Research Fellow (Planetary Networks of AI Systems - WP2)

Fixed Term Contract - 42 Months - From March 2025 - August 2028.

Full Time - 35 Hours Per Week.

The Opportunity:

As part of the UKRI-funded project ‘Planetary Networks of the Artificial Intelligence Systems’ you will lead on Work Package 2 ‘Labour Market Impacts’ which involves ethnographic work with data workers (i.e., behind the scenes human labour for AI) to better understand the working conditions and decent work implications of AI training activities in the Majority World.  The role requires 10 months of long grounded ethnographic fieldwork in Colombia, Kenya, Uganda, and India. 

This post is full-time (35 hours per week).  We are open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote (within the UK) and regular on-campus working. 

Your skills and attributes for success:

• A PhD (or equivalent), awarded or close to completion, in a relevant social science including geography, sociology, anthropology, development studies, economics, or other related fields, with training or skills relevant to the project (Desirable).
• Demonstrable post-doctoral or equivalent work experience, particularly critical engagement with conceptual works on value chains or production networks, political economy, job quality and working conditions, labour relations, and/or social movements, and knowledge of the literature and theories around platform studies, data work, critical data studies. 
• Commensurate with the candidate’s career level, track record of or the ability to publish in highly-reputed peer-reviewed journals.
• Proven and relevant experience of conducting grounded fieldwork in any of Colombia, Kenya, India, Uganda, and using surveys, in-depth interviews, and participant observation.
• Ability to travel internationally in Colombia, Kenya, Uganda, and India for ethnographic fieldwork.

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