Assistant Professor in Media and Digital Cultures - Groningen, Nederland - Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Beschrijving

Job description

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has established an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative university offering high-quality teaching and research. Its 34,000 students are encouraged to develop their individual talents through challenging study- and career paths. The University of Groningen is an international centre of knowledge: It belongs to the best research universities in Europe and is allied with prestigious partner universities and networks worldwide.

The Faculty of Arts is a large, dynamic faculty in the heart of the city of Groningen. It has more than 5000 students and 700 staff members, who are working at the frontiers of knowledge every day. The Faculty offers a wide range of degree programmes: 15 Bachelor's programmes and over 35 Master's specialisations. Our internationally acclaimed research includes Media and Journalism Studies, Archaeology, Cultural Studies, History, International Relations, Language and Literary Studies, and Linguistics.

Excellent research assessments and growing student numbers enable the Media Studies and Journalism programme to hire an assistant professor of Media and Digital Culture.

We are looking for candidates with a research agenda focusing on emerging issues at the intersection of media and the study of digital cultures: For instance, studies of how the next generation of digital and network technologies play a formative role in the practice of everyday life, culture and society; explorations into how digital cultures are being imagined, developed and experience through techno-economic practices and networks. We also welcome applications from researchers whose work explores the entanglement of algorithmic designs with shifting patterns of media and platform ownership and control. An interest in the intersection of gender, race, and class power dynamics and experience in conducting comparative research are also welcome.

Successful candidates should be able to teach classes in theory and method, have experience with mixed method and multi-sited research at the online-offline nexus that includes but is not confined to ethnographic methods. We are looking for candidates who can teach courses in media studies on the BA and MA level, and contribute to our research programme. The position combines teaching (60%) and research (40%).

Media Studies in Groningen
The international, English-taught BA programme in Media Studies focuses on the social and informative functions of media. It is rooted in the humanities but also draws upon methods and paradigms developed in the social sciences and other disciplines. The degree aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of the affordances of different platforms and the interplay between them; the political and economic underpinnings of media systems; patterns of use, production and content; and the functions and impact of media in culture and society. Throughout the curriculum it provides a comparative perspective by studying media in their cultural, historical, economic, political and international contexts. "Digital Cultures" is one of the profile students can choose in the second year of the programme. It has an annual enrolment of students from all parts of the world.

The MA programmes "Social Media and Society", "Datafication and Digital Literacy" and 'Media Creation and Innovation' provide students with cutting-edge knowledge of the digital transformations that profoundly change society. The MA programmes in Journalism focus on high quality reporting in a cross-media setting with a strong focus on digital skills and innovation, and combine academic reflection with academic skills. Our BA and MA programmes rank first among all Media Studies programmes in the Netherlands in the national student survey.

Research is conducted within the interdisciplinary Centre for Media and Journalism Studies. Its strategic themes focus on "Citizenship and Inclusion in Digital Societies", "Data Infrastructures & Algorithmic Practices", "New Interdependencies of Journalism" and "Cultures of Media Production". Members of the Centre have been successful in attracting external research funding. If appointed, you are expected to actively contribute to a vibrant research environment. Staff are given ample support in applying for research funding with national and international funding agencies.

The successful applicant is expected to

Qualifications

In addition to a number of basic requirements set by the University of Groningen, such as excellent social and communication skills, presentation skills, coaching skills and a results-oriented attitude, we are looking for candidates who have

Organisation

Conditions of employment

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

The appointment will be initially for a period of four years, with the possibility of appointment for an indefinite period (permanent contract). This will be determined based on an appraisal, which will be made after 3 years, as well as the needs of the programme.