Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society

Fellowship ID:MIT-IDSS-PDF [#18157]
Fellowship Title: Michael Hammer Postdoctoral Fellowship
Fellowship Type:Postdoctoral
Location:Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States [map] sort by distance
Subject Areas: Statistics / Social Science
Computer Science / All areas
Electrical Engineering
Appl Deadline:2021/04/16 11:59PMhelp popup finished (2021/02/18, finished 2021/05/03, listed until 2021/04/16)
Description:   URMs  

*** this fellowship has been closed and new applications are no longer accepted. ***

MIT’s Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS) seeks candidates for the Michael Hammer Postdoctoral Fellowship starting in fall 2021. Applications will be accepted through April 1, 2021.

Founded in 2017, this fellowship is named in memory of Michael Hammer (’68, SM ’70, PhD ’73). Dr. Hammer was a visionary engineer, business leader, author, and MIT professor who made a remarkable impact on both MIT and the nation’s engineering and business landscape. He recognized that solving major societal challenges begins with an understanding of how complex systems function and interact, requiring a careful analysis of inherently different kinds of systems: physical and engineered, economic and social behavioral, and institutional.

The ideal candidate will have a strongly interdisciplinary research agenda with a demonstrated track record of interest in complex social problems as well as willingness to engage with the Michael Hammer Society of postdoctoral and student fellows. We actively seek and welcome people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities. We are particularly interested in candidates whose research involves considerations of race and/or equity from a computational perspective and examines how AI and machine learning can help fix underlying biases and inequities, be it in healthcare, policing, housing, education, or social media.

Financial support will be provided by IDSS for the selected candidate, with appointments to start on September 1, 2021 or a later mutually agreed upon date, for one year, renewable for a second year based upon satisfactory performance.

Michael Hammer Postdoctoral Fellows are conferred the permanent title of “MIT IDSS Michael Hammer Postdoctoral Fellow.” Hammer Fellows join a growing society of other Hammer postdoctoral researchers and student fellows — an endowed program of community-building and intellectual enrichment activities. For more information on Michael Hammer and program please visit: https://idss.mit.edu/academics/ses_doc/hammer-fellows.

Candidates can find the application process at the MIT jobs site (http://careers.mit.edu), req #19318, and it is also appended below. A committee consisting of IDSS leadership and selected core faculty will review and select applications. Selections will be made by Monday, April 19, 2021.

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MICHAEL HAMMER POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP, the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS), to perform independent research in areas combining social science knowledge with technical analyses of complex social and technological systems. Areas of interest may include work on causal inference, machine learning and algorithmic bias, with a focus on equity and/or race.

Specific duties will include engaging with institute-level research and activities on equity and systemic racism and the role of big data and machine learning in enabling deep structural changes. This is an initiative led by IDSS which involves MIT social scientists, systems engineers, data scientists and statisticians, as well as computer scientists along with several graduate students and already has research under way in healthcare equity and in policing.

The postdoc is expected to perform independent research in areas combining social science knowledge with technical analyses of complex social and technological systems; organize and direct IDSS SES Ph.D. student poster sessions as needed; assist IDSS core and affiliate faculty with research proposal writing; and publish own work in recognized journals.

This will be a one-year appointment beginning on September 1, 2021 or a later mutually agreed upon date, with the possibility of renewal for a second year based upon satisfactory performance.

Job Requirements:  Ph.D. (expected or obtained) in statistics, engineering, computer science, operations research, economics, mathematics or a related field; strong analytical and written communication skills, ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment and commitment to participating in IDSS activities.

Candidates must apply for Job Number #19318 online at the MIT jobs site (http://careers.mit.edu), with a cover letter and CV. In addition to applying online via the MIT HR website with a cover letter and CV. Candidates must also submit the following documents in PDF format to AcademicJobsOnline (https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/fellowship/18157).

• Research statement of up to three pages, with references (may include potential avenues of collaboration with IDSS faculty); and the names and addresses of three or more individuals who will provide letters of recommendation. At least one letter-writer should be external to MIT.

• Letters must also be submitted directly by letter writers to AcademicJobsOnline.

Questions: please contact idss-postdoc-search@mit.edu.


MIT is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer

Application Materials Required:
Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:
And anything else requested in the description.

Further Info:
https://idss.mit.edu/academics/ses_doc/hammer-fellows.
email address
 
77 Massachusetts Ave,
Cambridge, MA 02139