Researcher

About the Role

MIT FutureTech is hiring a Technical Associate to support the MIT AI Risk Initiative's applied research, data analysis, and project delivery. This is an early-career research staff role focused on contributing to research projects that help decision-makers understand AI risks, mitigations, organizational responses, and gaps in practice. The role involves reviewing and synthesizing evidence, collecting and analyzing data, producing research outputs, and supporting engagement with external collaborators.

Key Responsibilities

• Evidence Synthesis and Measurement
• Conduct literature searches, evidence reviews, and structured assessments of AI risks, mitigations, and organizational responses.
• Support systematic reviews through searching, screening, data extraction, coding, and quality assurance.
• Collect, clean, classify, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data.
• Help develop and maintain research protocols, codebooks, datasets, and documentation to ensure results are reproducible and updateable over time.
• Identify patterns, gaps, and emerging findings in research evidence.
• Surveys and Expert Input
• Support the design, administration, and analysis of surveys involving experts, practitioners, and organizations.
• Assist with identifying and recruiting participants, managing survey data, and conducting follow-ups.
• Summarize and analyze survey results, interviews, and other forms of expert input.
• Research Outputs and Decision Support
• Contribute to research papers, reports, briefs, presentations, and other publications.
• Prepare clear summaries of research findings for academic, policy, and practitioner audiences.
• Help maintain and improve structured datasets, taxonomies, and decision-support tools.
• Support the preparation of tables, figures, visualizations, and other materials that communicate research findings.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Support engagement with researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, and other stakeholders.
• Help prepare materials for external meetings, briefings, workshops, and presentations.
• Assist with gathering and synthesizing stakeholder feedback to improve the relevance and usability of research outputs.
• Communicate research findings to collaborators and external audiences where appropriate.
• Project Delivery and Operations
• Manage assigned research tasks and contribute to project milestones and deliverables.
• Maintain accurate records, organize research materials, and document methods and decisions.
• Support project coordination, including tracking progress, preparing updates, and coordinating inputs from contributors.
• Identify and communicate research challenges, uncertainties, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lab Participation
• Participate actively in the MIT FutureTech research community by attending lab meetings, sharing updates, and contributing feedback on related projects.
• Collaborate with other researchers across the lab to improve research quality and develop new ideas.
• Develop research skills through mentorship, feedback, and participation in collaborative projects.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Education: Bachelor's degree in an applied social science (e.g., economics, psychology, behavioral science), public policy, computer science, or another relevant field, or equivalent research experience.
• Experience:
• Some experience conducting research, which may include university coursework, a thesis, research assistantships, internships, or professional projects.
• Familiarity with research methods, including literature reviews, data collection, and qualitative or quantitative analysis.
• Experience working with structured data using tools such as Excel, Google Sheets, or statistical software.
• Skills:
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to assess evidence, identify patterns, and draw well-supported conclusions.
• Clear written communication skills and the ability to summarize complex information accurately and concisely.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and a commitment to research quality.
• Ability to manage assigned tasks, meet deadlines, and work effectively in a collaborative research environment.
• Willingness to learn new methods, tools, and subject matter.
• Preferred Experience:
• Experience conducting systematic or structured literature reviews, including screening, extraction, or coding.
• Experience designing, administering, or analyzing surveys or interviews.
• Experience working with qualitative or quantitative datasets, including data cleaning, classification, analysis, or visualization.
• Familiarity with research software and programming tools such as R, Python, or statistical analysis packages.
• Experience contributing to academic publications, research reports, policy briefs, or other research outputs.
• Interest in or knowledge of AI risks, AI governance, AI safety, or the social and economic impacts of AI.
• Experience working in a research, academic, consulting, policy, or technology-oriented environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an applied social science, public policy, computer science, or another relevant field, or equivalent research experience.
• Some experience conducting research.
• Familiarity with research methods.
• Ability to work with structured data using tools such as Excel, Google Sheets, or statistical software.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Clear written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage assigned tasks and work in a collaborative environment.
• Willingness to learn new methods, tools, and subject matter.

About MIT FutureTech

MIT FutureTech is an interdisciplinary group of economists, computer scientists, and engineers who study the foundations and economic implications of progress in computing and Artificial Intelligence. We aim to identify and understand the trends in computing that create opportunities or risks and help leaders in computing, scientific funding bodies, and government to respond appropriately.

Other Information

• Role Type: Early-career research staff role.
• Supervision: Reports to Neil Thompson, with day-to-day supervision and project guidance from Peter Slattery and other members of the team. Works under regular guidance, with increasing independence as experience develops. No formal supervisory responsibilities are expected.
• Term: One-year term based on research grant funding, with the possibility of renewal.
• Location: On-site role based at MIT in Cambridge, MA.
• Work Hours: Slight preference for candidates who can work hours that overlap with Australia (later afternoon and evening).
• Employment Type: Full-time is preferred, but part-time commitments will also be considered.
• Selection Process: Short test task, interviews, potential paid work trial.