Innovation Fellowship: Artificial Intelligence and Governance

Innovation Fellowship: Artificial Intelligence and Governance   

Center for Science and Democracy 

Union of Concerned Scientists  

Remote position  

The Center for Science and Democracy in the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) seeks outstanding candidates for an Innovation Fellowship to create and lead a body of work to refine our understanding of the risks and benefits of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) on democratic governance, particularly disinformation, and elections. This two-year fellowship is open to candidates who will have completed their Ph.D. or other advanced degree in a relevant field before September 2024, or those with equivalent experience.  

At the Union of Concerned Scientists, we advance equitable science-based solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems, conduct rigorous technical analyses, and mobilize our supporters to build powerful coalitions, educate decision-makers, and advocate for change. The Center for Science and Democracy (CSD) will host this Innovation Fellow. CSD works to ensure equity and meaningful public participation remain at the core of our efforts. Vital local voices and ecological knowledge shape our research and advocacy because experience shows that the resulting solutions are fairer, more effective, and more enduring.  Our ultimate aim is that the systems, structures, institutions, and practices that govern the American people, places, and environments are evidence-based and serve the broadest public good.   

Responsibilities  

The Innovation Fellow will work with UCS staff to develop and undertake a two-year project to create and lead a body of work to refine our understanding of the risks and benefits of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) on democratic governance and decision-making. The fellow will design an original project proposal with CSD leadership to drive this new sphere of work. Democracy will take front and center in this work as this project tackles the use of AI to promulgate disinformation, including on elections, which can result in voices being lost. Justice & equity will be core to this work with a focus on ensuring that communities that are most impacted or at risk of the dangers of AI are at the governance and decision-making table. The fellow will conduct qualitative and quantitative research focused on understanding AI-generated disinformation in Elections, such as: How might these technologies affect US elections systems and processes? What regulations are needed to protect our democracy from AI-generated mis- and misinformation? What is the role of the federal and state governments to protect our democracy from the risks of AI? The fellow’s work will advance the equity & justice dimensions of AI, by focusing on issues such as: Who is most at risk of being impacted by generative AI tools and technologies? Are those most at risk being invited to participate in democratic systems and processes regarding AI?  

• The Innovation Fellow will also coordinate with staff in other programs to create a collaborative cross-programmatic exchange on artificial intelligence at UCS. 

Possible areas of work could include identifying priority, policy-relevant research questions on the risks and benefits of Generative Artificial Intelligence on democratic governance and decision-making; identifying threats of AI regarding disinformation, particularly related to elections; conducting robust quantitative or qualitative analyses of existing or new data; literature reviews and other exploration of existing scientific work in the space; identify and facilitate partnerships with external organizations in the field; building relationships with other researchers, partners, and coalition in the field; developing educational materials/ programs for UCS constituents; supporting advocates in implementing scientific knowledge in their advocacy; organizing or participating in events and briefings on the project topics; working with advocates to develop policy and research recommendations, and carrying out new research and/or pilot projects related to these topics. 

An important aspect of this role will be identifying ways to ensure the work is sustainable and able to be continued at the Center for Science and Democracy after the end of your Fellowship, such as identifying unique niches based on the CSD mission, priority issues areas, and key spaces for partnerships and collaborations that create real-world impact.   

Requirements

The ideal candidate would have a Ph.D. in the social sciences (public policy, psychology, political science, etc.) and expertise in artificial intelligence and governance, technology and democracy, or a similar field(s). Experience with disinformation, threats to election systems, and public policy is highly desirable. Candidates should have strong research skills, be able to identify key policy-relevant questions, and write and speak clearly for technical, policy, and non-technical audiences. Experience with rapid response communications, messaging, and/or community organizing is strongly preferred. An advanced degree or Ph.D. (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field must be completed before September 1, 2024. An understanding of the inequities inherent in the scientific and policy fields is needed for this work. All candidates should have a demonstrated interest in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, especially as it relates to the fields of science and advocacy.  

An understanding of the inequities inherent in the scientific and policy fields is needed for this work. All candidates should have a demonstrated interest in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, especially in science and advocacy. 

You may spend extended periods at a computer. Depending on COVID-19 circumstances, occasional travel may be required. Your safety and the safety of others is our first priority.   

UCS is an equal-opportunity employer continually seeking to diversify its staff. In particular, we’re dedicated to broadening opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy. We’re also committed to building an inclusive workplace culture where talented people of widely diverse backgrounds can thrive. We've adopted this commitment because we believe the inclusion of culturally diverse perspectives will improve our work and produce better societal and environmental outcomes for all, including historically disenfranchised communities. We are actively seeking people who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives to join us in this work. ​  

Benefits

About the UCS Science Fellows Program   

The UCS Science Fellows Program was established originally to honor Nobel Prize-winning physicist Henry Kendall who was with UCS from our beginnings and was the long-time chair of our board. Kendall was known for his unique ability to shake up the status quo and catalyze new thinking. Priority is given to innovative and forward-looking proposals that are primarily scientific, technical, or analytic in nature but also show interest in the application of science to policy. Fellows will benefit from the opportunity to learn from the UCS approach to science and policy, and UCS will benefit from the new approaches and expertise of the Science Fellows. 

More about the team:  

Our team is made up of a dedicated group of researchers, scientists, communicators, campaigners, and advocates from wide-ranging backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and a collaborative and supportive work environment where all staff can thrive. We continually strive to create an environment that is a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, parents, empty-nesters, and people with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds.  

Benefits  

A note on the pandemic: For in-office roles, UCS employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Employees are considered fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC. All new hires who will be reporting to an office location must provide notice of their vaccination status and vaccination documentation, on or before their first day of work. For all others, UCS strongly encourages full vaccinations among its employees, up to and including booster shots, even if working remotely. All new employees must comply with the mandatory vaccination requirements outlined in UCS policies as soon as practicable. Union of Concerned Scientists will notify candidates for employment of the requirements of this policy before the start of employment.  

 Compensation, Hours, and Location: This is a full-time, two-year position, with an expected start date in September 2024. Innovation Fellowship salaries follow a special structure and are between $80,530 to $101,930, dependent on experience POST PhD. UCS offers excellent benefits and a rewarding work environment. Information about UCS is available at www.ucsusa.org  

To Apply: We know some great candidates won’t check all of these boxes, and we also know you might bring important skills that we haven’t considered. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. Comparable training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate.  

To apply, please upload a cover letter and resume. Upload materials in Word or PDF format only. No phone calls, please. In the cover letter, please confirm that the listed salary meets your expectations.  

Following an initial screening, the candidate will develop a more specific fellowship proposal in cooperation with UCS staff and impacted community groups for submission to the Science Fellows Program Advisory Committee by April 15, 2024. The candidate and this proposal must be approved by the committee before the candidate can be officially hired and begin this position.    

Deadline to Apply: Until filled