Researchers and early-career scholars interested in ageing, digital technologies, social inclusion, and wellbeing now have an exciting opportunity to express interest in joining the SOCIAL research project led by sociologist Bruno Arpino.

The initiative is expected to recruit talented candidates for future research appointments connected to the groundbreaking project exploring the intersection between social relationships, digitalization, and wellbeing among older adults.

The SOCIAL project, formally titled Social Relations, Digital Technologies and Wellbeing of Older People, is funded through the Italian Ministry of University and Research under the prestigious Italian Fund for Science (FIS-2 Advanced Grant scheme).

Interested candidates are invited to submit expressions of interest by 30 June 2026.

About the SOCIAL Research Project

The SOCIAL project investigates how digital technologies are reshaping the social experiences of older adults, particularly focusing on digital inequalities, family dynamics, social inclusion, and wellbeing in later life.

The project aims to understand:

Who is included or excluded from digital participation in older age
How digital technologies influence family support and social relationships
Whether digital resources reduce or reinforce inequalities among older adults
How digitalization impacts autonomy, participation, and quality of life

Rather than viewing internet use solely as an individual activity, the project examines how technology is embedded within everyday relationships, caregiving structures, and access to services.

Running from October 2025 to September 2028, the three-year project has a total budget of more than €2 million and combines advanced social science theories with cutting-edge computational and quantitative research methods.

Future Research Opportunities Expected in 2026

Although this is not yet an official job vacancy announcement, the project team is gathering expressions of interest from potentially suitable candidates to help prepare future recruitment calls expected in autumn 2026.

Depending on project needs and candidate profiles, future openings may include:

Postdoctoral research appointments for candidates holding a PhD
Research appointments for early-career scholars with a master’s degree obtained within the previous six years

The anticipated appointments are expected to last 18 months.

Successful candidates would contribute to:

High-quality academic research outputs
Collaborative interdisciplinary research activities
Survey design and data collection initiatives
Quantitative and computational analyses
The broader intellectual development of the SOCIAL project

Preferred Academic Backgrounds

The project welcomes candidates from a broad range of disciplines connected to social sciences, technology, and quantitative research.

Relevant fields include:

Sociology
Social gerontology
Demography
Statistics
Data science
Political science
Communication and media studies
Social policy
Digital studies
Related interdisciplinary fields

The project team is especially interested in candidates with expertise in advanced methodological approaches and substantive research themes connected to ageing and digitalization.

Key Methodological Skills Sought

Applicants with experience in the following technical and analytical areas are strongly encouraged to apply:

Advanced statistical analysis
Longitudinal and multilevel modelling
Causal inference methods
Machine learning and computational techniques
Survey design and questionnaire development
Data collection and management
Data visualization
Research programming and reproducible workflows

Candidates capable of combining strong analytical skills with interdisciplinary collaboration may be particularly competitive.

Research Areas of Interest

In addition to methodological expertise, the SOCIAL project is interested in scholars researching themes such as:

Sociology of the family
Intergenerational relationships
Social gerontology and ageing
Digital inequalities
Digital media and platform use
Socio-demography
Welfare states and social policy
Wellbeing and social inclusion
Social consequences of technological change

The project seeks candidates who can work both independently and collaboratively within interdisciplinary research environments.

Large-Scale Survey and International Research Focus

A major component of the SOCIAL project involves collecting new primary data in Italy through a nationally representative face-to-face survey of older adults.

The survey will gather detailed information on:

Social networks
Family relationships
Digital technology use
Digital skills and attitudes
Support exchanges
Access to services
Health and wellbeing outcomes

The project will also integrate secondary analyses of existing national and cross-national datasets to provide deeper insights into how ageing societies are shaped by social and digital inequalities.

Researchers joining the initiative would therefore gain valuable experience working on large-scale, internationally relevant social science research.

Application Process for Expressions of Interest

Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

An updated CV including a complete publication list
A motivation letter of no more than two pages

Applications should be sent via email with the subject line “EOI_social” by 30 June 2026.

A preliminary exploratory evaluation of applications is expected to be completed by 31 July 2026. However, the project team emphasized that this process is non-binding and separate from any future official recruitment procedures.

A Major Opportunity for Emerging and Established Researchers

The SOCIAL project represents a significant opportunity for researchers interested in ageing, digital societies, and social inequalities. By combining innovative methodologies with socially relevant research questions, the project aims to generate evidence capable of informing academic debates and public policy on digital inclusion and wellbeing among older populations.

For scholars interested in interdisciplinary social science research and digital transformation, the initiative offers a promising pathway into impactful international research collaboration.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding