Postdoctoral Scholar

Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii); Edmonton; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) seeks a Postdoctoral Scholar to join a project focused on developing AI tools to combat disinformation. This full-time role involves research in AI, human-computer interaction, and collaboration with civil society organizations. The position offers a chance to impact national security through innovative technology and research.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Paid time off

Health benefits

Professional development activities

Access to the Amii community and events

Qualifications

• Evidence of high-quality research with publications.
• Ability to program in Python or similar languages.
• Interest in international security or relations is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of the Proof of Concept (PoC).
• Collaborate on research and publish findings.
• Work with civil society stakeholders on AI tools.

Skills

Programming

Critical Thinking

Interpersonal Communication

Education

PhD in computational social science, AI, or related field

Job description

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“Join a groundbreaking project building CIPHER, a human-in-the-loop AI system designed to help civil society organizations detect and contextualize disinformation. Your work will shape how frontline groups in Canada and globally combat influence operations with cutting-edge, adaptive tools”.

• Amii Fellow and CIFAR AI Chair, Matthew Taylor
  
  

About The Role

In this Full time 1 year contract position the Postdoctoral Scholar will join Amii Fellow, Matthew Taylor, and a trans-disciplinary team to support a new project to empower stakeholders from civil society and government to characterize and respond to foreign influence operations in online spaces. This project will engage in both fundamental and applied research at the intersection of AI, human-computer interaction, social media analysis, political communication, and conflict studies. The successful candidate will report to the Director, AI Trust and Safety as their People Leader, while all research activities will be guided by Amii Fellow Mathew Taylor.

This project will design, develop, and evaluate techniques and technology for human-in-the-loop AI tools aid in the identification, characterization, and response to foreign influence operations, initially grounded in the context of Russian influence operations targeting Canada and its allies. The postdoctoral scholar will work with researchers and civil society stakeholders to construct a Proof of Concept (PoC) to ground this research, development, and evaluation.

The Postdoctoral Scholar’s time will be devoted to joint work on this and other CAIDAC projects, as well as time given for professional development and independent research. The work on CAIDAC projects will include ongoing projects at the Center, new projects proposed by the Center’s academic directors, and new projects proposed by the applicant. This position is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in social and digital media, human-in-the-loop AI, and/or computational social science methods

Once trained, CIPHER will be deployed to select Canadian civil society organizations for testing and refinement. Its human-in-the-loop system will continuously learn from user interactions, enhancing its ability to detect and contextualize disinformation. After this initial phase, CIPHER will be shared with a global network of civil society groups, complete with training instructions to tailor it to their contexts.

Beyond the immediate impact in Canada, CIPHER will empower civil society organizations on the front lines of disinformation (e.g., Taiwan, Ukraine, and the Baltic-Nordic Eight). In addition, the team will distribute the findings through policy briefs and academic publications focused on two key areas: the methodologies and challenges of building a trainable multimodal AI agent and the evolving dynamics of Russian influence operations. Using their extensive experience and previous research, the team aims to advance both scholarly understanding and practical applications in combating disinformation.

Key Responsibilities

Required Skills / Expertise

• Leading the development of the Proof of Concept (PoC)
• Developing, implementing, and using cutting-edge, data-driven AI technologies
• Collaborating with students, professors, and subject matter experts on the fundamental research behind the PoC
• (Co)writing high-impact scientific publications
• Presenting your work at leading conferences
• Releasing tools and datasets to the research and practitioner communities
• Collaborating with co-supervisors and teammates
  
  

Qualifications

• PhD in computational social science, AI, machine learning, or a related field
• Evidence of high-quality research, such as publications in top-tier venues
• Evidence of programming ability in one or more languages (e.g., Python, PyTorch, etc.)
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal communication skills, both verbal and written
• Awareness and interest in international security or international relations facing Canada (Nice to have)
• Interest in working on practical applications of technology to national security threats (Nice to have)
• Ability to travel to the USA
  
  

Attributes And Expectations

• Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Strong interpersonal communication skills for effective collaboration with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Operates with integrity and trust
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrates professional maturity, resourcefulness, and self-discipline in pursuing organizational goals
• A curious mindset with a keen interest in testing new educational tools and technologies
• Shows presence, self-confidence, sound judgment, and superior problem-solving abilities
• Fosters high-level cross-functional collaboration and establishes credibility while influencing peers to achieve common goals
  
  

What You'll Love About Us

• A professional yet casual work environment that encourages the growth and development of your skills.
• Participate in professional development activities
• Gain access to the Amii community and events
• A chance to learn from amazing teammates who support one another to succeed.
• Competitive compensation, including paid time off and health benefits.
• Opportunity to work at a modern office located in downtown Edmonton, Alberta.
  
  

How to Apply

We’re excited to add a new member to the Amii team for this role! We are keeping the door open to new applicants until we find the right fit. When sending your application, please send your CV and cover letter indicating why you think you'd be a fit for this position. In your cover letter, please include one professional accomplishment you are most proud of and why.

Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada at the time of application.

Amii is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability. Accommodations for disability-related needs throughout the recruitment and selection process are available upon request. Any information provided by you for accommodations will be kept confidential and won’t be used in the selection process.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Internship

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

• Industries

  Research Services

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