Description

We are seeking to attract a highly-motivated PhD student to join a small team of researchers at the Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies, Flinders University. The PhD project forms part of a National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grant project funded by Australia’s Office of National Intelligence. The wider research project is led by Professor Tim Legrand (University of Adelaide), Dr Nathan Manning (University of Adelaide), and Dr Melissa-Ellen Dowling (Flinders University). The PhD candidate would join the Flinders research node for three years and be supervised by Dr Dowling.

The PhD project: This PhD project identifies and analyses violent misogynistic content on social media platforms frequented by young Australians. It investigates the mechanisms through which such content is shared and maps the ideologies identified. Its findings will be vital to revealing the extent of violent misogynistic content that young Australians may be exposed to and/or generating, and contribute to our knowledge of the types of violent misogynistic ideas that proliferate in specific online environments.

Benefits

This is a fully-funded PhD scholarship, which includes an annual stipend of AU$36,000 and a full waiver of tuition fees.

The funding period runs for 3 years.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s degree in Politics, Sociology, International Relations, or a related social sciences discipline. You must also hold a Master’s or Honours degree that has a significant thesis component of 6,000 words or more. Applicants must have Australian citizenship or permanent residency.

Desirable but not essential: experience in qualitative research methods.

Application Information

Please email, with the subject line “Violent Misogyny PhD Project”, the following materials to [email protected] by the 23rd May 2025.

Your CV, indicating your qualifications, research experience, and referees;

A copy of your academic transcript;

A copy of your most recent thesis-length work; and

A statement (no more than 500 words) outlining your suitability for the project.

Evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent residency.

This is a full-time PhD project based at the Jeff Bleich Centre, Flinders University. The successful candidate must be based in Adelaide for the duration of the PhD project. This position cannot be converted into a part-time role.