Loughborough University, UK

Deadline: September 26, 2019

The Department of Communication and Media in the School of Social Sciences at Loughborough University, UK, is seeking to appoint a Research Associate to work with Dr Vaclav Stetka (PI) and Professor Sabina Mihelj (Co-I) on the ESRC-funded research project "The Illiberal Turn? News Consumption, Political Polarization, and Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe". Combining survey data, digital tracking of media consumption, as well as media diaries and qualitative interviews, the project will carry out a systematic study of news consumption and political polarization in Poland, Czechia, Hungary and Serbia, at a key point in time when the region is witnessing the rise of populist leaders, resurgence of illiberal nationalism, and a shift towards authoritarian forms of government.

This Research Associate will assist with qualitative data collection, analysis and management. Apart from taking an active part in designing interviews and media diaries, the successful candidate will collect the data from one of the four countries covered by the project and assist the Co-I with the comparative analysis of qualitative data from all four countries. The researcher will also support the PI and the Co-I with the integrative analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, co-author some of the publications, and contribute to impact activities and events. Proficiency in English and one of the local languages (Czech, Polish, Hungarian, Serbian) is essential.

The successful applicant for this post will be an experienced researcher with postgraduate training in sociology, media/communication studies, cultural studies, anthropology or another related social science or humanities discipline, (PhD, or very close to completion), and with experience in qualitative social science methodologies, such as interviews and/or diaries. Demonstrable knowledge of media, politics and society in one or more Central and Eastern European countries covered by the project is also expected.

IMPORTANT: Shortlisted applicants for this post who are not selected may be offered a short-term (4-5 months) research position. Please indicate in your application/cover letter if you are interested in this.

Informal enquiries should be made by email to Professor Sabina Mihelj, S.Mihelj@lboro.ac.uk

Application Closing Date: 26 September 2019

Interviews (including presentation) will be held on: 7 October 2019

Start date: 1 January 2020

For more information on the project see our project website: https://www.illiberal-turn.eu/

For further details on the job see: https://vacancies.lboro.ac.uk/jobdesc/REQ190622.pdf.