Call for Applications: Postdoctoral Researcher - Media, Inequality & Change Center

The Media, Inequality & Change Center (MIC Center) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to work on a research project examining the intersection between tech corporations and artificial intelligence (AI) governance.

The MIC Center, which explores the intersections between media, democracy, technology, policy, and social justice, is starting a research program aimed at understanding how corporations are shaping AI governance agendas in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

Through a multi-method, interdisciplinary, and transnational comparative study, this project will explore how AI strategies are shaped and what this means for democracy, governance, and trust. Assessing corporate influence through a combination of computational and qualitative methods across policy, government, media, and civil society within the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada, the research will uncover the role that corporations play in animating AI’s growth in key established democracies. Moreover, by showing alternative framings and engaging with a range of stakeholders to discuss ongoing findings, the project will explore avenues for intervention to foster democracy, governance, and trust.

As such, this project will explore the role of Big Tech in advancing AI by focusing on four central research questions:

1. What are prominent corporate activities and discourses within policy, government, media and civil society relating to AI?
2. What are alternative discourses and strategies on AI advanced by other actors?
3. What do different discourses and strategies on AI mean for democracy, governance, and trust?
4. What avenues for intervention can foster more democratic approaches to developing AI strategies in the public interest?

In exploring these questions, the objectives of the project are to i) empirically assess the nature of challenges related to corporate activities on AI for democracy, governance, and trust; ii) theoretically (re)conceptualize democracy, governance, and trust in the context of AI; iii) identify existing and potential opportunities for enhancing democracy, governance and trust in relation to AI; and iv) engage with key stakeholders in the fields of policy, government, media, and civil society to strengthen key democratic institutions in the advancement of AI.

Essential Criteria

• A Ph.D. in the area of critical data/AI studies or related fields
• Knowledge of key debates on "Big Tech," AI, and democracy
• Familiarity and/or experience with using qualitative research methods
• Experience with writing academic publications and publications geared towards a general audience/policymakers
• Good communication skills and ability to work as part of a team of researchers

Desirable Criteria

• Experience with working in a research team
• Experience with doing comparative research across national contexts
• Experience with stakeholder engagement, including government, civil society and industry
• Knowledge of AI-related debates in the areas of energy (e.g. data centers), journalism (e.g. copyright) and labor (e.g. automation)

Main Duties

• Carry out literature reviews at the intersection of corporate influences on AI strategy and democracy, governance and trust
• Carry out qualitative research, including discourse analysis and interviews, on the topic of corporate influences on AI strategy. Areas of research may include energy policy, journalism and labor
• Assist with administrative tasks, including organizing project workshops
• Write research for publication
• Collaboration with an international team of researchers
• Communications with both internal and external networks to develop and advance stakeholder engagement with the project

Compensation

First-year postdoctoral researchers will receive a minimum stipend of $66,300 commensurate with prior postdoctoral experience and serve in a 12-month appointment, beginning February 15, 2025. Postdoctoral fellows will receive a taxable relocation allowance of up to $1,000 for domestic relocations and up to $2,000 for international relocations as well as $3,000 in travel/research expenses for work conducted in the center. Postdocs and their dependents are eligible for health insurance under the University of Pennsylvania’s plans outlined here.

Eligibility

All postdoctoral fellows must submit documentation to demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States. Non-US citizens selected for this position will be required to apply for an appropriate US visa. It is expected that the fellow will be present on campus in Philadelphia, where they will receive a workspace.

Postdoctoral fellows must receive their PhD prior to beginning their fellowship and provide degree confirmation.

Materials

In addition to a CV and one sample publication (not to exceed 30 pages in total), please provide a cover page that includes your name and contact information, dissertation advisor name and contact information, defense date (if degree not awarded), and a short statement of institutional fit (not to exceed 300 words). Please explain how your background and experience align with MIC’s mission.

Timeline

All materials should be sent as one single PDF document to Briar Smith (briar.smith@asc.upenn.edu) by December 28, 2024. If you have additional questions, please email briar.smith@asc.upenn.edu.

The University of Pennsylvania is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Find more information here.