The Public Policy Group and the Immigration Policy Lab at ETH Zurich, in collaboration with the University College London, invite applications for a Postdoctoral Position in Quantitative Social Media Research.

You will be part of a collaborative team committed to rigorous research on how to improve public discourse on social media and online environments. We study the effects of platforms’ policies and design and test interventions to improve the quality of online discussions and reduce harm caused by online toxic and hate speech. To do so, we combine data from social media, online newspapers and original surveys with causal inference and machine learning methods to bring new evidence to bear on the urgent problems policy makers and practitioners face.

We are looking for one postdoctoral researcher, dedicated to rigorous quantitative analyses using advanced statistical methods. 

Your primary task is to design and implement randomized experiments and analyze natural experiments in online settings, using recent advances in experimental design and methods for causal inference. You should also be able to implement methods in natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) to analyze online behavior, such as the text of and engagements with the posts. 

 You will be involved in all aspects of the research, but with a particular emphasis on study design, data analysis, and preparation of manuscripts for leading peer-reviewed journals. This position is part of a collaborate research project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The position is located in the team of Dominik Hangartner at ETH Zurich, and you will work closely with Gloria Gennaro at the University College London, and Fabrizio Gilardi and Karsten Donnay at the University of Zurich.

While we expect that the majority of your time is dedicated to the collaborative research project, you will also have time to develop your own independent projects related to those topics. In addition, you will have minor teaching responsibilities (about 10% of your time). 

• Doctorate in a social science program with a preference for Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Data Science, or in a closely related discipline (degree must be completed at time of appointment)
• Graduate level knowledge of advanced causal inference methods and applied statistics
• Working knowledge of NLP methods (topic models, word embedding models, transformers etc.)
• Experience in running and analyzing field experiments and/or conducting quasi-experimental studies
• Ability to collaborate effectively with project team members and external stakeholders alike
• Proficiency and excellent writing skills in English
• Knowledge of social media platforms and content moderation policies are highly valued

• Highly collaborative work environment within a very motivated and supportive team

• Opportunity to develop a strong academic network

• Career mentoring by experienced researchers

• Salary and pension benefits according to ETH standards

• Generous research and travel allowance

The initial appointment will be for one year with a flexible start date between July and September 2025, with an expected renewal for up to two more years contingent on satisfactory performance. 

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish.

We look forward to receiving your online application, including

• Cover letter
• CV
• Graduate school transcripts
• A writing sample
• At least two (confidential) letters of recommendation should be sent directly to selina.kurer@gess.ethz.ch (Subject: Letter of Recommendation)

Only applications submitted through our online application portal are accepted. Applicants should be prepared to complete a research design and data analysis exercise as part of the interview process. Applications review will begin on December 15th 2024 and continue until the position is filled.

If you have questions about the position please contact Gloria Gennaro by email: g.gennaro@ucl.ac.uk (Subject: Postdoc 2025).

For more information on the Public Policy Group and the Immigration Policy Lab, please visit our websites at http://pp.ethz.ch and https://immigrationlab.org.

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.