"Postdoctoral Associate"

Posting Description

POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE, Urban Studies and Planning, reports directly to the MIT Faculty Supervisor. This NSF-funded project focuses on empowering youth as civic innovators and building social cohesion and collective wellness in their local neighborhoods. Working at the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI), community-engaged research, social computing, and civic technologies, the research team will design, deploy, and evaluate systems that strengthen community connectivity and support youth-led civic engagement. The project brings together interdisciplinary investigators across Georgia Tech, MIT, and Northeastern University. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, Research Leadership, Project Management & Collaboration, Community Engagement, and Dissemination. Will play a central role in shaping research activities, leading fieldwork, coordinating community partners, mentoring students, and producing high-impact publications.

Job Requirements

REQUIRED: Ph.D. in Human–Computer Interaction, Computer Science, Information Science, Urban Studies, Sociology, Communication, Learning Sciences, Design, or a related field, completed by start date; strong background in community-engaged data science and/or participatory research; software development skills (e.g., prototyping, coding, web or mobile development); data science skills & background (e.g., data analysis, visualization, quantitative methods); demonstrated experience with mixed-methods research; and evidence of peer-reviewed publications. PREFERRED: Experience working with youth communities or marginalized populations; expertise in participatory design, data literacy, civic technology, social computing, or data feminism; experience in project management and supervision of junior colleagues; and strong interpersonal and communication skills for community and cross-institutional collaboration.

Cover letter outlining research experience and fit for the project must accompany application.

This is a one-year appointment, to begin September 2026.