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Position Governing Body Fellow Junior Research Fellow
School Arts & Humanities Centre of Research in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CRASSH)
Email tc680@cam.ac.uk
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Timothy Charlton-Czaplicki researches the digital transformation of humanitarian action with the aim of informing policy on emergency funding and response. In collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Timothy uses mixed qualitative and computational social science methods to examine how emerging technologies affect the capacity of humanitarian organisations to serve affected communities.

Timothy completed degrees in Philosophy & Law (BA) at the University of Munich, Digital Humanities (MSc) at University College London and Social Science of the Internet (MSc) at the University of Oxford. His PhD at the Department of Digitalization, Copenhagen Business School focused on digital labour practices. Specifically, he drew on Hannah Arendt’s political theory as a conceptual framework to analyse the changing nature of work on digital platforms. Timothy’s studies and research have been funded by the DAAD and Candys Foundation, among others. His teaching includes courses on the principles of data visualisation, programming and longitudinal data analysis. Previously, Timothy worked in various roles for the United Nations World Food Programme. His projects at the HQ and field levels included designing mobile logistics data collection solutions for first-line aid workers and monitoring and reporting of the roll-out of biometric identity management systems.

Timothy is based at the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH) and his research interests lie at the intersection of digitalisation and humanitarian action. Building on his previous professional experience with information systems in aid delivery, he is particularly keen to understand the implications of biometric identity management and cash-based assistance in emergency response. Heightened awareness and understanding of the long-term and protracted digital risks that such interventions may incur is crucial to ensure humanitarian actors continue to enjoy the trust and confidence of the public in the digital age. In collaboration with the ICRC, Timothy explores how emerging technologies challenge the way humanitarian organisations uphold the fundamental humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. Central to his work is Timothy's concern to bridge disciplinary boundaries and find practical applications for academic research.