HAI Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford Media and Personality Lab, Professor Gabriella Harari

The Stanford Media and Personality Lab seeks a Postdoctoral Fellow:

The postdoc joining our team will focus on a project about understanding the behaviors and contexts that explain people’s well-being, and will be part of a multidisciplinary project called “ACTWELL” (Activities, Contexts, and Traits in Well-Being in Everyday Life Longitudinally; https://rb.gy/py8f6s). Our team of international and interdisciplinary scholars has collected large-scale longitudinal datasets that include multimodal data collected from different sources (e.g., self-report surveys, GPS, phone metadata). The postdoc will use computational methods to process and interpret multi-modal behavioral and contextual data collected from smartphones to understand the factors driving well-being in real-world contexts. For example, they may explore opportunities to integrate ML and generative AI-based approaches to investigate the behavioral antecedents of changes in well-being. The postdoc could also aim to develop intelligent tools that permit targeted interventions that lead to improved wellness. The precise nature of the fellow's contributions will be tailored to align with their unique research profile and interests, but the overarching goal will be to leverage mobile sensing and computational approaches to better understand how everyday human behaviors and environments impact well-being.

Mentorship

The postdoc fellow will be a member of the Stanford Media and Personality Lab in the Department of Communication. The postdoc will be directly advised by and work with Prof. Gabriella Harari, who will support the postdoc in the development of their IDP, career counseling, grant proposals, development of teaching and mentoring skills, and instruction in professional practices. The postdoc will also have the opportunity to collaborate with other faculty and graduate students who are affiliated with the project.

Stanford HAI is also committed to creating a diverse community of scholars who are engaged in contributing to the understanding and advancement of Human-Centered AI. Postdoctoral fellows will have the opportunity to engage with one another and with the broader Stanford HAI research community. They are also expected to participate in professional development, cohort-building, and other programmatic activities organized by HAI.

Qualifications

  • This is a computational social science project rooted in theories and frameworks from psychology and communication, and we welcome candidates with demonstrated multi-disciplinary interests.
  • The ideal candidate will have either a background (Ph.D.) in psychology or communication with an interest or expertise in mobile sensing and/or computational social science; or a background in computer science or data science with demonstrated interest or expertise in behavior, personality, and/or well-being.
  • Demonstrated skills in using intensive longitudinal modeling/data scientific/machine learning techniques to approach research questions in the social sciences.
  • Computational skills (and/or willingness to learn) related to mobile sensing, machine learning, and/or geospatial analysis.
  • Demonstrated programming skills in R and/or Python are essential.
  • Strong communication skills (presentation and writing) are essential.
  • Completion of all doctoral requirements within the last three years and no later than September 1, 2024.

Evaluation Criteria

  • Expertise or background in psychology, communication, mobile sensing, or other areas related to the project, as evidenced by degree, publications, research statement, or recommendation letters.
  • Candidates will be evaluated based on their fit to the position, enthusiasm for the research questions, and past research accomplishments (including publications and presentations), as well as evidence of their contributions to their current research communities.

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: March 20, 2024 (Applicants advancing in the review process may be asked to submit additional materials, including letters of recommendation, and may be invited to interview.)
  • Selections to be made by mid-April, 2024
  • This is a 1-year appointment starting Fall 2024

Apply

For full consideration, send a complete application in a single PDF to HAI-Fellowships@stanford.edu with the subject line: “HAI Postdoc Fellowship - Harari”

Complete applications will include:

  • Cover letter explaining your interest in becoming a postdoc with the respective research lab/center/faculty through the HAI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (500 words max).
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Short answer responses (300 max each):
    • Description of your dissertation research and broader research agenda
    • How do you see your research training and expertise contributing toward the understanding and advancement of Human-Centered AI? HAI thinks about "Human-Centered AI" through three focus areas.
  • One representative writing sample (published or unpublished)

The expected base pay for this position is $83,600/yr. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the qualifications of the selected candidate, budget availability, and internal equity.

Stanford is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.