Professors Asu Ozdaglar and Chara Podimata invite applications for a postdoctoral position focused on the design of adaptive, ethically-informed decision systems that support effective human–AI collaboration in high-stakes domains.
The postdoctoral fellow will pursue independent research at the intersection of AI, decision-making, and ethics, with an emphasis on systems that operate under uncertainty, adapt to evolving societal and institutional norms, and communicate effectively with human decision-makers. Research may address questions in dynamic and multi-objective decision-making, learning and optimization under evolving values and constraints, human-AI collaboration and interpretability, information design for AI-assisted decision-making, and broader sociotechnical approaches to trustworthy and accountable AI systems. The position is well suited for candidates interested in combining theoretical and computational approaches with normative reasoning and empirical insights into how AI systems are used in practice.
Applicants are expected to have a Ph.D. (completed or expected by Spring 2026) in computer science, operations research, economics, statistics, or a closely related field. We seek candidates with a strong technical research background, demonstrated interest in ethical or value-sensitive decision-making, and the ability to develop an independent research agenda while collaborating across disciplines.
This is a one-year postdoctoral appointment, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding, and is expected to begin in Summer or Fall 2026. The appointment is affiliated with MIT’s Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing (SERC) initiative, which supports research and training that integrate technical excellence with societal responsibility and public-interest computing.
To apply, please email a CV, a one-page research statement summarizing past work and outlining future research directions, and the names of three references. Application materials should be sent to podimata@mit.edu. The subject line of the email should be structured as: [MIT SERC postdoc application] FirstName LastName.
Review of applications will begin on February 9, 2026, and will continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled.