Keely Duddin

A postdoctoral research opportunity is available at The Open University within the Centre for Protecting Women Online (CPWO) and the Policing and Human Behaviour research streams. The project, Creators & Consumers , focuses on perpetration and policing responses to deepfake-enabled violence against women and girls (VAWG) . This is an interdisciplinary role at the intersection of computer science , psychology , law , political science , sociology , and media studies , with a strong emphasis on real-world impact and research addressing online harms. The post is described as a chance to join a supportive team working on pioneering research into one of the most important emerging challenges involving technology, policing, and gender-based violence. The announcement does not specify funding amount, salary, deadline, or detailed eligibility criteria in the text provided. Interested candidates should open the linked vacancy and follow the application instructions there. The post also encourages sharing the opportunity with networks and tagging potential applicants.

This PhD opportunity at The Open University, based in the Centre for Protecting Women Online, focuses on policing technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (VAWG). The project addresses the growing challenge of online harms in a world where digital and physical boundaries are increasingly blurred. Despite the development of legal and policy frameworks such as the Online Safety Act 2023 and the EU AI Act 2024, policing responses to online VAWG remain fragmented, with significant gaps in prevention, enforcement, and victim support. The research aims to inform proactive, evidence-led, and victim-centred policing strategies that are intersectional and responsive to the rapid evolution of technology and AI. Key research themes include improving public trust and legitimacy in policing online harms, developing victim-centred and proactive strategies, fostering collaboration with technology platforms, supporting officer well-being and skills development, understanding suspect behaviour, and tailoring responses to the diverse experiences of women from intersecting identities. The successful candidate will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary research environment funded by a £7.7 million grant from Research England. The Centre for Protecting Women Online is dedicated to understanding and addressing the challenges posed to women’s safety online through ambitious research and cross-sectoral collaboration. The Centre’s work is delivered through five interwoven streams: Law & Policy, Human Behaviour, The Future of Responsible Tech, Ethical and Responsible Tech/AI, and Policing. Supervision will be provided by Professor Olga Jurasz, a leading expert in legal responses to violence against women and feminist governance of online spaces, and Dr Keely Duddin, a Chartered Psychologist specialising in organisational well-being and gender equity in policing. Applicants are encouraged from diverse backgrounds, including law, criminology, gender studies, psychology, technology, and public policy. The project is available for campus-based study only. This research has the potential to shape evidence-led prevention strategies, improve victim-centred practices, support officer training, and influence law and policy to better protect women and girls online.