Join Us! @SMLabTO is Hiring a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to study mis/disinformation and anti-social narratives about immigration and migration

• Research Unit: Social Media Lab, Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University (Toronto, Canada)
• Position supervisors: Anatoliy Gruzd and Philip Mai
• Contract length: 1 year with the possibility of a 1 year extension
• Yearly Salary: $55-65k CAD per annum (based on experience) plus a comprehensive benefits package.
• Start Date: On-site Fall of 2023 or Winter of 2024 – exact date negotiable
• Position type: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
• Deadline date: The review process will continue until the position is filled.

The Social Media Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to study mis/disinformation narratives about immigration and migration. Successful candidates will join a vibrant and interdisciplinary research lab led by co-directors, Anatoliy Gruzd (PhD) and Philip Mai (JD). We have a strong track record of preparing and placing our postdocs in relevant positions after a short one or two years working at the lab. Many of our postdocs alumni have gone on to secure a tenure track position in academia, in government or the private sectors in North America and in Europe.

The Social Media Lab is a leading research laboratory in Canada dedicated to understanding the social and cultural implications of social media and related emerging technologies. Our team comprises of scholars from various disciplines, including information science, communication studies, computer science, sociology, and psychology. We approach the analysis of social media and digital technology using various methods, including content analysis, network analysis, and machine learning.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, you will have the opportunity to work on exciting and diverse projects and contribute to the development of innovative approaches for studying social media platforms and their impact on society. You will be a member of the Social Media Lab, headed by co-directors Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd, Canada Research Chair and Professor at the Ted Rogers School of Management, and Philip Mai, Senior Researcher and Director of Business and Communications.

The position is funded through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) and is part of the Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides research program, which aims to support groundbreaking research on migrant integration.

The successful candidate will be required to work on-site at the Social Media Lab in Toronto, Canada and will have the chance to contribute to diverse projects that explore the intersection of social media research and immigration studies. The overarching objective is to gain a deeper understanding of how social media platforms and online communication affect the different facets of immigration. The following examples highlight potential research projects that will be pursued as part of this initiative:

1. Digital migration narratives: Understanding how individuals and communities share their migration experiences via social media;
2. Public discourse and sentiment analysis: Exploring attitudes, opinions, and discourses surrounding immigration topics (particularly in Canada);
3. Online hate speech and discrimination targeting migrants and refugees: Examining the prevalence and impact of online hate speech, as well as the strategies employed by individuals and communities to counteract such discourse on social media;
4. Information and misinformation diffusion: Tracking how information and misinformation related to immigration spreads through various online networks and their impact on public perception and policy debates;
5. Digital activism and advocacy: Studying how social media platforms are used by different interest groups to influence policy debates around immigration;
6. Social integration and online identity: Examining how immigrants use social media to build connections between their home and host cultures and express their identities;
7. Online support networks: Investigating how social media platforms facilitate the formation of support networks, information sharing, and community building among immigrants;
8. Digital surveillance and privacy concerns: Exploring the ethical and privacy implications of using social media data for immigration enforcement;

The successful candidate will contribute to one or more of the research areas listed above. Their main responsibilities will include formulating and implementing research plans, analyzing data, contributing to academic publications, delivering conference presentations, and assisting in grant writing and preparation. Active engagement in the lab’s intellectual community is also expected, including attendance at lab meetings, presenting their own work, and collaborating with other researchers affiliated with the lab.

REQUIREMENTS:

• PhD (awarded within five years) in a relevant field such as migration and diaspora studies, information science, communication, sociology, political science, psychology, or related disciplines
• Strong background in social media research, digital methods and data analysis
• Excellent analytical and methodological skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply, please submit the following materials to [email protected] :

• Cover letter outlining your research interests and how they relate to the work of the Social Media Lab
• CV
• Names of three references

Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Reference checks will be conducted with short-listed candidates.

INSTITUTIONAL BACKGROUND:

The Social Media Lab is an internationally engaged interdisciplinary research laboratory at the Ted Rogers School of Management in Toronto, Canada. 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 aim of the lab’s various research initiatives is to advance the public’s understanding of the benefits and pitfalls of social media adoption. The Lab was established in 2010 and is the first of its kind in North America. The Lab attracts a diverse range of outstanding multidisciplinary scholars from around the world each year. It is a leader in social media studies and is the convener of the International Conference on Social Media and Society (#SMSociety). It is led by co-directors, Anatoliy Gruzd (PhD) and Philip Mai (JD).

Ted Rogers School of Management is home to nearly 11,000 students and more than 250 industry-connected faculty, the Ted Rogers School of Management in Canada’s leading diverse, entrepreneurial business school centered in an urban learning environment. TRSM offers 12 Bachelor of Commerce degrees, two Bachelor of Health Administration degrees, the Ted Rogers MBA, a Professional Master’s Diploma in Accounting, customized Executive Education courses, a Master of Health Administration (Community Care) and a Master of Science in Management, as well as a new PhD in Management. TRSM is also home to 15 innovative research centres, institutes and labs.

Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), 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 Toronto Metropolitan 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.

At TMU, we firmly believe that equity, diversity and inclusion are integral to this path; our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do. We welcome those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, Black-identified persons, other racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.