Research Position in the Project CF+: Reconfiguring Computing Through Cyberfeminism and New Materialism

The CF+ project is funded by the Hessisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst (HMWK) and aims to revisit the dominant modes and practices of knowledge and artefact production in computer science through cyberfeminist and feminist new materialist lenses, and to produce innovative theoretical and methodological approaches in computing based on this revision. This will entail interrogating the power differentials embedded in computing technologies, and critically examining the epistemological frameworks that underpin computer science. Namely, it asks: what are the underlying conceptual notions in computer science and how do they (re)produce power dynamics? How are computer science theories gendered? How can insights from feminist new materialist and cyberfeminist perspectives help re-contextualize the methodologies and theories that are commonplace in computing?

The project will look at three bodies of thought as sources for methodological and theoretical innovation in computing: theoretical premises and practices of cyberfeminism; the new developments in feminist science and technology studies and feminist philosophy, namely the research that has been clustering under the banner of “new materialism”; and critical and feminist computing.

The main outcomes of the project are (1) to produce the state of the art overview in a form of a white paper of the developments in the aforementioned fields and potential for methodological innovation stemming from them, and (2) to consolidate a network of local scholars and practitioners working at the intersection of feminist theory and computing with the help of four research lab meetings.

Your Tasks

• Individual and collaborative research according to the main goals of CF+, namely:
  • conducting a literature review
  • identifying relevant intersections between computer science and feminist computing, cyberfeminism and new materialism
  • suggesting research-based propositions for methodological innovations stemming from intersections of these fields
  • co-writing a white paper for further development of the project
  • co-writing and publishing a peer-reviewed journal paper
• Taking care of the practical organization of four research lab meetings with guest speakers
• Participation in research discussions with other GeDIS team members

Your Profile and Requirements

CF+ it is a highly interdisciplinary project, therefore the ideal candidate would have background in one or more of the following fields: computer science, feminist science and technology studies, gender studies, digital media/art, philosophy of science. This short-term position particularly welcomes early-stage researchers such as current PhD students or those that have just obtained their masters’ degree and wish to gain hands-on experience in research and research management. Specifically, the candidate should:

• Have a completed university degree (MS.c. level) in computer science/informatics or in a related field (for example: information science, information systems, digital media, socio-informatics, system design) OR: a university degree (MA/MS.c. level) in gender studies, science and technology studies/sociology of technology or a related field AND a solid knowledge of the field of computing.
• Have at least intermediary level of knowledge of gender studies and an interest in socially responsible technology development.
• Have a strong interest in academic research, experience in inter-/transdisciplinary work, as well as pronounced methodological and analytical skills.
• Furthermore, the position requires very good communication and organizational skills and team-orientation, as you will be working in close collaboration with and under the supervision of one of the GeDIS team members. Very good knowledge of English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of German is a plus.
• Experience with organization of academic events and experience with the acquisition of research funds will be considered an advantage.

We offer

• A diversified and creative work environment in an engaged, growing team. GeDIS is both, part of the faculty of Electrical Engineering/Computing and part of the ITeG research center, which focuses on sociotechnical approaches to information technology design.  This gives you the opportunity to practice interdisciplinary scholarship.
• A possibility to advance your academic career by gaining experience in research, research management and academic publishing.
• A chance to practice interdisciplinary and collaborative work as well as to contribute to the development of an innovative research lab programme.
• Life-domain-balance through flexible office hours and support in combining work and personal life.

Application deadline: 28.05.2018

For the full position description visit the website for job vacancies at the University of Kassel.

For more information contact Goda Klumbyte, goda.klumbyte[at]uni-kassel[dot]de