Public Policy Research Associate, Data and Democracy Lab - Cornell University : Job Details

The Data and Democracy Lab in the Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University is seeking to welcome one or more Research Associates to work on projects in the modeling of representative democracy.

The primary role of these Research Associates will be to anchor multiple research projects in electoral systems (such as ranked choice voting) and sampling problems (such as graph partitions for redistricting) and to launch new research in areas connected to the work of the lab. Members of the lab publish in peer-reviewed journals in several disciplines. Other important roles may include:

• Mentorship of graduate students and undergraduate members of the lab.
• Software development.
• Interaction and collaboration with civil rights stakeholders.
• Collaboration with legal scholars and litigators.

The Data and Democracy Lab is a research group led by PI Moon Duchin in the Brooks School of Public Policy and the Department of Mathematics at Cornell. Members of the lab engage in interdisciplinary research, drawing on approaches from geometry, topology, graphs and networks, probability/statistics, and algorithm design, in conversation with geography, political science, policy, and law. The lab is deeply engaged with civil rights and good-government work in representative democracy.

The successful candidate will have access to a rich interdisciplinary scientific community that spans multiple departments and colleges. The Brooks School, and Cornell more generally, have strong community norms of inclusivity and well-being.

Title Overview: Research Associates contribute, in collaboration with a principal investigator or faculty sponsor, to the design and implementation of research projects or programs. Research associates can be principal investigators on grants or contracts only on an exception basis. Their specific duties may include, but are not limited to, planning, conducting, and reporting original research; designing, constructing, or operating highly complex research apparatus; and supervising the research operations of a laboratory or facility. Research associates informally participate in graduate research training, but they may not be members of graduate committees, except as ad hoc additional, supplementary members. Research associates normally have no responsibilities for formal teaching but may participate in seminars or specialized portions of courses to an extent consistent with the terms of the funding of the position.

Required Qualifications:

• A PhD in Mathematics, Data Science, Computer Science, related STEM fields, or areas of social science with a significant quantitative component, such as Political Methodology, Geography, or Empirical Legal Studies.
• Ability to learn new technical and non-technical skills and to read scholarship in areas outside of one's main disciplinary training.
• Experience working in a team and under a deadline.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to broadening participation in scholarship and government.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with open-source software development, especially in Python.
• Experience in outreach to schools and community groups.

To Apply:

For initial screening, please include the following materials in PDF format.

• (1) Cover letter, specifically addressing your fit for the Data and Democracy Lab. Please include the names of three reference-writers, but there is no need to request letters at this time.
• (2) CV/resume, including links to writing samples.
• (3) Research statement describing doctoral work (and postdoctoral work, if applicable).
• (4) A description of experience with, and/or approaches to (past, current, or future), fostering learning, research, service, and/or outreach in a diverse communityapplicants may choose to submit a stand-alone statement or embed the information in other parts of their application materials.

No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

No relocation assistance is available for this position.

Materials should be submitted online to Academic Jobs Online at the following link: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a candidate is selected. For full consideration, please apply by December 22, 2024. For questions regarding the position, please contact Search Committee Chair Professor Moon Duchin at [email protected].

The Cornell community embraces diversity and inclusion. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. We value AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and seek candidates who will create a climate that attracts persons of all races, ethnicities, and genders. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations.