Responsible Tech roles at University Centers & Institutes
An incredible amount of the most groundbreaking work around responsible technology takes place within University Research Centers & Institutes. More and more of these new and quickly evolving Institutes are popping up all the time — we’ve created a resource that now tops 80 of them globally, to date! As interest in Responsible Tech-related topics grows, so do the number and size of these Institutes, and we’re seeing new roles posted all the time!
Here, we’re highlighting 15 open roles within University Research Centers & Institutes. This is non-exhaustive, so please check out these opportunities that we’ve identified and let us know what else is out there, especially in universities not based in the United States!
Do you know of an open role at a University Research Institute globally that belongs on our Responsible Tech job board? Contact us through this form.
Responsible Tech roles at University Centers & Institutes:
Berkeley Initiative for Transparency in the Social Sciences, UC Berkeley - Full Stack Developer, Social Science Prediction Platform (CEGA)
“The Berkeley Initiative for Transparency in the Social Sciences (BITSS)–managed by CEGA–is seeking a part-time full-stack engineer, as soon as possible, for the remainder of Fall 2021 and Spring 2022.”
Responsibilities include “5-10 hours/week possibly with a heavier load in the first 1-2 months, starting ASAP and working through Spring 2022. They should be able to join 2-4 1-hour virtual team calls per month.”
For this role, they are seeking “a computer scientist with web development experience to make updates to the Social Science Prediction Platform (SSPP). The SSPP facilitates the collection and cataloging of forecasts of research results.”
The successful candidate will have “Experience with database management…Strong SQL and Python/Django skills…Back-end development experience…[and] Experience with DevOps (we use Heroku) and Docker.”
Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Harvard University - Director of Communications
“The Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society seeks an experienced and dynamic Director of Communications to develop the Berkman Klein Center’s communications strategy and priorities and define how we tell the stories of the Center’s research, education, tools, and global impact.”
In this role, you will “lead the communications team to implement that strategy, translating the Center’s work using channels appropriate to our many different audiences, and identify new platforms for showcasing the Center’s work. The Director will work collaboratively across the organization, leveraging and engaging our diverse internal community of staff, fellows, interns, collaborators, partners, and alums. The Director of Communications will also lead internal communications efforts including annual reports, community announcements, promotion of events, and media monitoring, and support the organization to maintain the highest quality communication practices.”
The successful applicant should have a “Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years’ experience in communications, journalism or related field, as well as supervisory experience.”
Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Harvard University - Institute Director, Rebooting Social Media
“The Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University (BKC) seeks an Institute Director to lead an ambitious, newly launched, three-year “pop-up” Institute for “Rebooting Social Media” for “a term appointment currently expected to extend to June 30, 2022 with potential for renewal, subject to departmental funding and need.”
“The Institute Director will shape a broadly participatory initiative that collaboratively creates a portfolio of research and projects that better articulate the harms and opportunities of networked communication, prototype new tools and protocols, develop policies enriched by attention to sociotechnical issues, and encourage accurate and accessible narratives about the harms and possibilities of social media.”
The successful candidate should have a “Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of administrative management experience, including at least two years of direct professional staff supervision.”
Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA), UC Berkeley - Associate Director of Communications and Policy Engagement
“The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) seeks a full-time Associate Director of Communications and Policy Engagement to lead the Center’s communications and external engagement.”
In this role, you will “increase CEGA’s sustainability and impact by developing and disseminating high-quality content for priority audiences and collaborating with them to proactively position and time communications. The Associate Director should be familiar with CEGA audiences, including policymakers, researchers, and the media, constantly leveraging and updating insights about each to design savvy communications and events. They will further enhance the center’s digital communications platforms—including our website, blog, and social media channels—to ensure a cohesive narrative, timely and meaningful commentary, and clear internal processes.”
The successful candidate should have a “Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent years experience and/or training. Minimum 7 years of experience in a similar role or function.”
Center for an Informed Public (CIP), University of Washington, School of Information - Research Project Manager
“The University of Washington’s Information School is seeking a Research Project Manager, CIP to provide research project administration and management support, team oversight, human subjects research coordination and oversight, and communication support.”
“The Research Project Manager position contributes directly to the CIP’s mission by translating scientific objectives into project operations, driving the project forward, and facilitating the timely completion of key milestones. This is a one-year term position with the possibility of a two-year extension (for a total of three years) if additional funding is secured.”
