Postdoctoral Scholar on Public Interest Technology

The Public Interest Technology Lab in the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) at the Virginia Tech Research Center, Arlington, Virginia, seeks a highly motivated and collaborative researcher with expertise in public interest technology. The mission of the Public Interest Technology lab is to advance research, education, policy, and practice on the governance, design, and deployment of emerging technologies to serve the public interest.

The postdoctoral scholar will join a highly collaborative multi-institutional team of faculty, students, and stakeholders. Individuals with interests in one or more the following topics are encouraged to apply: ethical and societal implications of AI or related technologies; responsible AI/AI governance; technology, policy, and society; biopsychosocial implications of digital technologies; Human-AI Interaction; and/or equity-centered data science and analytics.

This is a two-year, full-time, 12-month position starting no later than August 10, 2025. The salary is $65,000 per year. The scholar will be based in SPIA at the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington, VA.

With the guidance of the faculty mentor, the postdoctoral scholar will:

(1) Plan, write, and submit extramural grant proposals.

(2) Plan and execute research projects and studies on public interest technology topics.

(3) Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analyses.

(4) Present and publish cutting-edge research on public interest technology topics.

(5) Support coordination and collaboration between institutions, stakeholders, and researchers and facilitate team meetings.

(6) Mentor master’s and PhD students.

(7) Teach a 1:1 course load in year 2 of the position.

The candidate must have:

(1) A Ph.D. in a relevant discipline at the time of appointment. Interdisciplinary backgrounds bridging social sciences and engineering/technology are encouraged.

(2) Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the study of the societal implications of new and emerging technologies and/or the governance, design, and deployment of emerging technologies to serve the public interest (equity, justice, democracy, human rights).

(3) Expertise in quantitative social science research methodologies and methods.

(4) Publications in peer-reviewed journals and/or presentations at conferences about public interest technology topics.

(5) Demonstrated knowledge in providing an equitable, inclusive educational environment that supports the learning of a diverse student body and that is consistent with the Virginia Tech Principles of Community (https://www.inclusive.vt.edu/about/vtpoc.html)

(6) Strong written and oral communication skills.

(1) Strong interest in community or stakeholder-engaged research.

(2) Strong interest in facilitating cross-disciplinary scientific teams.

(3) Experience with collaborative research.

(4) Knowledge of Qualitative Research Methods.

Appointment Type

Restricted

65,000

June 20, 2025

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

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