VACANCY Postdoc Social Data Analytics to Support Vulnerable Youth

Description

As a part of its research agenda, the LDE Centre for BOLD Cities aims at developing big data solutions and capabilities for city civil servants and policymakers confronted with pressing social issues.

In the context of a recently funded national project (NWA Startimpuls – Big Data voor Jongerenbeleid), the BOLD Cities research team will focus specifically on young people vulnerable to, among other things, labour market insecurity, social exclusion, housing shortages, or anti-social and extremist temptations. In this, the city is a particularly relevant policy space: it is a hyperconnected node that reflects modern societies across the globe and attracts numerous young people. Cities across Europe have expressed concerns about young people disappearing from their radar (‘ghost youth’).

Standard data from city registers, surveys, and focus groups are no longer sufficient to identify the needs and practices of the young population. Social data produced in online collaboration and communication platforms (e.g. Web fora, social media) can provide a valid alternative to traditional data sources, but novel methods able to cope with their heterogeneity, ambiguity, and veracity are needed.

The research activity will be carried out under the supervision of Dr. Alessandro Bozzon and Prof. Liesbet van Zoonen (Erasmus University Rotterdam); and in collaboration with other researchers from the TU Delft and LDE-BOLDCities. The position includes also the supervision of PhD students working on related topics. Participation in education is possible.

Requirements

Candidates are required to have a completed PhD. Specialization and a proven track record are needed in one or more of the following subjects: user modelling, web mining, web science, information retrieval, urban analytics, or related fields.

Preferential consideration will be given to candidates with a genuine passion and commitment to the social issue addressed by the project.

Needed qualifications for candidates include proven research talent, relevant programming skills, experience with programming in the social web, and software development in a team.

Candidates are expected to have an excellent command of English, and good academic writing and presentation skills.

Employment

The position is available for two years, ideally starting in January 2018. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Research Institutes (“CAO-onderzoeksinstellingen”). Expats may apply for a profitable tax ruling, which, if approved by the tax authorities, would mean not having to pay taxes over 30% of your income.

Information and Application

For more information on the position, contact Dr Alessandro Bozzon (a.bozzon@tudelft.nl).

To apply, applicants should send him by email (mention “PD-NWA-YOUTH” in the subject) a curriculum vitae with a list of publications.

The deadline for applications is December 15th, 2017. CVs will be evaluated until the position is filled.