Postdoctoral Associate - Political Economy and Technology

Cornell University; Town of Ithaca (NY); Presencial; USD 64.000 - 70.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Communication to examine the political economy of tech. The position involves proposing and executing an independent empirical study, mentoring graduate students, and collaborating with Dr. boyd.

Start date is flexible but no later than August 30, 2027. This is a 1-year appointment with possible renewal.

Formación

• PhD in the social sciences, STS, history, or relevant field (PhD must be in-hand by start date).
• Applicants must be no more than 2 years post-completion of PhD.

Responsabilidades

• Propose, develop, and execute an independent empirical study on the political economy of tech.
• Mentor graduate students and collaborate with Dr. boyd’s research team.
• Contribute to the intellectual life of the lab/department and to Dr. boyd’s grant proposals.

Conocimientos

Empirical research

Qualitative methods

Academic writing

Educación

PhD in social sciences / STS / history

Descripción del empleo

Position Description

Academic Job Description

Department of Communication

Postdoctoral Associate

Political Economy and Technology

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world’s complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

Position Function

This Postdoctoral Associate will propose, develop, and execute an independent empirical research study examining a novel question that gets at the political economy of tech; contribute to the life of Dr. boyd’s research team (including mentoring graduate students); and collaborate with Dr. boyd. This is a 1-year appointment with the possibility of a 1-year renewal. The start date is flexible but no later than August 30, 2027.While many Postdoctoral Associates in the social sciences are designed to support junior scholars in converting their dissertation into a book, this is not one of them. The Postdoctoral Associate should be prepared to put their dissertation project on the backburner and dive into new data collection. Dr. boyd’s philosophy is that getting some space from your dissertation project will allow you to convert your dissertation into a stronger book and that conducting a novel project during your Postdoctoral Associate will better position you academically in the long run.

Anticipated Division of Time

• 50%: Conduct primary research project. This includes engaging in fieldwork, conducting interviews, coding data, writing, and giving talks focused on the project proposed for the position.
• 25%: Support research endeavors undertaken by Dr. boyd. This includes conducting interviews, coding data, editing papers, helping write grants, and supporting Dr. boyd’s ongoing research agenda. Co-authorship will depend on level of involvement.
• 25%: Contribute to the intellectual community of the lab/department. This includes attending talks, helping run events, mentoring junior scholars, and supporting ongoing field-building efforts by Dr. boyd’s team.

Requirements

• PhD in the social sciences, STS, history, or relevant field and have conducted significant empirical work as part of their doctoral work. (PhD must be in-hand by the position start date.)
• Applicants must be no more than 2 years post-completion of PhD.
• Must be willing to move to (and be based in) Ithaca, NY. (Depending on the project, there may be significant travel as well.) Projects should be designed so that at least 50% of the time is spent in Ithaca. Living in Ithaca during the academic year is a requirement. Please do not apply if that is not viable.
• Postdoctoral Associate will be offered some project and travel support but will be encouraged to seek external sources of funding and contribute to Dr. boyd’s grant proposals to enhance their research funds (and strengthen their academic profile). (Note: the Postdoctoral Associate is not eligible to be a PI.)

Project Requirements

• Novel research questions that reckon with political economy of tech in a creative way. Preference will be given to unique questions with a clear vision of how to execute the project.
• Qualitative empirical research study involving original data collection. Preference is given for ethnographic studies, but interview studies will also be considered. Computational methods, content analysis, surveys, and other methods can be used complementarily, but should not be the primary method.
• Viable path towards access. Ethnographic and interview access is challenging. Applicants should demonstrate that they can obtain access to conduct the research that they are seeking to do.
• Deep theoretical grounding. Preference will be given to scholars who have deep theoretical grounding in STS, political economy, and/or social theory.
• Projects in which data can be collected within driving distance from Ithaca, New York are especially encouraged so that the Postdoctoral Associate can be an active and engaged member of the Cornell community.

Example projects

• How are betting markets (e.g., Polymarket, Kalshi) altering norms related to risk, assetization, and governance of gambling?
• How does AI-based ag-tech in dairy farming (e.g., self-milking cow machines) rearrange the political economy of the dairy industry?
• How do tech vendors make local government agencies beholden to their logics through contracts?

Supervision Exercised

This position will not have any formal supervision responsibilities, but the Postdoctoral Associate should expect to mentor graduate students, co-mentor other PIs, and contribute to the intellectual development of the entire team.

The review of applications will begin on October 16, 2026. Applications will be reviewed as received, continuing until a suitable applicant is identified.

CALS hiring range for this title is $64,000-$70,000.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Life. Changing.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League and Land-grant university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Cornell’s regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

With a founding principle of “any person, any study,” Cornell is an equal opportunity employer.

Employment Assistance:

For specific questions about the position or application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or for general questions email [e-mail].

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Pay Ranges:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)
• Unique applicable skills.