Research Scientist - Ethics & Society
Cambridge, MA
Research /
Full Time /
On-site
Our Mission
Our mission is to solve the most important and fundamental challenges in AI and Robotics to enable future generations of intelligent machines that will help us all live better lives.
The AI Institute robotics, ethics & society team does forward-thinking, cross-disciplinary research on the societal impact of robotics. Our research aims to ground societal conversations about robotics with evidence, providing the data needed for decision makers to make informed choices about the integration and regulation of robotic systems. Our core research theme is robotics & labor (future of work).
Our approach is creative, rigorous, and highly collaborative. The research team brings together members from different disciplines, all of whom use scientifically grounded methodologies. The team chooses its own research topics and projects, working to identify and examine under-explored questions at the intersections of law & policy, ethics, market forces, and robotics. We are committed to high-quality work on a few projects at a time, publishing only peer-reviewed research.
Aside from doing independent research, the team is fully embedded at the institute. The team hosts institute-wide workshops and conversations, and engages with all of the research & development at the Institute.
Research Scientists will have a background in empirical, data-driven social science, including disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, economics, political science, STS, and other related fields. All researchers must have a proven track record of cross-disciplinary, collaborative research at the intersection of social and technical systems.
We are hiring research scientists in two different tracks:
Qualitative Research Scientist Track
Quantitative Research Scientist Track
Candidates should apply to the track that best fits their expertise. Both roles will work on projects at the intersection of robotics, labor, and the future of work.
If you are passionate about investigating the societal implications of robots, and excited to be embedded in a cutting-edge robotics institute, this team will be a great fit for you!
Responsibilities
- Collaboratively design, execute, and support mixed-method research studies involving data collection and analysis
- Prepare and co-author peer-reviewed publications
- Engage with the robotics research & development teams at the Institute
- Other responsibilities as needed
Requirements for Qualitative Research Track
- MS or PhD (or equivalent training/experience) in sociology, anthropology, Science & Technology Studies (STS), or a relevant field
- 5+ years of research experience
- Track-record of collaborative, cross-disciplinary research social science research
- Experience collecting and analyzing qualitative data primarily using fieldwork methods. Familiarity with archival and survey research is a plus
- Experience designing field research all the way from scouting partners to production of research results
- Proficiency with Qualitative Data Analysis software (QDA)
- Record of peer-reviewed publishing
- Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills, ability to work within a multidisciplinary environment
Requirements for Quantitative Research Track
- MS or PhD (or equivalent training/experience) in economics, political science, public policy, psychology, statistics, or a relevant field
- 5+ years of research experience working with large, complex datasets
- Track-record of collaborative, cross-disciplinary social science research
- Proficiency with statistical software (e.g., R, Python, Stata)
- Proficiency with survey platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, Survey Monkey)
- Experience collecting and analyzing data using causal inference methods (experimental and quasi-experimental)
- Record of peer-reviewed publishing
- Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills, ability to work within a multidisciplinary environment
Bonus
- Experience with robotic systems
- Labor or future of work expertise
- Record of impactful peer-reviewed publications in top-tier conferences and journals
- Experience working in both academic and industry research environments
These attributes are great to have but not required for our candidates. Candidates who lack these should not be discouraged from applying.
We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
