Research Fellow in Psychology/Human Computer Interaction

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with expertise in human-computer interaction (HCI) and an interest in digital harms and/or privacy and cybersecurity to work at Northumbria University as part of our UKRI-funded Centre for Digital Citizens. The successful candidate will be based in the Department of Psychology but expected to collaborate with colleagues in Computer Science and/or Design and to conduct work relevant to our ‘Safe Citizen’ challenge area.

Our research addresses the ways in which citizens may struggle to engage fully with a digital society. It encompasses aspects of digital literacy and digital exclusion, but also addresses the ways in which new technologies (e.g. generative AI) may impact the lives of citizens. We have ongoing work that explores these issues across a range of contexts, including the cybersecurity literacy of older adults, how peer influence impacts digital vulnerability, the ability to detect deep fakes and the impact of platform content moderation policies on content creators. 

The work across these projects is varied and individual portfolios of work can be driven by the appointed Fellow. We are particularly interested in applicants with backgrounds in behaviour change, user-centred approaches to trust and privacy, citizen-led approaches to responsible AI, online harms, and digital exclusion. 

Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, appointed Postdoctoral Research Fellow will be expected to contribute to a range of activities, including (depending on skillsets): workshop design and delivery, user-centred and participatory design exercises, qualitative and quantitative study design and data analysis as well as liaison with stakeholders and partners. 

The appointed Fellow will be based in the Psychology and Communication Technology (PaCT) Lab in Psychology but is expected to collaborate the colleagues from other disciplines within the CDC , including those in Computing and Information Sciences and in Design, as well as with researchers at our partnering institutions.

The position is fixed term for 12 months.

Further information about the requirements of the role is available in the person specification.  

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Pam Briggs (p.briggs@northumbria.ac.uk) or James Nicholson (james.nicholson@northumbria.ac.uk) 

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