eParticipation -PhD Studentship - University of Dundee (Scotland)

eParticipation
University of Dundee - School of Computing

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship in eParticipation funded by the EPSRC.
The studentship is a joint appointment between the Social Inclusion through the Digital
Economy Hub and the Argumentation Research Group, based in the School of Computing at
the University of Dundee. The project will explore how technologies for discussion,
debate and participation online can meet the demands of diverse user groups.

About Digital Inclusion: The ability to use new technologies is currently at the heart
of social inclusion, with those excluded being left of out of many work, entertainment,
communication, healthcare and social benefits. Our goal is to develop interfaces and
access methods to systems and services that are appropriate for everyone. The SiDE Hub
research brings together a multidisciplinary team to address a complex set of inclusion
issues. For more information, see http://www.side.ac.uk/

About Argumentation Technology: The argument web is a vision for debate, negotiation and
critical rationality brought to the digital world. It is a meeting of many dozens of
research projects at institutions worldwide which collectively aim to support the
analysis, generation, critiquing, evaluation, teaching, and mathematical interpretation
of argument, debate, and reasoned interaction online. For more information, see
http://arg.dundee.ac.uk/

At the most recent RAE, the School's research was rated fourth in Scotland, with two
thirds of its research rated world leading or internationally excellent (4* or 3*).
Dundee has been ranked amongst the top places in the world for scientists to work (The
Scientist), and has one of the lowest costs of living in the UK.

Stipendary payments are at EPSRC levels (£13,290 tax-free for academic year 2009/10).
Applicants should meet the EPSRC's eligibility requirements (see www.epsrc.ac.uk), and should typically have a first class degree
in an appropriate subject. Interest in, or exposure to, argumentation and debate in
either computational or philosophical settings would be a distinct advantage, as would
applicants with skills and interests in HCI, interaction design, ethnography or other
approaches involved in creating improved user experiences.

The project and the appointment will run from 1 September 2010 through until
31 March 2014 (42 months).

Further details are available from http://arg.dundee.ac.uk .
Applicants should send a CV with a covering letter to Prof. Chris Reed, School of
Computing, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, or by email to
chris AT computing.dundee.ac.uk, by the closing date,
01 August 2010.