Postdoctoral Associate

The George Washington University

Washington (District of Columbia)

On-site

USD 63,000 - 65,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Job summary

The George Washington University invites applications for TRAILS Postdoctoral Associate positions in Washington, DC. These one- to two-year fellowships support research on trustworthy AI, with mentorship from multiple TRAILS faculty across GWU and partner institutions.

Applicants should have a PhD and be prepared to collaborate across disciplines. Postdocs will design experiments, mentor students, and contribute to seminars and grant-writing efforts, with opportunities for teaching and career

Qualifications

Research ability demonstrated by two conference or journal publications, book chapters, or equivalent writing samples.
Demonstrated ability to work in a highly interdisciplinary environment.
Participation in the applicant’s broader scientific community.

Responsibilities

Postdocs will design, organize and conduct specialized experiments using established protocols under faculty supervision.
Co-mentor graduate and undergraduate students with faculty mentors; teaching opportunities may arise.
Contribute to TRAILS community through seminars, NSF interactions and related activities.
Plan and conduct discovery research, data analysis and prepare materials for publication.

Skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Research planning

Two conference publications

Education

PhD or Doctoral degree

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Appointments are limited-term and are designed for those who have recently received a doctorate. Appointments are made to academic departments with the approval of the department head and may require senior officer approval. Appointments are usually for not less than one term and are normally not renewed beyond a total of five years. This appointment is not intended for long-term, indefinite, or career appointments.

I. POSITION INFORMATION

Job Description Summary:

GW has everything you need to succeed in discovery. Outstanding research, state-of-the-art facilities and world-class faculty support discovery and innovative solutions. Researchers and faculty across campus advance interdisciplinary and emerging research and scholarship. Our active GW Postdoctoral Association welcomes your engagement in social and professional activities as you join our research teams. Research guides, coding and data management solutions as well as extensive online journals from GW Libraries help to guide your study. The Office of the Vice Provost for Research ( OVPR ) supports the research infrastructure and facilitates several institutional research initiatives.

The George Washington University and The NSF Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law and Society

( TRAILS ) aims to transform the practice of AI from one driven primarily by technological innovation to one driven with attention to ethics, human rights, and support for communities whose voices have been marginalized in mainstream AI. TRAILS is a joint research, education, and outreach institute led by the University of Maryland, the George Washington University, Morgan State University, and Cornell University.

TRAILS is seeking talented, highly motivated applicants for multiple postdoctoral fellowship positions to conduct research and scholarship focused on approaches to AI that advance trust and trustworthiness. The George Washington University is located in Washington, DC. These are one- or two-year fellowships, with flexible start dates.

As a TRAILS Postdoctoral Associate, you will have the opportunity to pursue your own research agenda, interact with our Institute’s diverse array of researchers, and contribute to ongoing research projects. These positions offer an opportunity to work closely with faculty and graduate students in TRAILS , a unique interdisciplinary research community that brings together researchers across AI, incorporating insights from algorithm development, systems engineering and architecture, human psychology, sociology, law, science and technology studies, economics, and policy studies. Faculty and students in TRAILS will collaborate extensively with other labs and centers on campus at the George Washington University, such as the Institute for Data, Democracy &; Politics, the co-Design of Trustworthy AI Systems NSF Research Traineeship, the Digital Trade and Data Governance Hub, the Center for Machine Learning, and the Human-Computer Interaction Lab at UMD , and the Center for Equitable AI and Machine Learning Systems at MSU .

We are seeking candidates in any area of research related to developing AI techniques, tools, scientific theories, as well as design and policy recommendations that are intended to promote the trustworthiness of AI systems. TRAILS Postdocs will be mentored by at least two TRAILS faculty members, and applicants whose research interests bridge multiple faculty across different disciplines or institutions will be given preference.

Applicants must have fulfilled their Ph.D. degree requirements, possibly excluding the final submission of their dissertation, prior to joining TRAILS . We encourage candidates with tenure-track academic job offers to apply – with the option of doing a one-year rather than two-year postdoc – provided they are able to defer their start date by at least one year to accept our position.

