Data & Society Research Institute is seeking an engaging and collaborative Researcher, to lead a project on Labor, Race, and Technology as a member of the Labor Futures Initiative.
Organizational Summary:
Data & Society is an independent nonprofit research organization, studying the social implications of data-centric technologies, automation, and AI. We recognize that the same innovative technologies that may benefit society can also be abused to invade privacy, provide new tools of discrimination, foreclose opportunity, and harm individuals and communities. Through original research and inclusive engagement, we work to ensure that empirical evidence and respect for human dignity guide how technology is developed and governed.
About the Labor Futures Initiative
The Labor Futures Initiative researches emergent disruptions in the labor force as a result of data-centric technological development, with a special focus on structural inequalities. One area of research that the Labor Futures Initiative is dedicated to investing time, resources, and attention to is race, technology, and the future of work.
Over the past year, the initiative has convened regular discussions with scholars and labor advocates through a working group to dive deeper into these issues. Some past topics include investigating algorithmically-driven discrimination in workplace technologies; overlaps between digital surveillance of labor and racial justice organizing; examination of the racist underpinnings of American labor law; and critiques and limitations of current policy efforts' engagement with racial justice issues. These ongoing conversations have helped shape several publications, including a reading list co-authored with our network, a report examining intersections of worker and police surveillance in delivery work, and a forthcoming anthology exploring how race, gender, and caste hierarchies in the Global Majority shape gig platform work.
Our goal is to contribute meaningful literature that helps to align scholars and advocates in race and labor spaces to critique technology's impact from a common point of view. In the coming years, the Labor Futures Initiative aims to expand and build on this work with four outcomes in mind: (1) conducting new research, (2) building an interdisciplinary network, (3) hosting a convening to share and promote understandings of this intersection, and (4) informing policy and action that hold technology makers accountable to the impact on the most marginalized workers beyond bias.
About the position:
We are seeking a Researcher with strong area expertise to lead this research into the racial dimensions of the future of work. The Researcher will be primarily responsible for carrying out original research to advance knowledge relevant to the Initiative's goals. The Researcher will have discretion to shape and build their own research agenda, including devising a research plan to get at the open research questions.
The scope of this position is motivated by our understanding of critical gaps in research, policy, and public discourse, in particular efforts to build bridges between worker justice and racial justice movements when it comes to technological transformations in the future of work. This research project will build upon the program's past years work. Some research questions might include: How does this concept of formalization of social precarity play out in the American context? How do structures of work built on a legacy of slavery continue to inform the economic outcomes of workers? How does race inform workplace organizing, policy, and research? In what ways do technologies of work perpetuate racist ideologies? Do labor platforms also manufacture forms of predatory inclusion? What common issues, and efforts to examine labor and technology do or do not center race?
Our aim is for this project to have a participatory and practical aspect. To that end, the researcher will collaborate with the Engagement team, the working group, and other researchers to expand the interdisciplinary network and plan and host an interdisciplinary convening.
The researcher will be required to produce a final report, translational pieces for different audiences including policymakers, and possibly a shorter blog-length piece in addition to supporting the convening of a workshop to present research findings. The researcher may also be asked to engage with the media around the launch of the report.
This position reports to the Labor Futures Initiative's Program Director. This is an 18-24 month long position with the possibility of extension.
The Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate holds a Ph.D. or has equivalent work experience or is a researcher or postdoctoral scholar who intends to enter academia. The candidate may be trained in any number of disciplines but should have a strong empirical foundation. Candidates should have a well-established research track record as demonstrated by research publications (academic, industrial, government, think tank, or equivalent research-centric setting) and public writing and speaking experience. Experience writing for a more public and non-academic audience and translating research findings for journalists and policymakers is critical.
Researchers who have a record of successful work with a racial justice and equity focus and are interested in questions related to labor and racial equity are preferred. Familiarity with STS, organizational sociology, and labor studies is also desirable.
Ideal candidates are committed to social change and oriented to practical applications of research and its implications for practice, design, and governance of new technologies, and a strong desire to understand how technology and power shape our socio-technical society.
We are seeking candidates who are passionate about building connections between advocacy and research while working in a highly interdisciplinary environment that includes social scientists, lawyers, computer scientists, artists, and practitioners. Moreover, experience working with multi-stakeholder groups, interacting with decision makers, or otherwise translating research for practitioners is highly desirable.
Candidates should enjoy working collaboratively, contributing to peer intellectual production, and engaging broad public audiences with research. Ability to coordinate with other team members and the D&S community is important, including assisting with project-related events.
While Data & Society is a highly collaborative environment, the researcher must be able to work independently with minimal oversight to accomplish the research objectives.
We see this position offering candidates an opportunity to advance their career through an environment that encourages intellectual rigor, interdisciplinary conversations, writing and research collaborations, networking and engagement, media exposure, and peer support. We encourage applicants who have lots of research ideas and are excited to grow and develop this area of inquiry at Data & Society.
Job Description
Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptualizing, development, and conduct a research project;
• Publish a full-length comprehensive report at the end of the project period;
• Publish op-eds, blog posts, and explainer length works related to ongoing research for academic and non-academic audiences;
• Proactively participate in outreach and collaboration activities including meetings, presentations, webinars, hearings, and conferences;
• Actively collaborate with the Engagement team, and host a workshop in winter 2024/2025;
• Participate and engage in conferences and workshops in your field;
• Actively collaborate with other researchers internally and externally;
• Engage and collaborate with colleagues to develop and execute new research projects;
• Coordinate and attend regular team meetings and research meetings as well as collaborate with the broader Data & Society community;
• Contribute to the life of Data & Society through active engagement in and hosting of events, seminars, reading groups, and other cross-topical activities.

