Postdoctoral Human Computer Interaction Jobs in Rhode Island

Description
The Data Science Institute at Brown University invites applications for an 18-month Postdoctoral Research Associate position in civic science and AI-human interaction beginning in Fall 2026. The successful candidate will be hosted by ARIA (the NSF AI Research Institute on Interaction with AI Assistants), a $20M federally-funded institute dedicated to the joint scientific study of AI and human cognition, with a focus on mental and behavioral health. The Fellow will bridge foundational research in computational brain science with public engagement and community impact, and will straddle the Carney Institute for Brain Science's Center for Computational Brain Science and the Data Science Institutes' Center for Technological Responsibility, Reimagination, and Redesign. Collaborations with the School of Public Health and/or Rhode Island Hospital will also be encouraged. The position is part of the Rita Allen Foundation's Civic Science Fellows program, and the Fellow will participate in that program's broader cohort of civic scientists in addition to conducting independent research.
For this position, Brown offers only the J-1 visa classification to scholars who need immigration sponsorship in order to enter the U.S. and commence lawful employment under the terms of their appointment.
Qualifications
We seek applicants with a doctoral degree in a relevant field, which may include cognitive science, neuroscience, computer science, public health, science and technology studies, or a related discipline. Strong candidates will have demonstrated experience working across disciplinary boundaries and an interest in both rigorous empirical research and meaningful community engagement. The Fellow will be expected to develop and lead a self-directed research project connecting at least one of ARIA's core scientific workstreams - cognitively-inspired AI, trustworthy human-AI interaction, or AI alignment - with ARIA's participatory design workstream. Example project directions include but are not limited to: empirical study of the neurological, cognitive, or developmental effects of AI companionship; community-informed computational psychiatry (e.g., participatory research around AI tools for managing mental and behavioral health disorders); or psychologically-informed methods for AI models and interfaces.
The Fellow will be expected to work with multiple co-mentors spanning different fields and methodological traditions, to engage regularly with ARIA's research team, and to contribute to the organization of workshops, roundtables, and public engagement events. Deliverables will include peer-reviewed publications, public-facing reports or whitepapers, and presentations to both scientific and non-scientific audiences. The Fellow will join a vibrant interdisciplinary community of researchers across 11 institutions including Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Berkeley, Princeton, NYU, and the Santa Fe Institute.
Application Instructions
To receive full consideration, the following materials should be submitted by noon EDT on Aug 17, 2026 to the application portal:

1. A cover letter stating the applicant's academic field, status of their dissertation, and proposed research to be conducted during their fellowship period. The cover letter should not exceed 2,000 words and should make clear how the candidate will thrive in and contribute to ARIA's environment. Candidates should also address how they would contribute to the research and/or teaching missions of our diverse and inclusive university community.
2. An up-to-date curriculum vitae
3. A copy of each graduate transcript
4. A writing sample, preferably an article or dissertation chapter
5. Three confidential letters of recommendation from scholars familiar with the applicant's research.