Job Description

Job Title:

Research Associate - Critical Digital Well-Being & Sociotechnical Theory

Posting Start Date:

26/11/2025

Job Id:

1946

School/Department:

Information, Journalism & Communication

Work Arrangement:

Full Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type:

Fixed-term

Salary per annum ():

38,784 - 41,064

Closing Date:

23/12/2025
The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.



We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a 17-month postdoctoral research position working on the AHRC-funded project Control Shift Escape: New Possibilities for Digital Well-being. Under the supervision of Dr Niall Docherty, you will be part of a team whose aim is to move scholarship and society beyond current ideas of digital well-being as self-control, where living well online is reduced to controlling personal technological habits. Through theoretical investigations, interdisciplinary collaborations, and arts-based public research and events, this project will provide new ways to understand, design for, and practice digital well-being today. You should hold a PhD in the humanities, social sciences, or related fields (or have equivalent experience). You will be interested in the project topic, sociotechnical phenomena, and critical theory. This role comes with many opportunities to advance your academic career, including the opportunity to publish co-authored and lead-author publications, and access to a personal budget for researcher professional development, networking building, event organising, and international travel for conferences. You will principally be supported to pursue the aims of the project, but will have allocated time, resources, and mentoring to develop your own individual research agenda and future career trajectory.



The project is based in the School of Information, Journalism and Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Sheffield. You will be housed in an interdisciplinary, international department with researchers exploring diverse issues surrounding technology, data, AI, information, media and communication. You will access a vibrant campus community with regular research group meetings, departmental and faculty seminars and workshops.

Main duties and responsibilities

Identify, interpret, and map the intellectual materials that construct digital well-being as an object of interdisciplinary inquiry. Contribute to new conceptualizations of digital well-being based on rigorous interpretation of historical and contemporary texts. Help develop and run an extensive arts-based public engagement program with project partners Bloc Projects, including public workshops, events, and exhibitions. Coordinate with and support other members of the project team Attend meetings and conferences, presenting project and individual works-in-progress Co-produce peer reviewed publications and reports derived from the project Contribute to the development of onward research plans and proposals. Contribute to University life, including the free exchange of ideas and a commitment to the achievement of excellence in research and scholarship As a member of staff you should strive to uphold the highest principles of academic life and research, including commitments to freedom of speech, sustainability, and research integrity and rigour. Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

PhD awarded or close to completion in the humanities, social sciences, or related fields (or have equivalent experience)


Essential


Application


Research experience in sociotechnical domains


Essential


Interview/Application


Knowledge of, or interest in learning about, theories of digital well-being.


Essential


Interview/Application


Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, report writing skills, experience of delivering presentations


Essential


Interview/Application


Ability to engage with the substantive research questions of the project at an advanced/postdoctoral level


Essential


Interview/Application


Proven track record of working flexibly and effectively to deadlines with a strong level of attention to detail


Essential


Interview/Application


Proven ability to write for academic publication


Desirable


Application


Strong training in, or awareness of, critical theory


Desirable


Interview/Application

Further Information

Grade

7

Salary

38,784 - 41,064

Work arrangement

Full time

Duration

01/03/2026 - 31/07/2027

Line manager

Lecturer in Data, AI, and Society

Direct reports

None

Our website

https://sheffield.ac.uk/ijc


For informal enquiries about this job contact Dr Niall Docherty - n.docherty@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place week commencing 12th January 2026. This will consist of an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 5th January. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact g.e.gear@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision ().

What we offer

A minimum of 41days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more. Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles. Generous pension scheme. A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel. A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks). Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role. A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways. A range of generous family-friendly policies + paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
+ support for those going through the menopause
+ paid time off and support for fertility treatment
+ and more




We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.