Postdoctoral Position in AI and Census Microdata
Postdoctoral Position in AI and Census Microdata The College of Social and Behavioral Science at the University of Utah is seeking applicants for a Postdoctoral Research Associate with an interest in applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to US Census data. AI is having far-reaching effects as it moves into everyday systems, such as healthcare, education, policy, […]
Postdoctoral Position in AI and Census Microdata
The College of Social and Behavioral Science at the University of Utah is seeking applicants for a Postdoctoral Research Associate with an interest in applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to US Census data. AI is having far-reaching effects as it moves into everyday systems, such as healthcare, education, policy, immigration, and criminal justice, often with a focus on individualized outcomes. Interdisciplinary research is critical for developing “responsible” technologies that forward the public interest, recognizing AI as both a technological approach and a social practice (e.g. how humans are classified, how we identify technological problems, how we understand our society). Federal Statistical Research Data Centers, such as the Wasatch Front Research Data Center (WFRDC), located in the Interdisciplinary Exchange for Utah Science (NEXUS), offer a unique resource of census microdata, allowing the exploration of socio-demographic dynamics at an individual level, and there is a significant opportunity to apply AI methodologies to these data. We seek a researcher interested in developing research that integrates AI methods with the type of microdata held in the WFRDC. The successful candidate for this position will have a record of working with socio-demographic data and AI methods, and a commitment to responsible AI applications.
Applicants should articulate a research plan that encompasses their own agenda and work with AI in ways that explicitly consider ethical implications. The research plan should involve analysis of census microdata at the WRFDC and the integration of other datasets (e.g. on redlining, mortgage lending, environmental exposures or health outcomes), and should reflect the specific research interests of the applicant. The selected applicant will join a collaborative team of geographers, sociologists, and other researchers using the WFRDC. Ideally, applicants will demonstrate interest in collaborations within the college and across campus. They will also have the opportunity to provide training for students interested in linking AI with, for example, research methods and ethics, policy applications, and social justice.
Timing
This position is funded for two years, with the second year of funding contingent on performance. The anticipated start date for this position is approximately June 1st, 2024, but this is flexible.
Location
This position requires that the selected applicant be physically located at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake has an unparalleled combination of urban amenities and outdoor recreational opportunities. The Wasatch Mountains are located mere minutes from campus, boasting hundreds of inches of snow in the winter, and an abundance of hiking, biking, and climbing options in the summer. The College of Social and Behavioral Science has wide-ranging faculty expertise across seven academic departments and is housed in one of the campus’s newest and most impressive facilities. In 2024 the College will launch the School of Environment, Society, and Sustainability, which will provide new opportunities for research collaboration.
Basic Qualifications
- A PhD in data science, computer science, demography, geography, GIS, sociology, or other closely-related field with experience related to machine/deep learning algorithms, by the anticipated start date.
- Enthusiasm about applying AI methods to social-environmental
- Extensive experience with data science methods and approaches, including the use of scientific computer programming in languages such as R and Python.
- Familiarity working with large, complex
- Excellent written and oral presentation
- Strong analytical and critical thinking
- Ability to work independently, lead project deliverables and meet
- Due to data access restrictions in Federal Statistical Data Centers, candidates should be either a
U.S. resident or a foreign national who has been in the U.S. 3 of the last 5 years. Some data access requires U.S. citizenship.
Additional/Preferred Qualifications
- Experience and interest in critical AI perspectives and ethical considerations in the application of AI to human-data research
- Prior practical, coursework, and/or research experience with the proliferation of bias and stereotypes, societal implications of data-driven technologies and/or the role of predictive practices in politics, society, and economics
Salary
The salary for this position is expected to be $70,000 per year if position qualifications are met, plus benefits, with a full-time, 12-month per year appointment.
Application Instructions
Apply for the position at https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/158876. Applicants should submit their CV and contact information for three professional references. Applicants from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Questions can be directed to Dr. Simon Brewer simon.brewer@geog.utah.edu or Lori Kowaleski-Jones lori.kowaleski-jones@fcs.utah.edu.