The Inaugural Postdoctoral Scholar in “Artificial Intelligence and Media”

Artificial Intelligence and Media (AIM) Lab (AIM-LAB) at Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) is seeking outstanding candidates for one Postdoctoral Scholar position focused on research and development (R&D) on the intersection of artificial intelligence and media.

NU-Q is a globally embedded institution; it is one of three campuses of Northwestern University (Chicago, Doha, and Evanston) and one of several institutions in the Qatar Foundation’s Education City in Doha, Qatar. NU-Q harnesses traditions from the liberal arts, media, communication, and journalism to forge multi-disciplinary and multi-modal approaches to knowledge that are locally relevant and globally resonant. Our mission is to mentor and educate students to become creative, ethical, and impactful communicators across cultural and national boundaries. We are committed to academic excellence, to a vibrant student life, and to high-level undergraduate student research and media making, particularly on the Global South. Located at the confluence of continents, NU-Q is a diverse global community with approximately 500 students from 60 countries 

Founded in 2023 by NU-Q Dean and CEO Marwan M. Kraidy and directed by Associate Dean for Education S. Venus Jin, the AIM-LAB at NU-Q produces and promotes data-based storytelling focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence and media. Our core commitments are to amplify NU-Q faculty and student research on AI-based media, to boost undergraduate research on AI-empowered communication and journalism, to mentor students who plan to pursue advanced AI-related graduate degrees, and to forge pathways to the professoriate and media professionals locally and globally. The AIM-LAB synthesizes deep expertise, interdisciplinary inquiry, and collaborative research and development (R&D) to stimulate vibrant conversations about transformative AI and to address emerging challenges that confront the AI revolution.

To these ends, the inaugural AIM-LAB Postdoctoral Scholar will work on individual or collaborative projects, mentor undergraduate students on AI-related projects, actively contributes to research and development (R&D) projects conducted by the AIM-LAB faculty members, contribute to AI and Media Minor course offerings, and organize AIM-LAB lectures, workshops, and AI-related community events.

The Inaugural Postdoc Scholar at the AIM-LAB

The Inaugural AIM-LAB Postdoctoral Scholar will contribute to interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary scholarship focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence and media. We recommend that applicants familiarize themselves with the AIM-LAB’s vision, mission, and R&D areas.

The Inaugural AIM-LAB Postdoctoral Scholar will work on one’s own research, collaborate with members of the NU-Q community, contribute to curriculum development, organize AIM-LAB events, and will be assigned to teach one undergraduate course per semester (e.g., “Fundamentals of Computer Programming”, “Introduction to Data Science”, “Statistics for Media Research”, “Introduction to Computational Social Science”, etc. as an elective course for AI and Media Minor).

NU-Q Postdoctoral Scholars are provided a competitive stipend, housing, health insurance, a workspace, a computer, and library access. In addition, NU-Q will subsidize relocation expenses. The Inaugural AIM- LAB Postdoctoral Scholar will work in our state-of-the-art NU-Q campus in Education City, Doha. Opportunities for local collaboration abound with the proximity of many universities, libraries, museums, and media.

The Inaugural AIM-LAB Postdoctoral Scholar is a residential fellowship. The AIM-LAB strives to be an inclusive community of scholars driven by intellectual curiosity and exchange and rooted in the life of Northwestern University in Qatar, partner institutions in Education City, Doha, and Qatar. To foster mentoring and collaboration at all levels, we expect Postdoctoral Scholars to be fully engaged in the life of the AIM-LAB. Postdoctoral Scholars are therefore expected to work at our world-class facilities on the NU-Q campus in Education City at least four days a week. The initial term of this position is one year, with a possibility for renewal. AIM-LAB Postdoctoral Scholar appointments are renewable for up to three years contingent on meeting research/teaching requirements, successful yearly progress review, and availability of funding.

Eligibility and Qualifications

 We welcome applications from scholars who would have completed the Ph.D. by fall 2024.

• Ph.D. in communication, computational social science, statistics, data science, data analytics, computer science, network science, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, or related fields 
• Experience with machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, TensorFlow, Python, and any other computer programming languages
• Prior experience in programming and app/web development
• Prior experience in working with large-scale data
• Active participation in scientific communities
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative, fast-growing, and interdisciplinary environment. 

Application Packet (a single PDF document excluding confidential letters of recommendation)

A complete application consists of:

1. Cover Page (not to exceed 250 words)– Include your name and contact information, dissertation title, dissertation supervisor name and contact information, defense date (if degree not awarded), and 100-word dissertation abstract. 
2. Research and Development (R&D) Proposal (not to exceed 1,000 words) – Include research questions, topic significance, theoretical frameworks, methodological design, clear description of primary sources, AI app/web development plans, and specific R&D execution plans with projected date of project completion.
3. Statement of Institutional Fit (not to exceed 250 words) – Explain how your R&D projects align with the AIM-LAB’s vision and mission, fit with one or more of AIM-LAB’s R&D areas, and contribute to interdisciplinary knowledge. Please refer to AIM-LAB’s vision, mission, and R&D areas listed on our website.
4. CV (not to exceed two single-spaced pages, minimum font size 11) – List degrees, academic peer-reviewed publications, academic non-peer-reviewed publications, creative and public scholarship, invited talks, conference papers, patents, other relevant qualifications, specific research skills, language skills, and programming language skills.
5. GitHub Profile, Development Portfolio, and/or Published Website
6. Link to a Professional Webpage and/or Google Scholar Page 
7. Up to Two Scholarly Publications (not to exceed 50 pages in total) – Published peer-reviewed articles preferred.
8. Confidential Letters of Recommendation – Three are required, including one from the dissertation supervisor, stating unequivocally expected date of Ph.D. defense (if degree not yet awarded). 

Timeline

All materials except for confidential reference letters must be sent as a single PDF document to aimlab@qatar.northwestern.edu by 11:59pm (Qatar Time) on September 15, 2024. Because of the volume of applications, we are unable to read drafts of submissions. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Applicants should arrange for their confidential letters of recommendation to be sent to the same email address also by 11:59pm (Qatar Time) on September 15, 2024. We expect to contact finalists for Zoom interviews by September 30 and make final decisions in October. The start date of this position is January 1, 2025.

Additional Information

If you have additional questions, please email us at aimlab@qatar.northwestern.edu. Please kindly do not contact AIM-LAB members individually. 

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.