Computer Science: ESRC Welsh Graduate School Social Sciences; WGSSS) Digital Economy and Society – Computer

Position: Computer Science: ESRC Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) Digital Economy and Society – Computer

Organisation/Company Swansea University Department Central Research Field Computer science » Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Final date to receive applications 6 Dec 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/London) Country United Kingdom Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Key Information

Open to: UK and international applicants

Funding Providers: ESRC Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences ( WGSSS)

Subject Area: Digital Economy and Society - Computer Science

Project Start Dates:October 2027

** (Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.)

** In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.

This studentship is an 'open' award. Applicants must approach a potential supervisor prior to submitting an application. This is to confirm that there is appropriate supervisory capacity within the University and to discuss their draft application of which the supervisor must complete a section. Information on the research interests of our staff can be found on the Swansea University webpages. Short descriptions of each accredited pathway are available on the ESRC WGSSS website.

The Swansea-based representative for the pathway,
Dr Matt Roach, , might be able to advise you.

Full or part-time study is possible. Please note that full-time ESRC WGSSS studentship award holders cannot hold either a full-time job, permanent part-time job or temporary role for an extended period, during the period of their award. Part-time ESRC WGSSS studentship award holders cannot hold a full-time job.

Place of study:

• Swansea University (Singleton Campus)
• Swansea University (Bay Campus)

This pathway is looking for students and applications that are interested in pursuing interdisciplinary projects incorporating elements of computational science methodologies in the context of social science challenges spanning the remits of the UK Research Institute's ESRC and EPSRC. The pathway is seeking to develop expertise in researching human behaviour, combining advanced quantitative and digital analytical methods, applied to data generated through digital footprints, with qualitative research on interaction in on-line spaces.

Projects should include some strategies ranging from the analysis of social media posts to the passive capture of movements via accelerometer data and evaluate how current and emerging socio-technical systems respond to and influence situated particulars in human-algorithm interaction. Furthermore, projects that at how the desire for new ways of expressing economic and social needs can drive developments in digital technology and their applications is similarly in scope.

Substantive areas of focus for projects include: problems of health and social care; constrained communities; business and innovation; cyber security; and crime and safety.

Students benefit from co-supervision by multidisciplinary teams within HEIs and between them. The pathway is supported by departments:
Social Sciences (Cardiff);
Computer Science;
Law (Swansea, with funding from Innovate UK and NIHR); and by centres:
Computational Foundry; EPSRC EPIC CDT (Swansea);
Social Data Science Lab and Hate Lab…