Postdoctoral Associate Jobs in Brookline, MA (NOW HIRING)

Description
The MIT Sloan School of Management, in collaboration with the Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing (SERC) program in the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate to join a participatory action research project on worker-centered AI implementation in healthcare. The project - a partnership between MIT researchers, a large healthcare system, and the union representing its frontline workers - develops and evaluates concrete strategies for engaging frontline workers in decisions about how AI technologies are adopted and implemented in their workplaces.
The appointment is for one year beginning September 1, 2026 (or an earlier mutually agreed date), with the possibility of renewal contingent on funding. The Postdoctoral Associate should expect to work from Cambridge, MA, with regular travel to the field site in Central Massachusetts. The position is eligible for MIT benefits.
The Postdoctoral Associate will be mentored by Professors Erin Kelly, Kate Kellogg, and Zana Buçinca, and will collaborate with the broader project team, the SERC postdoctoral fellow cohort, and the MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER) community.
About Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing (SERC)
The Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing (SERC) is facilitating the development of responsible "habits of mind and action" for those who create and deploy computing technologies and fostering the creation of technologies in the public interest. Through a teaching, research, and engagement framework, SERC works to train students, encourage research assessing the broad challenges and opportunities associated with computing, and improve design, policy, implementation, and impacts. For more details about this cross-cutting program, please see SERC's website.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS**)
The Postdoctoral Associate's time will be allotted as follows:
• 75% toward the worker-centered AI implementation project under the supervision of Professors Kelly, Kellogg, and Buçinca.
• The postdoc will lead day-to-day fieldwork - likely including semi-structured and informal interviews, ethnographic observation of work units, focus groups or workshops with frontline workers, etc. - and be responsible for following and updating data collection protocols and conducting analysis.
• The postdoc will lead multiple literature reviews synthesizing existing research with an eye toward theory development and key directions for future research.
• The postdoc will contribute to research design, analysis, and writing for academic and practitioner audiences.
• The postdoc will contribute to project management, planning, and documentation tasks, acting as a central node for information flow within the project.
• 25% toward SERC's community-building activities and programming, including leading a SERC Scholar Group (a mentored, interdisciplinary group of 5-7 students) throughout the academic year.
• Regular travel to in-state research sites as required.
• Other duties as needed or required.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
The position works closely with Professor Kelly as a primary supervisor and will also work with and receive feedback and support from Professors Kellogg, Buçinca, Kochan, and IWER Senior Fellow Palak Shah. The position requires the ability to advance research with minimal supervision in a complex, multi-stakeholder field setting.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
No direct reports. Leads a SERC Scholar Group and may coordinate with graduate research assistants on related project workstreams.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
• A Ph.D. in sociology, management/organization studies, industrial and labor relations, communication, information science, public health, or a related field. The Ph.D. must be defended and completed by the position start date, no later than September 1, 2026.
• Strong qualitative research skills required, demonstrated through substantial experience conducting ethnographic observation, interviews, and/or focus groups, and through rigorous analysis of qualitative data.
• Demonstrated experience working with multiple stakeholders - such as employers, unions or worker organizations, community partners, or practitioners - including navigating differing interests while maintaining research integrity and trusted relationships.
• Ability to work productively alongside survey and administrative data analyses, and to contribute to integrating qualitative and quantitative evidence.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead literature reviews, including organizing, synthesizing, and writing reviews across disciplinary literatures, ideally toward framing papers that are published or under review.
• Proven record of academic excellence, research achievement, and publication (or publication trajectory) in fields that speak to the study of work, organizations, and/or technology adoption and use.
• Attention to detail, self-motivation, ability to handle multiple workstreams concurrently, and excellent communication skills suitable for engaging frontline workers, managers, union representatives, and students.
• Ability to handle confidential information and/or issues using discretion and judgment.
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Preference will be given to candidates who have previously studied technology's or specifically AI's impact using qualitative research methods and/or studied organizational dynamics and work processes in healthcare settings using qualitative research methods.
Application Instructions
APPLICATION MATERIALS
Please provide the following compiled in one attachment:
1. Cover letter describing your fit with the project, including fieldwork and multi-stakeholder experience
2. CV
3. Research statement of primary research interests, including ongoing and planned projects (3 pages)
4. One representative publication or writing sample
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide three letters of reference on a short time frame. Finalists will also have a brief conversation with SERC as part of the review process.
Priority review will be given to application materials submitted by July 10.
Hiring Pay Range: $73,308-$90,000