Qualified candidates should have a “Bachelor’s Degree in journalism, a STEM program, communications or social sciences, or related fields. • Minimum three years demonstrated success in research program management and coordination, preferably in the area of data science applied to societal goals or related areas.”
Center for an Informed Public (CIP), University of Washington, School of Information - Research Scientist
“The University of Washington’s Information School is seeking a Research Scientist to provide leadership and project management for a rapid-response research program at the Center for an Informed Public (CIP).”
In this role, you will be “responsible for setting research priorities, training and supporting a diverse research team, and developing and maintaining collaborations with key partners including community groups, media, government, and social media platforms.”
The successful candidate should have a a “Master’s degree or higher in information science, psychology, communications, biology, engineering, or a related field. • Four or more years’ experience in cross-disciplinary and mixed methods research, or equivalent combination of education/experience.”
Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Georgetown University - Director of AI Research Subgrant (AIRS) Program
Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University is “seeking applications for our inaugural AI Research Subgrant (AIRS) Program Director. The recently established AIRS program seeks to promote the exploration of foundational technical topics that relate to the potential national security implications of AI over the long term. Topics of interest will be regularly updated, but currently include: methodologies for AI treaty verification, scalable AI assurance, anti-proliferation mechanisms for AI, AI standards and testing, and emerging technical issues at the interface between AI safety and policymaking/regulations.”
The ideal candidate will have a “Masters Degree (M.S.) in Computer Science, other STEM degrees, quantitative social science, or other related field like Economics, Computational Linguistics, etc.; Substantive and demonstrated experience in research design and execution (5+ years); Multiple years of experience managing early to mid-career professionals and programmatic leadership experience (2+ years)”
In this role, you will have “management responsibility for all technical, programmatic, and financial aspects of the new AIRS program,” including “Identifying technical areas of research directly relevant to CSET’s AIRS research mandate – as informed by CSET analytic priorities, research tractability, and funder intent – and developing a subgranting strategy to support these research efforts.”
Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Georgetown University - Survey Research Analyst
“Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), under the School of Foreign Service, is hiring a Survey Research Analyst who will lead survey design and execution in collaboration with CSET analysts (Senior Fellows, Research Fellows, Research Analysts) across CSET’s lines of research. They will sit on CSET’s Data Science team and will work closely with data scientists, software engineers, a translation lead, and other data research analysts to produce, collect, and analyze original survey data.”
In this role, you will be responsible for “Leading the design and execution of survey research projects, including questionnaire design, sampling methodology, Institutional Review Board management, and survey distribution,” among other tasks.
The qualified candidate should have “Bachelor’s degree 2+ years of quantitative or statistical analysis experience from coursework or professional work [and] 2+ years of relevant research experience (e.g., public opinion, market research, user experience)”
The application will close on Wednesday, December 1st, 2021.
Center on Privacy & Technology, Georgetown University Law Center - Communications Associate
The Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown Law is seeking a communications associate to “develop communications materials, improve and maintain the Center’s website, review and edit Center communications to ensure clarity of message and tone, assist with social media accounts, and utilize understanding of Center research projects to improve promotional materials depth and relevance to intended audiences. This position will provide general communications assistance to support our central mission and goals. There will also be occasional event planning support.”
“This position requires a commitment to the Center’s mission, a Bachelor’s degree, 0-3 years of experience in communications, event planning or related field, and excellent writing skills. A background in issues related to civil rights, technology, surveillance, social inclusion, racial equity, gender equity, and/or advocacy—including lived experience—is preferred, but not required.”
Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion, University of Technology Sydney - Projects Manager, Responsible Technology
“The UTS Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion is recruiting for a Projects Manager - Responsible Technology, to deliver on the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion's program of work on responsible technology. The position will focus on carrying out a major research project, the Facial Recognition Model Law Project, and on designing and delivering education and training on artificial intelligence (AI) strategy.”
“You possess a relevant degree with subsequent work experience in areas related to responsible technology. As the Projects Manager - Responsible Technology, you possess significant understanding of project management systems. In addition, you will have experience in working with and developing strategic plans, policies and procedures.”
