About the Position
Maitreya Shah, one of BKC’s 2023-24 fellows, is seeking a Research Assistant for his project on evaluating AI fairness from a disability justice perspective. The project aims to critique dominant AI fairness approaches, analyze key trends in the responsible AI movement, gather perspectives from disability rights experts, and deliberate on making technologies more inclusive. This research would engage with the emerging discourse on governing technologies, with an overarching goal of centering perspectives from scholars with disabilities or those working in the nuanced intersection of technology and disability.
Your Work Might Involve
• Gathering research sources and materials
• Assisting in expert interviews and working with transcripts
• Working with data (qualitative and statistical)
• Sequencing, mapping, and analyzing policies and frameworks
• Contributing to a final output
You would get an opportunity to work on contemporary issues of fairness in AI and emerging technologies, learn from experts in the field, and contribute to research on inclusive AI. You would particularly find the work intriguing if you are interested in learning more about the impact of emerging technologies on people with disabilities.
About You
Candidates from a broader disciplinary spectrum, with diverse experiences and skillsets are welcomed to apply for the position. You are especially encouraged if you have a background in science, technology, and society studies, i.e. coursework, research experience, or projects. In your cover letter, please mention if you have had any experience of working with the following: algorithmic bias, AI ethics, social impact of technologies, or DEIJ in tech.
Given that the project is largely premised on assessing the effects of technology on people with disabilities, you would ideally possess some prior experience of working on disability rights, or with people with disabilities.
Eligibility
• People identifying as minorities/ belonging to marginalized groups, particularly people with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.
• This position is currently hybrid.
• To be eligible for this position, you must be a currently enrolled graduate student at Harvard University.
• The time commitment would range between 5-10 hours per week.
• The ideal start date for this position is as soon as possible.
• Unless otherwise noted, the hourly wage for the above positions is $21 per hour.
• No other benefits are provided.
• We do not have the ability to provide authorization to work in the U.S.
To Apply
Please send your current CV or resume and a cover letter summarizing your interest and experience to mshah@law.harvard.edu, with the subject line “RA, Disability and AI”. All attachments should be in either Word (.docx) or .pdf format.
About BKC
Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society is a University-wide research center and one of the largest and most influential conveners and accelerators of scholars, technologists, activists and makers working on cyberspace and related law and public policy matters in the public interest.