We encourage applicants with a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences to apply. We are committed to supporting the diversity of TRAILS and to promoting equal opportunity in higher education.

To apply, please provide:

1) A curriculum vitae

2) An academic statement of no more than three pages that discusses research interests and goals, as well as your teaching, mentoring, and leadership experiences.

3) Two representative conference or journal articles, book chapters, or equivalent (potentially unpublished) writing samples that you are most proud of, and which best demonstrate your expertise.

4) The names and contact information for two or three references (in nearly all cases, one will be your dissertation advisor/supervisor).

Responsibilities

Postdocs will design, organize and conduct specialized and advanced experiments using established scientific protocols, troubleshoot and design new protocols, summarize findings and publish results in research journals, under the general supervision of a faculty member. In some cases, postdocs will assume general responsibility for general scientific operations in the lab, and/or provide supervision and guidance to laboratory staff, trainees and other researchers.

As a TRAILS Postdoc, you will define your own research agenda in collaboration with other TRAILS researchers as well as the broader GWU , UMD , and MSU communities. Most postdocs will co-mentor graduate and undergraduate students with their faculty mentors, and there will be teaching opportunities for associates who desire them. Postdocs will be expected to contribute back to the TRAILS community through career-building activities like organizing the TRAILS seminar series, interacting with NSF , and responding to campus leadership. Postdocs who wish to gain experience in grant writing will have opportunities to do so.

A Postdoctoral Associate:

holds a PhD or equivalent degree;
develops skills by participating in scholarly projects that are actively mentored by a member of the university faculty;
receives financial support in the form of a salary that is typically funded by grants, contracts or departmental funds secured by a faculty mentor;
has a limited term of up to five years at GW.

In collaboration with experienced researchers, this role will participate in the planning and conduct of discovery research, data analysis and interpretation, preparation of materials for publication, presentations at conferences and meetings, and may develop new theories and methodologies. This role can expect timely advice as to research directions and career planning for a future independent career.

Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Special Instructions to the Applicant:

Appointments are limited-term and are designed for those who have recently received a doctorate.

Appointments are made to academic departments with the approval of the department head and may require senior officer approval.

Appointments are usually for not less than one term and are normally not renewed beyond a total of five years. This appointment is not intended for long-term, indefinite, or career appointments.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must have fulfilled all requirements for the award of a PhD or equivalent qualification in a relevant field by the date of employment.

Desired Qualifications:

Ph.D. in relevant field – completed or close to completion by the start date
Research ability demonstrated by two conference or journal publications, book chapters, or equivalent (potentially unpublished) writing samples, requested as part of the application
Research agenda that overlaps with at least two faculty at GWU
Demonstrated ability to work in a highly interdisciplinary environment
Participation in the applicant’s broader scientific community

Hiring Range

Hiring Range $63,490.00 to $65,000.00

Healthcare Benefits

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package for Postdoc Associates and Scholars that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, well-being and various voluntary benefits. Postdoc Scholars may also be eligible for retirement savings and tuition programs. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/postdoc_benefits.

II. POSITION INFORMATION

Posting Number

Posting Number P010162

Job Open Date

Job Open Date 08/31/2026

Job Close Date

Part-time / Full-time

Part-time / Full-time PF Post Doc Full Time Exempt

Total Hours per Week

Work Schedule

Monday thru Friday 9am to 5pm

Campus Location

Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department:

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)

Expected duration of appointment

1 Year

Position Designation

On-Campus/In-Person

Special Instructions to Applicants

Employees in this subfamily are responsible for designing and conducting experiments in a controlled laboratory setting. Duties may include performing experiments, collecting, analyzing and reporting data.

Required Background Check

Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

EEO Statement

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Supplemental Questions

* Do you have a PhD or Doctoral degree?
- Yes
- No
* For current GW employees, have you completed your Introductory Employment Period (IEP)? (As a reminder, employees in their IEP are not eligible to apply for other internal university staff and research positions until the IEP is complete.)
- Yes, IEP complete
- No, still in IEP
- N/a - not a current GW employee

Required Documents