“This position is full-time and appointment will be made on a fixed term basis for 12 months,” and the salary is $92,791 to $102,650.
Digital Life Initiative (DLI), Cornell Tech - Associate Director
The Digital Life Initiative (DLI), Cornell Tech is hiring a Associate Director, “focusing on strategy, development, organization-building, and research project management.”
In this role, you will “Create and maintain a strategic plan and organizational processes for the DLI,” and “Create and manage the DLI’s programmatic relationship with funders and partners, in collaboration with other Cornell Tech offices,” as well as “Oversee the DLI’s research activities and personnel,” among other tasks.
The ideal candidate will have a “Master’s degree in cognizant field (philosophy, computer science, information science, economics, etc.), and interest in the areas of digital technology and society, including ethics and/or policy. (A Bachelors’ degree may be acceptable with highly relevant, leadership experience.),” and “3 or more years of experience in leadership and management in academia or nonprofits, with demonstrated experience in strategy and organization-building.”
“This is a full-time benefits-eligible staff position with a one-year appointment with the potential for renewal. The work location is the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City.”
Institute for Experiential AI (IEAI), Northeastern University - Senior Data Scientist (Human Machine Collaboration)
The Institute for Experiential AI (IEAI) at Northeastern University is hiring a Senior Data Scientist (Human Machine Collaboration) to “[support] the Institute in delivering data science and AI projects and expertise to its industry partners and researchers.”
In this role, you will “Assist in delivering data science and AI courses and professional development programs to learners from across the University and industry. Help build AI products that will solve the most-pressing issues for organizations including Responsible AI. Be part of a fast-growing team that will develop and maintain a cutting-edge data platform, acquire data sets for research and education purposes and use data science strategically to support the Institute’s mission.”
To be successful, you’ll need a “Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics or similar disciplines and 5 or more years of professional experience, or can convincingly demonstrate this level of skill.”
Stanford Digital Economy Lab, Stanford University - Operations Administrator
The Stanford Digital Economy Lab, which is part of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) and co-sponsored by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), is hiring an Operations Administrator to “Provide complex administrative or operational support with minimal supervision.”
“We are hiring one (1), full time (100% FTE), fixed term position for two (2) years, which is renewable based on programmatic need and funding.”
In this role, you will “Oversee and/or perform duties associated with scheduling, organizing, and operating complex conferences, seminars, and events, including arranging with vendors for services, overseeing the production and distribution of materials, administering logistics, and managing event within budget,” as well as “Compose and draft documents and correspondence for presentations, course handouts, grants, conferences, seminars, and reports; perform substantial research editing and fact checking. Create, maintain, modify, and/or ensure accuracy of content in various unit documents, displays, reports, brochures, social media, and/or websites,” and other duties.
The ideal candidate will have a “High school diploma and six years of administrative experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.”
Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), Stanford University - Program Manager, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) at Stanford University is hiring a Program Manager, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to “ensure the success of HAI’s current DEI educational activities as well as develop future DEI initiatives, both within HAI itself and in close collaboration with partners internal and external to Stanford.”
“We are hiring one (1), full time (100% FTE), fixed term position for two (2) years, which is renewable based on programmatic need and funding.”
“HAI DEI education initiatives include: programming around diversifying the AI leadership pipeline (pre-college through college), educating members of tech boards of directors from underrepresented populations, offering Stanford research opportunities to students from under-resourced universities, supporting DEI graduate fellowships (including in race and technology), working with postdoctoral/ research positions across the University on DEI-related research and curriculum development, advising Stanford grant writers on potential DEI educational opportunities related to their research interests, DEI interests around technology and the arts, and encompass disciplinary interests across the University.”
The successful candidate should have a “Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.”
Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), Stanford University - Research Assistant - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and AI Education
Stanford HAI Fellow Faye-Marie Vassell “is seeking a Research Assistant with excellent project management, analytical, writing and organizational skills to support her work by (1) assisting with the development and support of one or more workshops for national and global experts in topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in AI education and AI professions, (2) assisting in writing of short and long publications on related topics (3) preparing research briefings and memos.”
Qualified applicants should have the “Ability to support and project manage workshops and seminars, comprised of diverse - and often high-level - audiences, internal and external to Stanford,” and the role will be “approximately 10-15 hours per week during the Fall quarter, and possibly beyond.”
