Cornell Tech’s Digital Life Initiative (DLI) invites applications for its 2022 Technology Law and Policy Fellowship. The Tech Law Fellow will augment DLI’s research and educational mission, examining digital life through the lens of ethics, politics, and quality of life. With guidance from DLI Director Helen Nissenbaum and from Professor James Grimmelmann, the Tech Law Fellow will develop and pursue legal and policy responses to key societal challenges arising from the development and deployment of digital technologies. Working alongside and complementing an outstanding, multidisciplinary community of DLI Postdoctoral Fellows, Doctoral Fellows, Visitors, and Faculty, the Tech Law Fellow will pursue legal and policy approaches to a range of urgent topics including but not limited to privacy and surveillance, platform governance, transparency, content moderation, algorithmic discrimination, digital political economy, information control and freedom, fundamental rights, digital inequality, network regulation, and security.

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Applicants interested in research in technology and society may wish to consider applying to the DLI Postdoctoral Fellowship in addition to, or in lieu of, the policy-focused Tech Law Fellowship.

 

Responsibilities

 

Although the Technology Law and Policy Fellow will seek to publish legal and policy scholarship, their primary responsibility will be to help lead and communicate the Digital Life Initiative’s legal and policy responses in these areas. They will engage deeply with the US policy-making process, such as by drafting amicus briefs, filing comments with government agencies, reviewing proposed legislation, briefing policy-makers, producing white papers on important policy topics, and communicating with the public and the media. The Tech Law Fellow will also have the opportunity to work with masters and doctoral students enrolled in Cornell Tech's programs in law, computer science, information science, operations research, business, and financial engineering.

 

Qualifications

 

Successful applicants will hold JD, LLM, or JSD degrees, or a Ph.D. in a closely related field such as Public Policy or Political Science. They will have demonstrated experience in one or more of the activities listed above.

 

Appointment & Application Instructions

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This position is structured as a postdoctoral associate position. Salary is commensurate with experience and a generous Cornell University benefits package will be provided. The fellowship will be for a term of two years, potentially renewable for a third year. Likely start date will coincide with the start of the 2022 academic year, but a different date could be negotiated.

 

Applications will be evaluated starting Monday, January 15, 2022, and reviewed until the position is filled. To apply, please submit your information via our online form, including the following materials.

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1. A cover letter explaining your fit for the position, including your experience engaging with the policymaking process. If you would also like to be considered for the DLI Postdoctoral Fellowship, please indicate this in your cover letter.

2. A current curriculum vitae.

3. Two publications or substantial drafts of journal articles, essays, or the equivalent.

4. Names and contact information for three recommenders.

 

Applicants who have not yet received their terminal degree should request a letter from their dissertation chairs confirming that the degree will be in hand before the beginning of the Fellowship term.

 

About the Digital Life Initiative

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Embedded within the progressive teaching mission of Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island in New York City, the Digital Life Initiative was launched in 2017 to analyze the societal tensions arising from existing and emergent digital technologies. Inspired by the core values of justice, democracy, privacy, responsibility, security, and freedom, we support collaborative research projects that explore ethics, policy, politics and quality of life within prevailing socio-technical systems. 

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Cornell Tech and the Digital Life Initiative offer a unique opportunity for individuals who flourish in an environment that fosters close interdisciplinary collaboration. Our robust connections between computer scientists, engineers, information scientists, legal scholars, and others, along with our close proximity to the thriving industry and academic communities of New York City allows Initiative members to create new research connections.

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About Cornell Tech

 

At Cornell Tech, we are building a home for digital pioneers—those of the conviction that pragmatic, purpose-driven research spurs relevant and valuable progress. Cornell Tech focuses on creating pioneering leaders and technologies for the digital age, through research, technology commercialization, and graduate-level education at the professional masters, doctoral, and postdoctoral levels. To learn more, visit http://tech.cornell.edu/.

 

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.