Lab Assistant Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Current enrollment at The New School in good academic standing; graduate students in the social sciences, public policy, international affairs, human rights, data science, or a related field are strongly encouraged to apply
• Demonstrated interest in the social, ethical, human rights, or policy dimensions of AI and data
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to track many details and manage multiple deadlines at once
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including professional correspondence with faculty, external experts, and public-sector partners
• Ability to locate, synthesize, and clearly summarize academic and policy
• Proficiency with standard productivity and collaboration tools, such as word processing, spreadsheets, shared drives, video conferencing, and online registration or survey platforms
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, exercise sound judgment, and handle participant information with discretion
• Availability to work in person for the full duration of scheduled workshops, including the two-day Human Rights-Based Approach to AI workshop and the one-day AI in the Public Sector workshop, with occasional early morning or evening hours around events.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience with event planning, conference coordination, or program administration
• Familiarity with international human rights frameworks and/or AI governance and public-sector technology debates
• Experience working in international, multilingual, or cross-cultural settings

Responsibilities

• Coordinate logistics and planning for Lab workshops and convenings
• Develop and maintain planning timelines, task trackers, and run-of-show documents for the two-day Human Rights-Based Approach to AI workshop, the one-day AI in the Public Sector workshop, and other Lab events
• Reserve rooms and coordinate catering, audiovisual equipment, and in-person, hybrid, or virtual participation setup in collaboration with the appropriate university offices
• Arrange travel and accommodation for invited speakers and participants, and prepare related vendor, honoraria, and reimbursement paperwork in accordance with university procedures
• Manage communications with speakers, participants, and partners
• Draft and send invitations, confirmations, reminders, and pre-workshop information packets in a timely and professional manner
• Build and maintain accurate contact lists, registration records, and RSVP tracking for each convening
• Respond promptly to participant and speaker inquiries before, during, and after events
• Provide on-site support during workshops and convenings
• Set up and break down event spaces and staff registration and check-in in a welcoming and professional manner
• Monitor the agenda in real time to keep sessions on schedule, and troubleshoot logistical or technical issues as they arise
• Take detailed notes during sessions, capturing key discussion points, questions, and recommendations
• Conduct research to support workshop content
• Identify, compile, and summarize academic literature, policy documents, and resources on human rights-based approaches to AI, AI governance, and the
• Prepare briefing materials, speaker biographies, reading lists, and participant resource packets ahead of each convening
• Research and recommend relevant scholars, practitioners, and organizations as potential speakers or participants
• Document and synthesize convening outcomes
• Draft workshop summaries, key takeaways, and reports for internal use and for sharing with participants and the public
• Design and distribute post-event feedback surveys, and summarize results to inform future convenings
• Organize and archive event materials, presentations, recordings, and notes in the Lab’s shared drive
• Support Lab outreach and general operations
• Draft event announcements and content for the Lab’s website, newsletters, and social media channels
• Coordinate event listings and promotion with university communications staff
• Maintain shared calendars and project documentation, and assist with additional Lab research projects as assigned

Benefits

• This is an extraordinary opportunity to work closely with a visionary leader and contribute meaningfully to a forward-thinking institution that’s reshaping the future of higher education. You’ll be at the nexus of strategy, operations, and innovation in a role that grows with your impact.