LISS DTP Monthly Newsletters

November 2021

Contents:

  1. 2022-23 studentships
  2. PhD Viva Workshop, 7th November
  3. Training Needs Analysis for LISS students
  4. LISS DTP Writing Workshops
  5. Employment opportunity
  1. Application window now open for 2022-23 studentships

The application window is now open for academic year 2002-23 Open Competition studentships through LISS.  Elligible to apply are final-year undergraduate students, Master’s students and current 1st year full-time PGR students or 1st/2nd year part-time PGR students for 1+3, +3, and +2 studentships respectively.

As always, we want to receive as many applications as possible from as wide and diverse backgrounds as possible, so if you could help spread the word via social media and any external email networks that would be really helpful and much appreciated.

Full information is available on the LISS DTP website at https://liss-dtp.ac.uk/studentships/studentship-competition-the-application-process/.

The deadline for applications to be received for 2022-23 ESRC/LISS DTP funding for 2022-23 is 28 January 2022, 17:00 GMT.

  1. PhD Viva Workshop, 7th November (Sunday)

An upcoming online PhD Science Viva Workshop is being held by Dr. Isabelle Butcher and Dr. Stacey Bedwell.  All are welcome.

The session takes place via Zoom between 9.30am and 4.30pm on Sunday, 7th November.  Further details can be found at the following weblink:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-science-viva-workshop-tickets-168268771425?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

  1. Training Needs Analysis

We are still missing the returns of some Training Needs Analysis (TNA) forms for 2021-22.  They are required of all students still currently in receipt of funding. It is important that these forms are returned, not only to satisfy ESRC requirements, but also because applications for funds such as the Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) cannot be approved without a completed TNA form for the current academic year.

Please contact liss-dtp@kcl.ac.uk urgently to let us know if you need to be sent the form to complete.

  1. LISS DTP Writing Programme sessions

ADDITIONAL DATES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE FOLLOWING SESSIONS, DUE TO DEMAND:

  1. Flexible employment opportunity: Researcher to assist in the relaunching of an online open-access publication: Working Papers in Urban Language & Literacies (application deadline: 17th November)

Professor Ben Rampton, School of Education Communication & Society, King’s College London (ben.rampton@kcl.ac.uk)

Summary: Launched on www.academia.edu in 2014, Working Papers in Urban Language & Literacies (WPULL; https://kcl.academia.edu/WorkingPapersinUrbanLanguageLiteracies) is widely visited pages, with >118,000 views of its 280+ papers.  But its operation now needs to be reviewed (a) to improve searchability and optimise its digital features, and (b) to take advantage of the collaborative opportunities it affords. The appointee will take this forward, analysing the options and designing improvements.

Background: WPULL publishes sociolinguistic research on language, literacies, interaction and learning, looking towards interventions that are productively tuned to the realities of contemporary urban life. It publishes high-quality papers by both world-leading and student (including MA) researchers, and it is read across the world (with UK, USA, Brazil, Germany & Sweden the highest users). At present, the one-person review, editing & production process is fast and simple, but enhancements now need to be considered, not only making it easier to find with search-engines but also broadening it as a resource for the dialogic development of research cultures in different parts of the world.  To this end, the editorial group has been expanded to include: Professor Zannie Bock (University of the Western Cape), Dr Rodrigo Borba (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janiero) Dr Constadina Charalambous (European University Cyprus), Dr Melanie Cooke (King’s College London), as well as the current editor, Professor Ben Rampton.

The task: The relatively technical work of improving WPULL’s searchability entails tasks such as scrutinising current analytics and settings, reviewing alternative platforms and their affordances, assessing Creative Commons licensing, and assessing the scope for reformatting the series.  Redesigning the production of WPULL as a resource for research culture development will involve organisational thinking and targeted consultation with doctoral and faculty sociolinguists both in London and internationally (Cape Town, Nicosia, Rio de Janeiro).  The work will take approximately 2-3 months part-time (between December 2021 & March 2022) and will involve the production of short reports on component tasks, a final synthesis of findings and recommendations, and suggestions for the new editing/production team.

Work to be undertaken by the student including targets/goals: The RA will contribute their own ideas about the programme of work required to update WPULL’s profile and to capitalise on its research cultural potential, but the initial specification includes:

reviewing current analytics and settings on academia.edu, comparing its affordances with other platforms (e.g. researchgate; SSOAR), and reviewing the issues involved in relocating; exploring data-providing with core.ac.uk and copyright licensing, liaising with library services at KCL; reviewing the scope for expanding beyond written text; liaising with the editorial group on the affordances for multi-sited local team production of the WPs; modeling implementation of these developments agreed.

Payment: 200 hours at £18.15 per hour (flexible part-time)

Anticipated benefits for the post-holder:  The post-holder will

  • develop an understanding of both the technical and organisational issues involved in on-line open-access publishing, itself a major issue in academic debate;
  • come to understand the manner and extent to which editing and publishing can contribute to the development of research cultures;
  • be able to transfer what they have learnt to their own field;
  • be able to include in their CV their expertise on on-line working paper production.

Duration of the work: Two-three months part-time (to be negotiated), starting as soon as possible.

Expertise and experience needed by the researcher:

  • interest in on-line academic publication, and familiarity with academic publishing platforms like academia.edu
  • experience in management of social media channels
  • familiarity with web-based analytics and an ability to compile and analyse data related to online & social media presence, leading to recommendations for development
  • a grasp of the links between technical and organisational issues

Potential modes of dissemination?

  • producing guidelines on the editorial process for the new WPULL editorial team, potentially presenting it in person
  • publishing their findings in the revamped WPULL series itself
  • a workshop for doctoral students on the processes of on-line working paper production within the LISS-DTP programme

Application: The role is advertised on King’s Talent Bank and the successful candidate will be required to register and apply there.  But they prefer, applicants may also apply directly to ben.rampton@kcl.ac.uk with a covering letter, CV and details of referees by Wednesday 17th November 2021.

  1. Have items for our next Newsletter?

The LISS DTP want to do more to help students disseminate information about events/activities they want to share with the rest of the cohort. If you have any items – Information and/or good news – to be included in our monthly newsletter, please send them to this email address for the attention of Stephen Wadsworth by the final day of the month (so by 30th November for the next) with all the details and we’ll include it in our monthly circular! Newsletters will be sent in the first week of every month!