Postdoctoral Research Associate, Artificial Intelligence, Political Science
Job Summary
The Department of Political Science seeks a two-year postdoctoral researcher to assist with projects, papers, and grant proposals in the Governance and Responsible AI Lab (GRAIL) and the Computational Social Science Lab (CSS). The postdoctoral fellow will be mentored in research and proposal writing by faculty directors of the labs and participate in an active research community in Political Science and the College of Liberal Arts.
For information about the labs, please see the following websites:
GRAIL: https://cla.purdue.edu/academic/polsci/research/labs/grail/index.html
CSS: https://cla.purdue.edu/academic/polsci/research/labs/computational-social-science-lab/index.html
The start date is negotiable, but must fall between August 1, 2024 and January 1, 2025. The position is at Purdue’s main campus in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Qualifications
A PhD in Political Science, Public Policy, or a closely related field is required. ABDs will be considered but the successful candidate must provide evidence of completion of all requirements for the PhD prior to the start date of the position. Qualified candidates must have strong skills in writing, quantitative data analysis, data visualization, and research methods. Candidates must have experience managing research projects and a record of successful collaboration. Candidates must also have evidence of a research pipeline related to the aims of GRAIL and the CSS Lab.
About Purdue University
In recent years, the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University has hired a large group of faculty in the area of artificial intelligence (AI), broadly construed. Representing a variety of disciplines in the College, this cohort of scholars expands our capacity to explore the implications of AI development across multiple domains and contribute to disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and educational initiatives surrounding AI in new and important ways.
Political Science is home to 28 faculty and more than 40 PhD students, visiting scholars, and post-docs. Purdue University is a member of the AAU and a land grant university with enrollment of over 52,000 students. The campus is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, an area with a favorable cost of living and a vibrant local community. Purdue University offers high-quality research and computing facilities with many opportunities for collaboration in Centers and Institutes across campus and in the broader region. Purdue University is building world-leading programs in AI, including a new Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence.
Computational Social Science (CSS) Lab at Purdue University
Under the direction of Dr. Bryce J. Dietrich, the Computational Social Science Lab (CSS) was established to promote the application and development of computational methods to large, typically complex, human, and behavioral data. CSS has received coverage both on and off campus for its “revolutionary” approach to social science research, especially its novel use of text, audio, and video data. The lab comprises an interdisciplinary team of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and postdoctoral fellows.
Dr. Bryce J. Dietrich joined the faculty at Purdue University in the Fall of 2022. His research uses novel quantitative, automated, and machine learning methods to analyze non-traditional data sources such as audio (or speech) data and video data. His work has appeared in prominent journals like the American Political Science Review, Journal of Politics, Nature Human Behavior, Political Analysis, and Political Psychology. In addition to securing external awards from the NIH and NSF, his work has also been covered by prominent media outlets like The Washington Post, The Economist and National Public Radio (NPR). His most recent work using C-SPAN has looked at gender and social dynamics on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Governance and Responsible AI Lab (GRAIL) at Purdue University
The Governance and Responsible AI Lab (GRAIL), co-directed by Dr. Daniel S. Schiff and Dr. Kaylyn Jackson Schiff, conducts research on the social, ethical, and governance implications of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. GRAIL consists of an interdisciplinary team of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students and produces rigorous, policy-relevant work on AI supported by funding from the National Institute of Justice and Google. The lab’s research explores topics such as the political impacts of deepfakes, emerging legislation and regulation related to AI, use of AI in government and law enforcement, and public and elite opinion on AI. GRAIL is a member of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s AI Safety Institute Consortium and an affiliate of Purdue’s Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence.
Dr. Daniel S. Schiff studies the formal and informal governance of AI through policy and industry, as well as AI’s social and ethical implications in domains like education, manufacturing, finance, and criminal justice. Daniel previously served as the founding Responsible AI Lead at JP Morgan Chase & Co. and as the Secretary of the IEEE 7010-2020 standard, the first AI ethics industry standard. His research has been published in prominent interdisciplinary venues such as Policy Studies Journal, the American Political Science Review, AI & Society, and the International Journal of AI in Education.
Dr. Kaylyn Jackson Schiff conducts research on how technological developments are changing citizen-government contact and explores implications for service provision, misinformation, policing, education, and government use of artificial intelligence. Her research has won the award for best dissertation in the field of public administration from the American Political Science Association and the Journal of Politics best paper award. Her work has been published in top journals such as the American Political Science Review, Public Administration Review, Policy Studies Journal, and Nature Human Behavior.
Application Procedures
To apply, please visit https://careers.purdue.edu/. Applications must be submitted online and include: 1) Cover letter of interest that includes a statement describing how the applicant’s research fits the principal duties and qualifications of the position, 2) Curriculum Vitae, and 3) Recent research paper or other writing sample related to the position description. Candidates who advance in the review process may be asked to provide letters of recommendation and transcripts.
Screening of applicants will begin on July 15th, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. A background check is required for employment in this position. For additional information, contact Dr. Bryce J. Dietrich at bjdietri@purdue.edu.
Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.