Position 

Junior Research Scientist, starting in 2024 for 1-2 years

Location 

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Job Description

We are seeking to hire Junior Research Scientists to work on understanding the economic and technical foundations of progress in computing generally, and AI in particular.  This may include analyzing trends in deep learning or other aspects of computing, gathering primary or secondary data, and preparing research visualizations, writing, presentations and analysis.  The researchers will also collaborate with others in the lab, contributing both to their research and the broader work of the lab.

Qualifications 

• Undergraduate degree in economics, computer science, data science or other relevant field (Masters degree would be a plus)
• Relevant research or work experience
• Demonstrated interest in these topics
• Strong English communication skills (verbal and written) 
• Ability to work in teams and contribute to group projects

The Junior Research Scientist’s primary appointment would be at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab with a secondary appointment at the MIT Sloan School of Management (or vice-versa)

Salary 

$50,000 per year, plus benefits. 

To apply   

Please complete this form.  Selected candidates will be interviewed via Zoom. We are recruiting on a rolling basis and may close applications early if we find a suitable candidate, so please apply as soon as possible to maximize your chances. 

About MIT FutureTech 

Led by Dr. Neil Thompson, MIT FutureTech is an interdisciplinary group of computer scientists, engineers, and economists who study the foundations of progress in computing and Artificial Intelligence: the trends, implications, opportunities and risks.  

Our work is supported by grants from Open Philanthropy, the National Science Foundation, Microsoft, Accenture, IBM, the MIT-Air Force AI accelerator, and the MIT Lincoln Laboratory. 

The following are examples of our recent work: 

• How industry is dominating AI research  
• The Quantum Tortoise and the Classical Hare: A simple framework for understanding which problems quantum computing will accelerate (and which it will not) 
• A workshop on AI scaling and its implications for AI development, automation, and more 
• The Great Inflection? A Debate About AI and Explosive Growth  
• There’s plenty of room at the Top: What will drive computer performance after Moore’s law?  
• Deep Learning's Diminishing Returns: The Cost of Improvement is Becoming Unsustainable 
• America’s lead in advanced computing is almost gone 
• The Decline of Computers as a General Purpose Technology: Why Deep Learning and the End of Moore’s Law are Fragmenting Computing 
• How Fast Do Algorithms Improve? 

About Dr. Neil Thompson, the Director of MIT FutureTech‍

‍Dr. Thompson is the Director of MIT FutureTech. Prior to starting FutureTech, Dr. Thompson was a professor of Innovation and Strategy at the MIT Sloan School of Management.  His PhD is in Business & Public Policy from Berkeley.  He also holds Master’s degrees in: Computer Science (Berkeley), Economics (London School of Economics), and Statistics (Berkeley).  Prior to joining academia, Dr. Thompson was a management consultant with Bain & Company, and worked for the Canadian Government and the United Nations. 

About the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy (IDE)

The MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy is a team of internationally recognized thought leaders and researchers examining how people and businesses work, interact, and prosper in a time of rapid digital transformation.  It is housed at the MIT Sloan School of Management. 

About the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL)

CSAIL is one of the world’s top research centers for computer science and artificial intelligence (currently ranked #1).  It has hosted 9 Turing awards winners (the “Nobel Prize of Computing”) and has pioneered many of the technologies that underpin computing.