Deadline: Ongoing
The Digital Life Initiative (DLI) is excited to invite applications for its 2025 postdoctoral research fellowships supporting research in ethics, politics, and quality of life in digital societies, on topical issues such as privacy, bias and unfair discrimination, AI and ethics and governance. They welcome applicants from wide-ranging disciplines – computer and information sciences, law, philosophy, data science, media studies, public policy, and social sciences. For one of the positions, demonstrated interest in contextual integrity is a plus.
Fellows join a dynamic research community from the US and around the globe, and are encouraged to collaborate with DLI affiliated faculty: Helen Nissenbaum (Faculty Director), Deborah Estrin, James Grimmelmann, Karen Levy, Vitaly Shmatikov, and others, as well as other Cornell Tech faculty. Beyond Cornell Tech, New York City offers unprecedented opportunity to engage with like-minded colleagues and institutions.
Working alongside and complementing an outstanding, multidisciplinary community of DLI Postdoctoral Fellows, Doctoral Fellows, Visitors, and Faculty, new Fellows will pursue research in, and policy approaches to, a range of urgent topics including but not limited to privacy and surveillance, platform governance, transparency, content moderation, algorithmic discrimination, digital political economy, information control and freedom, fundamental rights, digital inequality, network regulation, and security.
Eligibility
- Eligible candidates will have received their PhD within the past four years. JDs, JSDs, LLMs, and MDs are also eligible. The initial appointment is for one year, renewable depending on fit and available funding.
- Fellows are expected to reside in the New York City area and participate actively in the intellectual life of Cornell Tech and the Digital Life Initiative. In addition to pursuing research, Fellows play a crucial role in enriching the DLI with workshops, conferences, and seminars; contributing to the DLI Critical Reflections publication, and presenting their work at the DLI Seminar and other public and internal forums. There may also be teaching opportunities. Particulars will be determined by mutual agreement.
Application
To apply, please submit your information via our online form, including the following materials.
- A cover letter explaining your research interests and how your work connects to the Digital Life Initiative.
- A current curriculum vitae.
- Two publications or substantial drafts of journal articles, essays, or equivalent. (Ideally, applicants will include one sole-authored, or first authored writing sample.)
- Names and contact information for three recommenders.
Applicants who have not yet received their terminal degree should request a letter from their dissertation chairs confirming that the degree will be in hand before the beginning of the Fellowship term.
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