Full-time PhD Studentship
Department of Computing
Centre for Research in Computing
The Open University
Based in Milton Keynes, UK
Closing date: 09/04/2012
Applications are invited for a fully-funded three-year PhD studentship.
Project: Investigating the success factors in the creation and sustenance of online communities
This project aims to investigate: the factors that contribute towards the creation and sustenance of online (2D and 3D) virtual communities, and the challenges that communities experience to sustain themselves? The outcomes of this project will be of particular interest to organisations in the e-government and e-commerce domains, that are aiming to engage with customers through online communities with the aim of co-designing products and services with their customers that will better meet their customers’ needs.
The project builds on our research in the domains of social software and e-society (e.g. e-commerce, e-health and e-government environments). Please see this website for a list of our publications: http://oro.open.ac.uk/view/person/sm577.html
Skills and background required: Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the proposed research we would like to hear from candidates who have a Masters Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Business, or a related discipline, and have an outstanding research potential with a keen interest in Computer-supported Co-operative Work (CSCW) and social software. Informal enquiries about the proposed research can be made by e-mail to Dr. Shailey Minocha, s.minocha@open.ac.uk.
The Open University is one of the UK’s leading Research Institutions. In the 2008 RAE over 50% of its research was rated as “world leading” or “internationally excellent”.
There is a vibrant international community of students studying our MRes and PhD programmes. The Open University provides excellent support for students and offers a full range of training in computer, library and presentation skills. Students are normally expected to live within commuting distance of Milton Keynes.
For details on how to apply: please see http://tinyurl.com/mcb7xw
Closing date: 9 April 2012.
Interviews will commence in late April / May 2012.
The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302).