Skills and Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent work experience, or a researcher or a postdoctoral scholar who intends to enter academia;
• Training in any number of disciplines but should have a strong empirical foundation;
• A well-established research track record as demonstrated by research publications (academic, industrial, government, think tank, or equivalent research-centric setting) and public writing and speaking experience;
• Track record of successful work with a racial justice and equity focus and are interested in questions related to labor and racial equity are preferred;
• Familiarity with STS, organizational sociology, and labor studies is also desirable;
• Experience writing for a more public and non-academic audience and translating research findings for journals and policymakers;
• Experience working with multi-stakeholder groups, interacting with decision makers, and translating research for practitioners;
• Commitment to social change and oriented to practical applications of research and its implications for practice, design, and governance of new technologies, and a strong desire to understand how technology and power shape our socio-technical society;
• Passionate about building connections between advocacy and research while working in a highly interdisciplinary environment that includes social scientists, lawyers, computer scientists, artists, and practitioners.

Core Competencies

• Collaborative - ability to work closely and positively with the Engagement team, working group, and other researchers;
• Connecting - passionate about building connections between advocacy and research while working in a high interdisciplinary environment;
• Coordination - ability to coordinate with other team members and the D&S community;
• Follow Through -ability to produce a final report, and translational pieces for different audiences including policymakers;
• Initiative - ability to work independently with minimal oversight to accomplish research objectives;
• Research - have a well established research track record as demonstrated by research publication and public writing and speaking experience.

Practical Considerations

• Data & Society has committed to safety requirements to protect our staff from the COVID-19 pandemic. We require that prospective employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before joining our organization. Please note that any reasonable accommodation request is not guaranteed to be approved, and we will comply with ADA-related requirements to evaluate the accommodation against business needs.
• This is currently a full-time, remote position in the Labor Futures Initiative. This role is initially for a 18-24 month appointment, with a longer timeline depending on funding. Data & Society is based in New York City, and will for the foreseeable future operate as a Remote-First organization. While this role will start as completely virtual, it will likely involve onsite components in the future.
• You must be living and authorized to work in the United States ; we are unable to sponsor visas.

The salary range for this role is $74,000 to $84,000 annually, commensurate with experience. This salary offer will include a generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance and access to a range of opt-in products and services including additional insurance and 401k management as well as paid time off, and paid federal holidays.
The salary range for this position is noted within this job posting. Where a prospective employee or employee is compensated within this salary range is dependent upon, among other factors, actual compensation for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure, and standing with the organization (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee's/applicant's overall qualifications: knowledge, skills, pertinent experience, and abilities.
To apply, please submit the following by April 30, 2024
(applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis):

• Resume or CV.
• Cover letter describing your current research projects or work, as well as your ideal research and professional trajectory. Please also indicate your desired start date and highlight any experiences that may contribute to your success in this position.
• Two writing samples that illustrate your ability to communicate complex research findings to a broad audience. This should include at least one publication where you are either a lead or contributing author writing about original empirical research.

Please feel free to contact us at jobs@datasociety.net should you have any questions about the role. Questions about the opportunity or process will not reflect negatively on your application.