(DC9) 1 PhD position in Digital Marketing, Ethics and Metaverse by “AGORA” project under grant agreement no 101119937

THE PROJECT

As metaverses operate in real-time their wide adoption is expected to create digital public spaces for interaction in which the already possible online interactions are intensified and blended with the physical world as never before. To lead in this field and maximize positive implications, Europe needs to ensure that new multi-dimensional challenges arising, are addressed in accordance with European values. AGORA responds to the lack of doctoral programs which go beyond the technical understanding of Metaverses and consider its business and social value while unpacking and addressing potential unintended consequences. Combining theoretical and hands-on industrial research and transferable skills training will enable researchers to target high-quality publication outlets and to become creative and autonomous so that they can exploit and commercialize research results and become competitive in the global arena. One of AGORA’s unique selling points is its ability to prepare the Doctoral Candidates (DCs) to work in any of the three pathways (academia, industry, policy making) as well as their intersections. AGORA’s inter-sectoral network brings together leading academic and non-academic co-supervision arrangements of high quality, stimulates the development of new industrial doctoral training procedures between top business schools and industries in the region. During the project, 17 DCs will be employed to address these scientific challenges by performing research in academic and industrial groups. All prospective DCs who will be recruited are designated as ‘Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellows’.

For more information about AGORA project please visit our official website.

ABOUT THE POSITION

AUEB PMD, located in Athens, Greece, is currently seeking a prospective PhD candidate to fill a fixed-term position with a duration of three years.

• Are you passionate about research?
• Are you excited about virtual reality, augmented reality, and the Metaverses' potential applications and impact on various industries?
• Are you motivated to work in a diverse and multidisciplinary team?
• Do you have a Bachelor or/ and Master’s degree in Digital Marketing, Business Informatics, Business Administration, Communication, Psychology, or relevant fields of study which more specifically can include, but are not limited to: Information Systems, Economics, Engineering, Technical Fields and Computer Science.

If so, you may be the person we are seeking. 

Metaverse radically changes the way brands are advertised online. Advertising becomes much more engaging and embedded, and thus less easy to identify and critically reflect upon, especially within the highly gamified aspects of it. Hence, the discussion concerning the ethics of advertising gains new impetus, both regarding the advertising literacy of less tech-savvy individuals and the protective mechanisms of minors. This project will focus on Metaverse as a new mean of advertising, exploring the ethical challenges attached in using a gamified environment as a mean to attract and engage customers. The main responsibilities will be to: 

• Conduct a literature review on digital marketing and case study research design for investigating digital marketing models from an ethics perspective.
• Develop a case studies portfolio (description and context), comparative analysis dataset on ethical risks across different customer touchpoints.
• Participate in networking and career events, workshops.
• Present their work at international conferences and in written form in scientific articles.

The supervisory team of the PhD will be constituted of both academic supervisors and non-academic supervisors.

Requirements

• The DC will enroll into the PhD program at the Faculty of Social Sciences, specialization in Information Systems, at the University of Agder (UiA), Norway
• The DC will spend part of their time at the academic institution supervising their PhD as well as in another partner of the project.
• The DC will qualify for eligibility if they do not hold a doctoral degree on the recruitment date.
• The DC will work exclusively for the action.
• The DC must not have resided or carried out any main activity in Greece for more than 12 months during the 3 years prior to the recruitment date, in accordance with the European Commission's guidelines. Nevertheless, it is essential to emphasize that the doctoral program is open to applicants of any nationality.  
• Recruitment involves physical mobility. 

Required selection criteria

• The applicants must qualify for admission to the PhD Programme in the Faculty of Social Sciences, UiA with a specialisation in Information Systems, and must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant area of study, with an average grade of B or better. Applicants who are in the process of finishing their master’s thesis are also welcome to apply for this position. More information about the PhD program at the Faculty of Social Sciences is to be found here: Ph.D. – specialization in Information Systems. 
• Applicants must submit a project proposal whose scope lies within the abovementioned position. The project proposal should comprise a maximum of 5000 words, including the reference list. The proposal must contain a preliminary presentation of the problem area, theoretical foundation, methodological approach and planned progression for the doctoral project. The quality of the project proposal will receive a high level of consideration during the application assessment process.
• Fluency in written and oral English is a prerequisite.

Preferred selection criteria 

The ideal candidate has:

• A strong background and hands-on experience in Metaverse technologies, information systems, digital marketing or related fields.
• A strong background in quantitative and qualitative surveys, analytical and data interpretation skills.

Personal characteristics

We search for a candidate who has:

• The ability to generate innovative ideas and contribute to the advancement of Metaverse technology and applications.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills, as during the doctoral program collaboration with diverse teams and AGORA’s DCs is essential.
• The ability to adapt to new developments, given the rapidly evolving nature of Metaverse technologies.
• An understanding of how the Metaverse intersects with various fields such as society, economics, and business can be advantageous.

We offer

• A gross salary of 3,374.40 Euros per month for the researcher. The salary includes a living, mobility, and family allowance (if applicable in case of family obligations), in accordance with the MSCA regulations of the European Union for Doctoral Researchers. The exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment.
• A positive and inclusive company culture that values diversity, teamwork, and employee well-being. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We believe that a diverse workforce leads to creativity, innovation, and better problem-solving. We actively promote diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our organization and are dedicated to creating a supportive and welcoming environment for all employees.

Application

The application and supporting documentation must be in English and must be submitted by the deadline of 30th April 2024. Please make certain that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience align with the selection criteria mentioned above. The application and any necessary information about education and experience (including diplomas and certificates) are to be sent electronically. The following documentation must be uploaded electronically:

• Academic CV.
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's-, and master's- degrees. If you have not yet completed your master, provide a transcript of courses completed and your estimated date for the master´s degree completion.
• A copy of the master thesis. For those who are near to completion, an extended abstract combined with a statement about plans to complete the thesis. Documentation of a completed master’s degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Project proposal (max 5000 words).
• Cover letter (max 1 page/500words) with your motivation for this position. This should include why you would like to be part of a doctoral network and what you feel you can contribute to AGORA.
• Academic works - published or under review - that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 5 items)
• Name and contact information of two reference people.

If you find this opportunity aligns with your qualifications and interests, kindly submit your application electronically, including the requested attachments described above. Please note that applications sent through alternative channels will not be taken into consideration. If requested, you should be able to provide certified copies of your supporting documentation.

When assessing candidates to determine the most qualified individual, we will place significant emphasis on their project proposal, educational background, technological proficiency, experience, as well as personal and interpersonal attributes. Additionally, we will consider their motivation, aspirations, potential, and passion for the Metaverse during the evaluation process.

Your privacy is important to us. When you apply for a position with us, be assured that any personal data shared during the application process will be handled in strict accordance with GDPR guidelines, ensuring the confidentiality and security of your information. Please be aware that, as part of our collaborative approach, your application may be shared with other partners within the AGORA consortium for evaluation, consideration and confirmation.

If you have any questions about the position please contact Vasiliki Chronaki, e-mail: v.chronaki@acein.aueb.gr or Sofia Papanika, e-mail s.papanika@acein.aueb.gr.

If you have any questions about the doctoral program please contact Professor Ilias Pappas, email: ilias.pappas@uia.no or Professor Polyxeni Vassilakopoulou, email: polyxenv@uia.no at the University of Agder, Norway.

Apply for this position using this link.