PhD position | MSCA Doctoral Network | Data2Action | Data exploitation as an incentive for participatory social and sustainable innovations for enhancing crowd engagement in transformative ecosystems Glasgow Caledonian University in United Kingdom

Data2Action: is the MSCA Doctoral Training Network programme uniting social innovation with data science & AI for common good. Data2Action exists to make emerging technology work harder for humanity, enabling us to co-create a healthier, fairer and more sustainable world for all.

Read more about Data2Action here

Doctoral Candidate Research Project

Traditionally, data exploitation has a negative connotation, often associated with commercial extraction, surveillance, and privacy concerns. However, in sustainability-oriented innovation, data can be leveraged responsibly to create shared value.

The goal is to move away from extractive models (where only a few benefits from data) and towards participatory approaches where data use empowers stakeholders, fosters trust, and drives collective impact. Data can be used not just for profit but as a public good to support collaborative decision-making, sustainability efforts and systemic transformation.

The main objective of the research project of the doctoral candidate is to explore how data exploitation, when ethically and strategically governed, can act as a catalyst for participatory innovation, incentivizing broad stakeholder engagement and enhancing crowd-driven contributions to sustainability-oriented ecosystems.

By investigating the governance, incentive mechanisms, and socio-technical infrastructures required to mobilize public actors, private organizations, and citizens in data-driven social and sustainable innovation ecosystems, the fellow will:

• Conceptualize the concept of “data exploitation for good” in the context of social innovation and sustainability, distinguishing between extractive models and value-driven, participatory approaches that foster trust and collaboration.
• Explore data as an incentive for engagement by designing mechanisms where crowdsourced, decentralized, and collective intelligence-driven data platforms enhance the participation of diverse actors in transformative ecosystems.
• Develop governance frameworks that balance openness, privacy, accountability, and ethical use of data to foster inclusive, equitable, and sustainable data-sharing ecosystems. This may include:  Organize participatory sessions with stakeholders to collaboratively define governance principles and roles and develop consensus on decision-making processes, data-sharing policies, and accountability mechanisms
• Empirically test participatory data infrastructures through real-world applications, measuring their impact on engagement, innovation outcomes, and ecosystem resilience.
• Advance policy and practice by identifying best practices for integrating data-driven engagement mechanisms in social innovation strategies, sustainable development projects, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Disseminate the findings. Document each stage of research, design, development, and evaluation. Write academic articles or conference papers to share insights with the broader research community.

The Doctoral Candidate will be expected to:

• Report on findings by publishing scientific articles, resulting in a PhD dissertation;
• Present findings at (inter)national meetings/conferences;
• Contribute to the wider work of the Data2Action project
• Contribute to educational activities of the department and within the consortium.

Requirements

Essential:

• Eligible applicants must possess or be finalising a Master’s degree or an equivalent degree in a relevant discipline for Data2Action. Possible disciplines include e.g., management, economics, public policy, sociology, computer science, artificial intelligence, ICT engineering, digital humanities, law, philosophy, philosophical ethics, health sciences. Click here for more information on Master’s degree or an equivalent degree eligibility requirements.
• Excellent English language proficiency. Click here for more information.
• Competencies: Open-minded, self-aware, collaborative, critical thinker, team player, strong communicator.
• Applicants must be available full-time to start the program in September 2025.

Desirable:

• Previous experience on data sharing
• Knowledge about sustainability and social innovation concepts
• Familiarity with participatory data infrastructures and decentralized data platforms.
• Experience with data visualization and analytics tools.
• Ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary and international teams.
• Knowledge of the italian language or interest to learn it;

Eligibility Conditions:

• Applicants do not already hold a doctoral degree.
• Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of recruitment for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.

Application Deadline:

Sunday 18th May 2025 We Offer:

The MSCA programme offers competitive and attractive working conditions. You will have an employment contract from the recruiting beneficiary. You will benefit from a competitive salary, annual leave, social security coverage. For more information see EU MSCA website .

Selection process

Our selection procedure is open, transparent, merit-based, impartial, and equitable, in line with the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers ( link ).

Additional Comments

For more information about this position, you can contact Sebastien Chastin.

We are hosting two information sessions on Tuesday 29th April 2025, for those interested in applying for a PhD fellow position with Data2Action. The session will start with a 15-minute presentation and then there will be a Q&A. We are running two sessions to ensure maximum global reach. Both sessions will be the same, so you should only attend one. Sign up here:

Tuesday 29th April 2025, 10am UK time – sign up here

Tuesday 29th April 2025, 6pm UK time - sign up here