CABDyN Complexity Centre Grade 8 (£36,715 - £43,840 with discretionary range to £47,905)

Fixed term post for two and a half years

We are seeking to recruit a Senior Research Fellow in Complex Networks who will join the research team based at the CABDyN Complexity Centre at the University of Oxford. Further information on CABDyN and the full further particulars for the post are available here .

The advertised post is funded through one of the Centre’s new projects:

‘ICTeCollective Project – Harnessing ICT-enabled Collective Social Behaviour’ is funded under the European Commission’s Framework 7, Future of Emerging Technologies Open Scheme. Since the project involves a European collaboration with partner institutions in Finland, Italy, Hungary and Poland, the postholder should anticipate making at least 2 European research visits per annum.

The successful candidate will be working with and analysing the large-scale empirical datasets used in this project, developing novel metrics to characterise network dynamics in large social systems, and dynamic processes on complex networks. S/He will be expected to develop agent-based or stochastic models for the adoption of innovations in online social networks that can be compared with empirical data and to contribute to the development of new models of social influence processes. S/He will be expected to then integrate specific research findings with the work of all project partners and co-author articles for publication in leading peer-reviewed journals in different disciplines, presenting research results at international workshops and conferences. S/He will be expected to oversee the day to day management of the project and contribute to the training and development needs of graduate students.

Candidates will be expected to have a PhD in an appropriate discipline (e.g physical, mathematical, engineering, computer or analytic social sciences) with postdoctoral training in complex systems and networks, with a track record of serious interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement. An appropriate track record of high-quality peer-reviewed publications on complex systems and networks, good programming skills and demonstrated practical experience of managing and working with large-scale empirical data sets will be essential. Candidates will be expected to have experience of giving research seminars on complex systems and networks to an inter-disciplinary audience and the ability to contribute to the organisation of seminar, workshops and conferences. Track record of successful grant writing is desirable.

The Senior Research Fellow will be based at the Saïd Business School, Park End Street, Oxford, OX1 1HP, under the direction of Dr Felix Reed-Tsochas (Institute for Science, Innovation and Society, Saïd Business School). The post is funded for two and a half years, ideally commencing 4 May 2010, or as soon as possible thereafter.

If no suitable applicant is forthcoming an appointment on the scale £28,983 – £35,646 with discretionary range to £38,951 (with an appropriate adjustment of duties) may be considered.
Applicants who would need a work visa if appointed to the post are asked to note that under the UK’s new point’s based migration system they will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient points.
To apply send a detailed covering letter indicating how you fulfil the requirements of the post together with a detailed curriculum vitae and the names and complete contact details (including email addresses if possible) of two referees, to vacancies@sbs.ox.ac.uk or to the HR Department at the Saïd Business School, Egrove Park, Kennington, Oxford OX1 5NY.
Previous applicants need not reapply.
This is an international recruitment round. Please note that letters of application in the U.K. have to be much more detailed than in some other countries. Applicants are encouraged to address in detail most, if not all, of the points outlined in the selection criteria in their covering letter.

The closing date for applications is 10:00 am (GMT) on Monday 15 March 2010. It is expected that interviews will be held in the week commencing 29 March 2010.