Placement role title: Research Assistant – what makes existing good tech guidance, toolkits & frameworks successful?
Brief description of the host organisation:
The Digital Good Network is an ESRC-funded research network which asks what a good digital society looks like and how we get there. It supports a range of research projects, development opportunities, and impact and engagement activities. The successful placement holder will work on the Digital Good Index, a set of tools for evaluating whether digital technologies have good societal outcomes.
Background/ expected impact of the project:
We are currently in the process of co-designing, testing and iterating the Digital Good Index. As part of this process, we are identifying and reviewing the extensive guidance that already exists – a spreadsheet containing what we have identified can be found here. But what makes guidance successful? On this project, the research assistant will identify guidance which is claimed to be successful and identify how success is measured, using desk-based research techniques and qualitative methods. They will write a report based on their findings, to be published on the DGN website. They may also contribute to a journal article based on their research, if deemed appropriate by the rest of the team.
Outline of duties:
● Familiarisation with Digital Good Network aims, Digital Good Index work package, and our database of good tech guidance, toolkits and frameworks
● Identify which items from our database to review with the DGI team
● Review agreed good tech guidance, toolkits and frameworks, evaluate what makes them successful
● Possible interviews with authors of guidance etc, if deemed helpful
● Produce a report based on the research identifying what makes good tech guidance, toolkits & frameworks successful
● Contribute to writing a journal article about DGI co-design if appropriate
Expected output(s)/ deliverable(s):
● A report
● Possible journal article – to be confirmed after the research has been completed
Support for Research Assistant:
The PG researcher will form part of the DGI working group, which is made up of:
● Dr Dee Goddard, DGN Communications, Impact & Engagement Officer and DGI working group convenor
● Dr Kim Snooks, DGI postdoctoral researcher
● Professor Helen Kennedy, DGN Director (all at University of Sheffield)
● Dr Dan Richards, University of Lancaster.
The PG researcher will participate in weekly meetings with the DGI working group and monthly meetings with the DGN Management Team, as well as having more regular contact with members of the working group as appropriate. Working from within the DGN space in the Social Research Institute in The Wave @ The University of Sheffield, the researcher will learn more about broader DGN activities that will support their work.
Skills and experience required for the role
● Literature review
● Qualitative research methods
● Understanding of key debates in digital society research, especially with regard to harms and inequalities
● Communication skills
● Commitment to the vision of the DGN
Working arrangements and location of the placement
Placement duration: Three months
Full-time or part-time: Full-time
In-person, online or hybrid: Hybrid; the successful applicant will benefit from working with the rest of the Sheffield-based DGN/DGI team in The Wave building, at least once a week. Tuesday is our work-from-the-office day.
To enable hybrid participation students will be required to use their own laptop.
We do have desktop computers available to use on campus, if preferred.
Funding: The Digital Good Network will contribute up to £500 towards travel costs and subsistence (if required) to permit the postholder to visit the University of Sheffield.
How to apply
Placement ideal start date: June 2026
Closing date and time for applications: 7 March 2026
Application information: The opportunity is open to current ESRC- funded students only. Please confirm on your application that you are a Postgraduate Researcher who has funding through a DTP to undertake a placement as part of your studentship and indicate which DTP you are a member of.
How to submit an application: Submit your application – a CV, a cover letter explaining why you are a good fit for the opportunity, and a completed ESRC placement funding permission form to info@digitalgood.net by the given
deadline.
Recruitment process
The host organisation is responsible for processing the applications received for this opportunity and applications will be processed as follows:
The Digital Good Network is driven by an understanding that the way people as individuals, communities or societies experience digital technologies is determined by who they are. Put simply, different people experience the same technologies
differently. We must, therefore, be inclusive and broad both in terms of how and what we are researching, and who is undertaking digital society research. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are therefore at the heart of the Digital Good Network’s work and we welcome applications from currently under-represented groups within our school, including candidates who are women, LGBTQ+, disabled and from Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic backgrounds.
DGI team members will:
● review applications,
● interview strongest candidates (interviews will be online),
● make selection,
● communicate reasons for decision to applicants.
Host contact details: Any queries about this opportunity should be addressed to the host organisation: info@digitalgood.net / h.kennedy@sheffield.ac.uk