The University of Manchester invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for a full time senior lectureship or professorship in Digital Media and Culture. The successful candidate will have a PhD (or equivalent) in Digital Media, Digital Humanities or in a related discipline. We are interested in candidates with expertise in one or several of the following domains:

• Digital Media, Social Justice, and Representation
• Ethical, Cultural, Social Implications of AI, Algorithmic Decision Making o AR/VR, Interactive Media, Videogames
• Digital Storytelling, Data Journalism, Media Activism o Cultural Analytics, Arts & Humanities Data Science
• Platforms, Social Media

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the development and delivery of teaching on the new MA and BA programmes in Digital Media, Culture and Society, which will offer advanced study in the critique and design of digital media and technology with a particular focus on their cultural and societal implications. The new programmes will bring together a diverse student body from a wide range of cultural and disciplinary backgrounds in a research-led, seminar-based, interactive curriculum that prepares them for leadership positions as critical thinkers and practitioners in the technology sector and the cultural and creative industries.

Digital media make possible new modes of intellectual pursuit, artistic expression, and civic engagement, which students will study through critical analysis, and active engagement. At the same time, technology enables novel forms of surveillance, monopolization, and inequality: from the erosion of privacy to algorithmic bias, this programme empowers students to recognize and critique digitally mediated forms of oppression.

Students will also learn how digital technology transforms the way in which scholars interrogate and curate the cultural record: our graduates will master a range of digital skills while being aware of the risks and contradictions that arise when data is used as a generic source of reasoning.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities or Duties

The post holder’s main duties will include:

• Contributing to the design and development of the new MA and BA programmes in Digital Media, Culture, and Society
• Conducting research and publishing work that meets standards of world-leading or international excellence and complements the research strengths of the Centre for Digital Humanities
• Providing academic leadership in their research field
• Applying for external grants and developing research collaborations
• Designing and delivering new courses at postgraduate and undergraduate level
• Teaching and examining at postgraduate and undergraduate level
• Supervising UG, MA and PhD students
• Pastoral and administrative duties appropriate to career stage
• Contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate recruitment activities as required
• Deepening and developing collaborations in digital media and digital humanities with colleagues both within and beyond the University

The School operates a Work Allocation Model (WAM) that ensures parity of workloads. The duties of this post will conform to the expected teaching and administrative obligations for a full time member of academic staff.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Hold a PhD (or equivalent) in Digital Media, Digital Humanities, or a related field
• A sustained track record, according to experience, of high-quality teaching in one or several of the following areas:
  • Digital Media, Social Justice, and Representation
  • Ethical, Cultural, Social Implications of AI, Algorithmic Decision Making o AR/VR, Interactive Media, Videogames
  •  Digital Storytelling, Data Journalism, Media Activism o Cultural Analytics, Arts & Humanities Data Science
  •  Platforms, Social Media
• A strong record of research and academic publication, in one or several of the above areas
• Demonstrable advanced experience and competencies in digital media creation, design and/or digital research methods
• Evidence of successful academic leadership and management
• Relevant teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate level and a strong commitment to innovation in teaching and to enhancing the student experience
• A proven track record of teaching that combines critical or theoretically informed reflection with training in practical digital skills, such as digital storytelling, interactive media, mobile media, digital research methods, artificial intelligence, AR/VR, or social media analytics
• A track record of or securing external grants, as appropriate to career stage
• Proven experience of successfully supervising PhD students
• Experience in marking a range of different assessment types and providing feedback to students
• Ability to communicate clearly and with enthusiasm to groups of varying sizes and of different levels of experience with digital media and methods, and to be an effective seminar leader
• Excellent interpersonal skills, enthusiasm, and the ability to work productively across cross-disciplinary teams

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Qualifications:

Applicants may have or be able to demonstrate:

• Experience of developing new programmes at undergraduate or postgraduate level
• Experience of, or the potential to develop, contacts with external and industry partners and facilitate student placements
• Experience of, or the potential to develop, research collaborations, particularly through grant applications, and impact activities