HAI Postdoctoral Fellowship with Professor Shane Denson, Department of Art & Art History

We invite applications for a postdoctoral fellow working on artificial intelligence and its significance for the fields of art, art history, visual culture, media theory, and philosophical aesthetics. We seek a scholar engaged in innovative research and teaching, including practice-based research, critical making, or digital humanities (DH) methodologies. The ideal candidate will focus critical attention on both ethical/political and aesthetic ramifications of AI. 

The postdoctoral fellow will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of scholars and artists, led by Prof. Shane Denson (PI), in the Department of Art & Art History to develop curriculum, events, and research publications, and they will participate in the organization and teaching of a team-taught theory/practice course on “AI Art & Aesthetics.” In addition, the fellow will be integrated into the research community at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) and will enjoy research support for their own scholarship. 

The Department of Art & Art History combines undergraduate and graduate programs in art history, art practice, film and media studies, and documentary filmmaking. Further interdisciplinary exchanges are facilitated by the Digital Aesthetics Workshop at the Stanford Humanities Center, the Critical Making Collaborative at Stanford, and the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI).

Stanford HAI is 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

  • Ph.D. in a relevant discipline (e.g. Art History, Film & Media Studies, Communication, Philosophy) by time of appointment (September 2024)

Evaluation Criteria

  • Quality of research, as evidenced in sample paper of max. 25 pages
  • Creative teaching methodology and commitment to pedagogical excellence, as evidenced by a 1-2 page teaching statement
  • Prior experience working with AI and other relevant technologies 

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 - Denson”

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 sample paper to evaluate quality of research (published or unpublished, max. 25 pages)
  • 1-2 page teaching statement showcasing creative teaching methodology and commitment to pedagogical excellence

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.