[AISWorld] PhD studentship in the Department of Computing, The Open University, UK

[Shailey Minocha]

Full-time PhD Studentship, Department of Computing

Centre for Research in Computing
Faculty of Maths, Computing and Technology

Based in Milton Keynes, UK
Three-year PhD studentship

Project title: 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 objective of co-designing products and services with their customers.

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 at 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> and <http://www3.open.ac.uk/employment/job-details.asp?id=6175>

Closing date: 1 May 2012. 

Interviews will commence in late May 2012.