Research Associate in Digging into Digital Footprints Data

Atomic Layer Deposition; Bristol; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university is seeking a Research Associate for the Digging into Digital Footprints project, focusing on qualitative research related to digital data in social sciences. The role entails collaboration in developing an empirical framework and organising workshops with diverse partners. Candidates should have a PhD or be near completion, with strong qualitative skills and knowledge of AI-driven tools. The position is full-time with funding until January 2027.

Qualifications

• A PhD (or nearing completion) in a relevant field (e.g., Sociology, Science and Technology Studies).
• Strong qualitative research skills (interviews, ethnographic approaches).
• Knowledge and/or experience working with digital data/methods in the social sciences.

Responsibilities

• Carry out qualitative research with participants on digital data opportunities.
• Collaborate in creating an open framework for digital footprints data.
• Organise workshops with researchers working with social data.

Skills

Qualitative research skills (interviews, ethnographic approaches)

Knowledge of digital social science

Interdisciplinary research commitment

Facilitating workshops and events

Education

PhD or nearing completion in Sociology or related field

Tools

AI-driven tools

Digital data methods

Job description

Research Associate – Digging into Digital Footprints

This is an exciting opportunity for a Research Associate (RA) to join an interdisciplinary team (Sociology and Computer Science) as part of a one-year accelerator project for UKRI Smart Data Research UK. The Digging into Digital Footprints project aims to create an open framework to help researchers better understand and use “digital footprints data” in social research. The RA will carry out qualitative research into how digital data such as web archives, social media, and synthetic data are collected and created in various cases, and examine their implications for social research. The RA will collaborate with project colleagues in developing and analysing data journeys and an open framework for working with new sources of social data, including data generated through AI‑enabled tools and models. Responsibilities also include organising hands‑on workshops with academics and non‑academic partners and developing academic outputs such as presentations and publications.

The RA will be based in Sociology at the University of Bristol, benefiting from a dynamic and supportive research environment for the digital social sciences, being part of the Bristol Digital Futures Institute and the ESRC Centre for Sociodigital Futures at UoB, and working directly with another RA and project collaborators at the Web Science Institute (University of Southampton).

Responsibilities

• Carry out qualitative research with participants on opportunities and challenges of working with new forms of digital data in the social sciences.
• Collaborate in the development of “data journeys” on the life cycle of new forms of social data.
• Collaborate in the creation of an open, empirical framework for describing, re‑using and working with digital footprints data in the social sciences, including AI‑enabled tools and data.
• Co‑organise workshops with researchers working with these data.
• Collaborate in the analysis and dissemination of qualitative data captured as part of the above activities.

Qualifications & Experience

• A PhD (or nearing completion) in a relevant field (e.g., Sociology, Science and Technology Studies).
• Good knowledge of digital social science.
• Strong qualitative research skills (interviews, ethnographic approaches).
• Knowledge and/or experience working with digital data/methods in the social sciences, ideally including working knowledge of AI‑driven tools and data.
• Emerging track record in academic publication, including conference presentations.
• Commitment to interdisciplinary research across the social and computational sciences and working with non‑academic partners.
• Experience or interest in facilitating workshops and events.

Contract details

• Contract type: Open ended with fixed funding until 04/01/2027
• Work pattern: Full time
• Grade: I
• Advert closing: 23:59 UK time on Sunday 4th January 2026

EEO Statement

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people – because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.