Job Description

The University of Michigan School of Information seeks a full time postdoctoral research fellow to conduct research with Professor Nazanin Andalibi The fellow will collaborate with Professor Andalibi to develop, execute, and collaborate on projects related to topics such as technology (e.g., artificial intelligence, social platforms) ethics, identity, power, health, affect, privacy, surveillance, and justice. As these key terms indicate, this position is likely of interest to scholars with a critical approach to computing. This position will be funded by an NSF award.

The successful candidate should have the ability to lead projects from start to finish and work independently as well as collaboratively. Applicants should have experience leading and publishing independent research projects. The fellow will have the opportunity to network, present work at conferences, and collaborate with undergraduate and graduate students. This postdoctoral fellowship is designed to support the applicant towards advancing their career via scholarly impact and collaboration.

The fellow will be part of a large and vibrant interdisciplinary research community at the School of Information and will have opportunities to interact with researchers across many UMSI research foci as well as with other colleagues and departments across the U-M campus. The fellow will also have opportunities to engage with centers such as the Center for Ethics, Society, and Computing as well as units such as the Digital Studies Institute at U-M.

Aside from direct one-on-one mentorship from Professor Andalibi, the fellow will have the opportunity to receive mentorship from the designated UMSI postdoctoral mentor who is another faculty member.

Responsibilities:

The fellow’s responsibilities include participating in or leading designing studies, data collection, data analysis, co-authoring publications, preparing presentations and reports, contributing to potential grant proposal writing, and assisting with other related activities assigned by Professor Andalibi.

Work Schedule:

40 hours per week; some flexibility in when those work hours occur as long as good communication and close coordination practices are in place.

Work Locations:

The position is a 12-month appointment located in Ann Arbor, MI. A shared office in Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building will be arranged for those working on-site or with hybrid appointments. Hybridwork is acceptable for this role, following the UMSI Remote Work Policy and with supervisor approval. This position may have the option of working remotely; however, candidates must be able to conduct work in the United States.

Employment outside of the United States or from a U.S. Territory is not allowable. Applicants must be eligible to be employed in the United States; sponsorship to obtain such status is not available at this time.

About UMSI

The mission of the School of Information is to create and share knowledge to help people use information -- with technology -- to build a better world. A successful candidate will be committed to, and will directly contribute to, our goal of being the best research and teaching institution for the understanding and design of information and its technologies in service of people and society.

For more information about UMSI please visit www.si.umich.edu

Benefits at the University of Michigan:
The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. For more information about Postdoctoral Research Fellow benefits, please visit the benefits website.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• PhD successfully completed by start date
• PhD in Information, Science and Technology Studies, Gender Studies, Communication, Social Science, Law, Policy, Computer Science, or other related field
• Experience conducting and publishing research in academic venues
• Interest in studying pressing socio-technical problems
• Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the relevant topics to the position stated in the job summary.

Desired Qualifications (any of the below):

• Demonstrated expertise in qualitative research methods (e.g., interviews, focus groups), as well as experience with participatory design, design fiction, and other critical and interpretive approaches
• Demonstrated expertise and critical engagement with issues of ethics, identity, power, health, affect, privacy/surveillance, and justice in technology
• Demonstrated competence in quantitative research methods, including survey design and experimental methodologies
• Evidence of sustained engagement with contemporary scholarship in areas such as AI ethics and privacy; algorithms and society; fairness, accountability, and transparency in AI; affect and AI; AI in law and policy
• Demonstrated track record of conducting responsible research with marginalized or underrepresented populations

Application Instructions

How to Apply:

To be considered for this position, applicants should submit their materials to Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/186629

Candidates should submit:

1. cover letter indicating the candidate’s research expertise, research goals and interests, career goals, how this position helps them in their career goals, and relevant expertise/experience to the position and topic. Please review the job summary and ensure you clearly include any relevant listed qualifications in your application;
2. curriculum vitae;
3. research statement;
4. up to 3 writing samples; and
5. name and contact information for three references (One reference should be from the candidate’s doctoral advisor). Reference letters will be requested for short-listed candidates.

Review of applications will begin immediately on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The desired start date for this position is Sep 1, 2026 with some flexibility. The start date commensurates with degree conferral.

This is a one-year appointment renewable up to 2 additional year(s), pending satisfactory job performance which the PI and fellow will evaluate together periodically.

All general inquiries and questions about the position can be sent to andalibi@umich.edu

Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.