Researcher Position in User Modelling, Personalisation and Engagement at MediaFutures

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Researcher position in User Modelling, Personalisation & Engagement at MediaFutures: Research Centre for Responsible Media Technology and Innovation

There is a vacancy for a Researcher position at MediaFutures: Research Centre for Responsible Media Technology & Innovation. The position is for a period of 2 years. We are looking for an ambitious and self-motivated colleague to join us in MediaFutures: Research Centre for Responsible Media Technology & Innovation.

MediaFutures is a new centre for research-based innovation at the Department for information science and media studies, University of Bergen, and located at Media City Bergen. The centre is a part of the Norwegian Research Council’s Research-based Innovation scheme. MediaFutures is in cooperation with industry partners from news media and media technology research topics like media experiences, recommender technology, content production and analysis, content interaction and availability, and Norwegian language technology. The goal is to develop responsible technological solutions to societal challenges like AI, fake news, echo chambers and political polarization. The results will be new digital tools, analysis methods and content types for the future of media. The center will also perform research training within media technology and innovation. This will create outputs such as new patents, prototypes, research articles and software, as well as innovative start-up companies.

Read more about the centre at https://www.mediafutures.no

About the project/work tasks:

This position will be part of Work Package 2, User Modelling, Personalisation & Engagement at MediaFutures, focused on the development of novel user modeling and personalisation techniques capable of effectively eliciting user preferences in order to enhance the user experience when interacting with media content while at the same time taking into account important competing factors such as business values, editorial norms, professional ethics, societal values, individual values, and algorithmic fairness.

The research questions we are interested in pursuing in this work package are: To what extent can we effectively, innovatively, and responsibly model online user behaviour and predict their future behaviour? To what extent can we personalise and engage users online to efficiently keep them informed, and at the same time do this responsibly?

The work will include conducting literature studies, surveys, and using the gained knowledge to develop user models, personalization and engagement technology. Research will be conducted by developing models or interfaces and performing simulation studies using qualitative and/or quantitative methods. Furthermore, the candidate will perform user studies to evaluate the technology developed employing statistical methods and will perform field tests with the industry partners to evaluate the technology’s impact. 

The work will be performed in close collaboration with the industry partners in the centre. Expected outputs of the work include publication of high-impact papers, demos with code repositories and novel types of data and insights, e.g., in the form of reports both for academia and industry partners in the centre. 

The candidate will be supervised by the work package leadership and will carry out secondments at industry partners in MediaFutures. 

The personal manager of this position is the centre director at MediaFutures.

The position shall start work no later than the 1st of June 2025.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• The applicant must hold a PhD or an equivalent degree within Information Science, Computer Science, Data Science, Informatics, Cognitive Science, Artificial Intelligence – or must have submitted their doctoral thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition for employment that the PhD has been awarded.
• Strong programming skills are a must. 
• A firm basis in quantitative research methods and data analysis skills (e.g., in Python, R, or STATA) is an advantage. 
• Background within data science, and recommender systems is an advantage.
• Experience from scientific work (e.g., previous conference and journal publications) is a requirement.
• Experience in innovation work, grant writing, and proposal authorship is an advantage.
• Great motivation for research and innovation work, interest in the topic, and good knowledge of relevant theory and methods are a must.
• We are seeking candidates who have proven skills to work in a team, as well as the ability to work independently and in a structured manner.
• Proficiency in both written and oral English (this is the working language of the project).

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. 

We can offer:

• Exciting development opportunities as part of your role in a strong professional environment 
• Salary at NOK 624 500,- per year (code 1109) on the government salary scale upon appointment. Further promotions are made according to the length of service in the position.
• A cross-disciplinary, interactive and challenging working environment 
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Good welfare benefits
• Workplace is Media City Bergen

For more information about moving to Bergen and Norway, please visit https://www.uib.no/en/node/133625/ , and https://www.uib.no/en/hr/74243/what-can-university-bergen-offer-its-employees. 

Your application must include:

• A brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position.
• The names and contact information for two reference persons. One of these must be the main advisor from the PhD programme. 
• CV 
• Transcripts and diplomas and official confirmation that the doctoral thesis has been submitted.
• Relevant certificates/references.
• List of any works of a scientific nature (publication list).

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge.

Incomplete applications or applications sent as e-mails will not be considered. Only documents submitted via Jobnorge will be subjected to an expert assessment.

Closing date: 15.3.25. The application has to be marked: 25/545

General information:

Information about the position is obtainable by contacting the center’s director Christoph Trattner.

Practical questions regarding the application procedures should be directed to Adviser – HR, Pernille Hole, pernille.hole@uib.no. 

Diversity is a strength that enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, worldview, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions. Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favourable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. For further information about the recruitment process, click here.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.