The Post Doc will join the Volkswagen Foundation-funded project “Privacy-China” led by Prof. Genia Kostka (Freie University Berlin) and Prof. Rachel Murphy (University of Oxford). The position provides an opportunity for both independent and collaborative research within an ambitious project while working in a small research team in Berlin.
This research project aims to provide empirical and conceptual understanding of privacy practices in China. Through mixed-method, the project will achieve three objectives: 1. Study the multifaceted and complex legal, social, cultural and political contexts within which private information in China is disclosed, evaluated and governed. 2. Explore the mechanisms through which the societal transformation can be shaped by citizens, firms and governments in China and to understand how can we address the perils of digitalization while at the same time harnessing its enormous benefits. 3. Assess the impacts of changing privacy practices for citizens, businesses and the state and how the generated knowledge can assist European societies in navigating the societal digital transformation.
In order to address the myriad meanings of privacy, this project employs an innovative multi-method approach including mediated narrative analysis of citizens’ online stories and posts, analysis of online diaries, web scraping for data collection of online posts, and interviews. Furthermore, the project employs an online experimental survey featuring list experiments, which addresses concerns of sensitivity and self-censorship. Developing a feature-length documentary and organizing two stakeholder conferences constitute the cornerstones of the project’s intense non-academic stakeholder engagement.

Job description:
Responsibilities for the Post Doc position include conducting empirical research for the Volkswagen Foundation research project, working on joint research publications, VW grant management, and organizing joint FU-Oxford activities such as workshops or events.

Requirements:
- Completed doctorate by the time of appointment
- Field open to any social-science discipline, e. g. political science, economics, Chinese studies or sociology, human geography, anthropology

Desirable:

- Empirical research focus on China
- Fluency in Chinese and English.

- Experience or strong interest in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods
- Research focus on digitalization/AI and political economy issues in China is a plus
- The successful candidate must be willing to be based in Berlin

For further information, please contact Anton Bogs (anton.bogs@fu-berlin.de / +49 30 838 65242).