Post-Doctoral Fellow, AI-Enabled Scams as a Systemic Security Challenge

About this role

Organizational Summary

Data & Society is an independent nonprofit research organization studying the social implications of data-centric technologies and automation. We recognize that the same innovative technologies that may benefit society can also be abused to invade privacy, provide new tools of discrimination, foreclose opportunity, and harm individuals and communities. Through original research and inclusive engagement, we work to ensure that empirical evidence and respect for human dignity guide how technology is developed and governed.

About The Role

Data & Society is seeking a post-doctoral research fellow for our AI-Enabled Scams as a Systemic Security Challenge project, housed under our AI & Democracy initiative and led by Director of Research Dr. Alice Marwick. This body of work examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping democratic practice, knowledge production, security, and trust.

This position will report to the Director of Research, Alice Marwick, and will not have people manager responsibilities. This position is fully remote and will begin in September 2026 with an end date of May 31, 2028.

Overall, the AI Scams project looks at how artificial intelligence is supercharging scams, frauds, and hoaxes. We have published a primer and a policy report examining the scope and scale of AI-enabled scams and policy responses. This specific project examines young people’s (Gen A/Z) susceptibility to scams, and how trust, legitimacy, and risk are constructed in online interactions. We are particularly interested in youth financial cultures, such as cryptocurrency, multi-level marketing schemes, sports betting, influencers, prediction markets, retail arbitrage, memestocks, drop-shipping, “hustle and grind” culture, etc. and how it changes youth understanding of financial opportunity and risk.

The post-doctoral fellow will be working on a qualitative research project with two components. First, alongside the PI, they will be conducting interviews and focus groups with a) individuals who have encountered or been harmed by AI-enabled scams and b) youth involved in risky financial subcultures; and second, qualitative discourse and/or content analysis of scam materials, workflows, and use of generative tools.

The team also includes a policy analyst, so experience with tech policy is desired, although not necessary. The end goal of this project is to translate our findings into bipartisan policy and governance recommendations, and to bring together consumer protection and cybersecurity perspectives on scams.

This study is best supported by a researcher with training in communication, media studies, information studies, economic sociology, critical cybersecurity studies, education, youth studies, science and technology studies, anthropology, or similar. They will also have approximately 30% of their time available for their own research agenda.

The Candidate

Candidates may have a PhD in any number of disciplines, but should have a strong background conducting empirical, qualitative research; be interested in questions related to youth, finance, risk, and emerging technology; have experience recruiting and working with populations for qualitative interview studies; and, ideally, have experience with discourse or content analysis. Candidates should be self-motivated and ambitious, but enjoy working on interdisciplinary, collaborative teams, contributing to peer intellectual production, and engaging broad public audiences with research. Ideal candidates are also committed to social change and oriented to practical applications of research and its implications for practice, design, and governance of new technologies, and have a strong desire to understand how technology and power shape our society. Candidates must be able to write for multiple audiences and be part of a public-facing research institute.

Primary Responsibilities

• Contribute to the AI-Enabled Scams as a Systemic Security Challenge project as a full participant, including ideation, literature reviews, recruitment, conducting interviews and/or focus groups, conducting content/discourse analysis, coding data, memoing, writing, and other research needs as necessary

• Publish op-eds, blog posts, and papers related to ongoing research for academic and non-academic audiences

• Contribute to the culture of the Research Management team, the AI & Democracy initiative, and the broader Data & Society community

• Attend and collaborate with both internal and external researchers on outreach and network activities, including meetings, presentations, webinars, events, and conferences;

• Participate in team activities, including meetings, presentations, webinars, hearings, and conferences, which may require occasional travel

Skills & Qualifications

• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills supported by a strong empirical foundation

• PhD in Communication, Media Studies, Information Studies, Sociology, or similar applicable field; degree must be completed before the starting date.

• Ability to independently conduct high-level qualitative research, including interviews, focus groups, content/discourse analysis, and other research methods

• Experience with study recruitment

• Expertise/interest in financial cultures, scams, generative AI, youth studies, economic sociology, or other topic relevant to the project at hand

• Ability to work independently in a remote environment

• Collaborative and generous intellectual partner

• A strong history of work demonstrating a desire to understand how technology and power shape our sociotechnical society

• Ability to translate research for non-academic audiences, including journalists, policymakers, practitioners, organizers, civil society, and the broader community

• A deep commitment to social change and the practical applications of research for practice, design, and governance of new technologies

• Must be able to travel for conferences, workshops, or tea

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