Postdoctoral Associate

MIT • Cambridge, MA

10h

About The Position

POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE , Urban Studies and Planning , reports directly to the MIT Faculty Supervisor. This NSF-funded project focuses on empowering youth as civic innovators and building social cohesion and collective wellness in their local neighborhoods. Working at the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI), community-engaged research, social computing, and civic technologies, the research team will design, deploy, and evaluate systems that strengthen community connectivity and support youth-led civic engagement. The project brings together interdisciplinary investigators across Georgia Tech, MIT, and Northeastern University. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, Research Leadership, Project Management & Collaboration, Community Engagement, and Dissemination. Will play a central role in shaping research activities, leading fieldwork, coordinating community partners, mentoring students, and producing high-impact publications.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Human–Computer Interaction, Computer Science, Information Science, Urban Studies, Sociology, Communication, Learning Sciences, Design, or a related field, completed by start date
• Strong background in community-engaged data science and/or participatory research
• Software development skills (e.g., prototyping, coding, web or mobile development)
• Data science skills & background (e.g., data analysis, visualization, quantitative methods)
• Demonstrated experience with mixed-methods research
• Evidence of peer-reviewed publications
• Cover letter outlining research experience and fit for the project must accompany application

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with youth communities or marginalized populations
• Expertise in participatory design, data literacy, civic technology, social computing, or data feminism
• Experience in project management and supervision of junior colleagues
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for community and cross-institutional collaboration

Responsibilities

• Research Leadership
• Project Management & Collaboration
• Community Engagement
• Dissemination
• Shaping research activities
• Leading fieldwork
• Coordinating community partners
• Mentoring students
• Producing high-impact publications

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree