A full time vacancy is open for research in the scope of the Horizon 2020 “PIE News” project (Poverty, Income, and Employment News) at the Madeira Interactive Technologies Institute, Madeira Island, Portugal (M-ITI). M-ITI is an highly interdisciplinary and international research institute who collects artists, designers, computer scientists, and social scientists, to engage with critical technical practices. The overall ambition of the PIE News project is to foster the emergence of commonfare as an alternative economic model to fight poverty, a condition affecting some 25% of the European population. Commonfare is a new collaborative form of welfare provision based on equitable governance and grassroots democracy. It entails the involvement of diverse stakeholders to facilitate the bottom-up arousal of collective practices tackling the needs of the new poor (precarious workers, working poor, NEETs, people left behind by safety nets). The consortium will achieve this goal through a Collective Awareness Platform (CAPS) which (a) informs people about existing welfare state provisions, (b) provides them with the means to share good practices on how to handle poverty-related issues, and (c) supports their abilities to network and to sustain real-life value. The person will research and investigate the public design process enacted during the PIE News project. In particular, will focus on the interrelation between the design of the technical components of the platform and the formation of a vibrant public interested in and supportive of the platform itself. The person will work under the supervision of Prof. Maurizio Teli, the Research and Innovation Coordinator of the PIE News project. Whoever is interested, can contact us via hr@m-iti.org to receive more information and a more extended description of the project. The desired profile is the one of a person engaged in social sciences, interested in Science and Technology Studies and/or Media Studies, as well as related fields, with a focus on the relation between digital technologies and the association of people around specific issues. Duration: The position is for one year, with funding available for renewing them for another year. The maximum legal of three years is depending on further funding. Envisaged Job Starting Date: 01/11/2016 Working Hours: 7.5 per day Fellowship value: The monthly maintenance stipend is of 1495€ net, according to the Portuguese directives from the ministry of science and education www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores.phtml.en). This value can be complemented with social security reimbursement if the researcher subscribes the voluntary SSV according to the Portuguese Law – Lei Nº. 202/2012, de 27 de Agosto. The selection criteria include: - 35% publication record in the relative fields; - 35% ability to work in interdisciplinary teams; - 30% experience in related tasks. The candidate should be in possession of a Ph.D., or close to completion, at the time of application. The capability to work in English is a necessary requirement. Members of the Jury: Prof. Dr. Maurizio Teli, Prof. Dr. Nuno Jardim Nunes, and Prof. Dra. Valentina Nisi How to apply: Applications will be accepted by email (hr@m-iti.org ) with the reference “PIENEWS – RH002”. The application must include: - Letter of introduction, explaining how the candidate is covering the requirements; - CV (Europass) with a photo; - Copy of all certificates that prove the habilitations mentioned in the CV or that the habilitations will be obtained before the beginning of the contract - Minimum of two recommendation letters written by academics who have worked with the candidate This announcement is visible here: http://www.m-iti.org/node/3896