge of social network analysis (SNA);
   - Excellent English writing skills is critically important.

*DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:*

   - Strong publication record in the field of expertise

*To apply to this opportunity, the applicant must:*

   - have earned a first doctorate from an accredited university *no
   earlier* than September 2016 (date all degree requirements were
   completed, not the date of graduation), or have completed a first
doctorate *no
   earlier* than September 2013, but have since had their career
   interrupted or delayed for the purpose of maternity, illness, or
   health-related family responsibilities;
   - not hold a permanent faculty position or a faculty position leading to
   permanency.

*TO APPLY:*

   - Candidates should submit the following materials electronically to Dr.
   Anatoliy Gruzd and Mr. Philip Mai at *info at socialmedialab.ca
   <info at socialmedialab.ca>*

*Please email **one** PDF file that includes* the following:

   1. Cover Letter that describes your relevant background and skills,
   range of interests and career goals,
   2. Academic CV,
   3. The name and contact information for three research references (one
   reference should be your doctoral advisor); Reference letters will only be
   solicited from the short-listed candidates,
   4. Sample publication.

*DEADLINE:*

   - Review of applications will begin on* September 2, 2019* and continue
   until the position is filled.

*INSTITUTIONAL BACKGROUND*:

Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, the largest and most culturally
diverse city in Canada, the *Social Media Lab* <https://socialmedialab.ca/> is
an internationally engaged multi- and interdisciplinary research laboratory
at the *Ted Rogers School of Management*
<http://www.ryerson.ca/tedrogersschool/> at *Ryerson University*
<http://www.ryerson.ca/>. The lab studies how social media is changing the
ways in which people and organizations communicate, disseminate
information, conduct business and form communities online, and how these
changes impact society. The lab’s research
<https://socialmedialab.ca/research/> seeks to advance the public’s
understanding of the benefits and pitfalls of social media adoption.

The Social Media Lab was established in 2010 and is the first of its kind
in North America. It is led by co-directors, Anatoliy Gruzd (PhD)
<https://anatoliygruzd.com/> – Dir. of Research and Philip Mai (JD)
<http://philipmai.com/> – Director of Business and Communications. The lab
is internationally recognized and attracts a diverse range of outstanding
multidisciplinary scholars <https://socialmedialab.ca/about/#visiting> from
around the world each year. It is a leader in social media studies and is
the convener of the annual International Conference on Social Media and
Society <https://socialmediaandsociety.org/> (#SMSociety
<https://twitter.com/hashtag/smsociety?f=tweets&vertical=default&src=hash&lang=en>
).

The lab’s expertise lies in studying online communities and social
networks, and developing new methods for analyzing and visualizing social
media data. The Social Media Lab conducts research in a wide variety of
areas including: Academia, Health, Information Privacy,
Mis/Dis-information, Online Communities, Organizational Social Media Use,
and Politics. The broad aim of the lab’s various research initiatives is to
provide decision makers with additional knowledge and insights into the
behaviors and relationships of online social network members, and to
understand how these interpersonal connections influence our personal
choices and actions. We also develop research apps, tools and methods for
collecting, analyzing and visualizing publicly available social media data.

*Ryerson University* <http://www.ryerson.ca/> (with over 45,000
undergraduate and graduate students) is located in the heart of one of the
world’s most culturally and linguistically diverse urban centres. Research
at Ryerson is on a trajectory of success and growth, as evidenced by
externally funded research doubling in the past 5 years. Longstanding
partnerships with community, industry, government, and professional
practice drive research and innovation that responds to real-world
problems. The University’s academic plan, Our Time to Lead, can be found at
https://www.ryerson.ca/provost/academic-plan/.

Ryerson University is strongly committed to fostering diversity within our
community. We welcome those who would contribute to the further
diversification of our staff, our faculty and its scholarship including,
but not limited to, women, visible minorities, Aboriginal people, persons
with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender
identity. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply
but applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given
priority.