INFORMS Open Forum

Opening for a Postdoctoral Fellow at Robust Analytics Lab in Washington, D.C.

  • 1.  Opening for a Postdoctoral Fellow at Robust Analytics Lab in Washington, D.C.

    Posted 08-14-2019 12:36

    The Robust Analytics Lab (robustanalytics.org) in Kogod School of Business at the American University is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Fellow to implement and further develop the Lab's research programs related to robust data analytics, data privacy, and data ethics. The initial term of this position is one year with the possibility for renewal, and will begin no later than Jan 2020.

     

    Sponsored by multiple research grants from funding agencies such as National Science Foundation and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Robust Analytics Lab is established in Fall 2018 with expertise in computational social science methods, database, machine learning, and data privacy. The Lab contributes through original research and publications, transition-to-practice projects, as well as outreach and training events.

     

    RESPONSIBILITIES

     

    Working closely with the Lab's co-directors, the candidate will manage the Robust Analytics Lab's research and programmatic efforts in this area; this includes leading concurrent research projects and related engagements, stewarding opportunities to expand the Lab's reach and impact, and mentoring students. This fellowship position involves working on 1-2 project areas at the time. Depending on the fellow's skills and interests, the fellowship will create the research opportunity to:

    -- Apply methods from behavioral economics and data analytics to better inform consumers about their decisions on information disclosure via mobile phones.

    -- Improve the reliability and robustness of data analytics methods to address validity concerns in research using new digital trace data (https://bit.ly/2ONMVN3).

    -- Adapt machine learning and causal inference techniques to reason about potentially conflicting research claims found in social and behavioral studies.

     

    QUALIFICATIONS

     

    Desirable skills and experience include:

    -- PhD in psychology, sociology, political science, economics, statistics, business, information systems, computer science or related fields, with deep interests and expertise relevant to at least some of the problems and methods described above.

    -- Experience with social science methods such as designing, implementing and analyzing experiments or surveys

    -- Experience supervising research assistants

    -- Communication skills in terms of effectively sharing research findings with diverse audiences (via academic papers, blog posts, visualizations, speaking engagements, interviews, etc.)

     

    APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

     

    Please submit your application via https://apply.interfolio.com/66565 . Salary and benefits are competitive. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Be sure to include the following:

    -- cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position;

    -- curriculum vitae (including publications list);

    -- two published papers, or equivalent writing samples that you are most proud of and which best demonstrate your expertise and fit for the position;

    -- the names and contact information of three reference letter writers;

    -- a link to a professional webpage and Google Scholar page (if applicable).

     

    Questions should be directed to:

     

    Professor Heng Xu (email: xu@american.edu)

    Kogod School of Business

    American University

    4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC 20016-8044