Postdoctoral Research Associate x2

What makes Goldsmiths unique?

Goldsmiths is a world-renowned university that has a reputation for rigorous and innovative academic work; creativity has long been our hallmark. Academic excellence and imaginative course content combine to make a place where creative minds can thrive.

About the Department

Goldsmiths’ School of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies is one of the longest established departments for teaching and researching media in the world. Housed in the award-winning Professor Stuart Hall Building, it has an internationally outstanding reputation for creative and radical thinking and practice. We are committed to a vibrant teaching and research programme that combines theory and practice with interdisciplinary engagement with the latest developments in media, communications and cultural studies. The School is currently ranked 18th in the world (and 3rd in the UK) for communication and media studies (QS World Rankings by subject 2026) and second in the UK for research assessed as 3* and 4* - with 96% of our research evaluated as 'world leading or internationally excellent' in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021).

About the Role

The post-doctoral research associates will work on the international project *‘State-tech relations in the datafied welfare state: Examining the computational transformation of the European Social Model [STATETECH]’* led by Prof Lina Dencik and funded by an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council. The project explores the relationship between digital technology providers and European welfare states in the context of data-driven innovation. The candidates will co-lead the work package on ‘governmentalities’ that examines shifts in governance and statecraft within public sector bureaucracies across central pillars of the welfare state (e.g. health, education, social protection or housing). The candidates will be expected to work collaboratively using qualitative methods, including ethnography and interviews in different country settings.

About the Candidate

The successful candidate must have a PhD or equivalent in media studies, sociology, anthropology or related fields engaging with critical data studies and must have experience using qualitative methods, including interviews. We are particularly looking for someone with knowledge of European welfare regimes and with relevant linguistic skills for one or more of the project's country settings (UK, Denmark, Germany and Spain). Linguistic skills for alternative country settings that come under the same welfare state traditions (Anglo-Saxon, Nordic, Continental and Mediterranean) will be considered.

Benefits

We have generous benefits – an agile working environment, 28 days’ annual leave plus 6 paid closure days (4 at Christmas and 2 at Easter) plus all Bank Holidays, great transport links, a defined benefit pension scheme, support for professional development and a broad range of wellbeing initiatives such as staff choir, running club and creative writing classes.

Equality Diversity and Inclusion

At Goldsmiths, University of London, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion shape how we lead, learn, and work. We are committed to building an inclusive and respectful environment, removing barriers and addressing inequalities so that everyone in our community can belong and thrive.