Postdoctoral Associate; Center for Mind, Ethics, and Policy

The Center for Mind, Ethics, and Policy (CMEP) at New York University invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Associate in relevant disciplines including philosophy, neuroscience, computer science, and economics. The position is intended for an early-career scholar who will contribute to the Center's research on digital minds and broader activities while also developing an independent research program within the Center's areas of focus.

The Postdoctoral Associate will join an interdisciplinary community working on foundational research on the nature and intrinsic value of nonhuman minds, including both biological and digital minds (AI). Recent projects include :

• A report (https://arxiv.org/html/2411.00986v1) on taking AI welfare seriously;

• A report (https://nonhumanminds.org/studying-ai-welfare-empirically/) on studying AI welfare empirically;

• A perspective (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp4990) on evaluating animal consciousness;

• A paper (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11098-025-02302-2) about AI safety, AI welfare, and potential tensions between them; and

• A paper (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364661325001470) about social perceptions of AI consciousness.

The position is designed to combine close collaboration with Center faculty and staff, meaningful opportunities to contribute to the development of the Center and its field, and substantial protected time for independently led research.

This position is based in New York and the selected candidate will be expected to work onsite as of their effective start date. The appointment will be for one year beginning Fall 2027, renewable annually for up to three years total, subject to performance and funding. This position is based in New York and the selected candidate will be expected to work onsite as of their effective start date. If you are an international applicant, please review NYU’s Office of Global Services (OGS) website (https://www.nyu.edu/faculty/visa-and-immigration/international-scholar-services.html?challenge=d06e90d7-4d8f-4b88-9d8c-10b73beb60f1) . We welcome applications from international candidates; however, please note that NYU is not an E-Verify employer and therefore unable to support STEM OPT extensions.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $65,000 - $75,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer.

Mentorship and Research Environment

The Postdoctoral Associate will be part of a thriving and growing research community that includes: an internal team of researchers and postdocs, a diverse set of junior and senior collaborators from both within and outside NYU, regular mentorship from our research manager, and high-level guidance from the Director. The Center aims to provide an environment in which postdoctoral researchers can both contribute meaningfully to collaborative projects and develop the ideas, publications, relationships, and research agenda needed for the next stage of their careers.

Research plans and workload allocations will be discussed regularly to ensure that Center responsibilities do not systematically displace the Associate's protected independent research and professional-development time.

Job Summary

The Postdoctoral Associate's time will ordinarily be allocated approximately as follows. These percentages are intended as guidelines rather than rigid timesheet categories and may vary across the appointment by mutual agreement.

50% — Center-initiated and collaborative research

The Postdoctoral Associate will contribute to research projects developed or prioritized by the Center. Depending on the candidate's expertise and the Center's needs, this work may include:

• Conducting original research, including academic papers, reports, and other publications, both individually and collaboratively;

• Assisting with grant proposals and the development of new research projects and partnerships

• Helping evaluate and recruit research collaborators; and

• Helping plan, host, and attend meetings among research teams and collaborators.

The specific portfolio of collaborative projects will be developed in consultation with the Postdoctoral Associate and may evolve over the course of the appointment.

30% — Independently led research

The Postdoctoral Associate will have substantial protected time to develop and lead original research of their own design. This work should fall within, or bear a clear relationship to, the Center's mission and research priorities regarding digital minds, while allowing the Associate to develop a distinctive scholarly agenda and establish an independent research profile.

At the beginning of the appointment, and periodically thereafter, the Postdoctoral Associate will develop an independent research plan in consultation with their manager and the Center Director. Projects will be reviewed for their fit with the Center's mission, rigor, originality, feasibility, and responsible research practices.

Within those parameters, the Postdoctoral Associate will retain substantial intellectual autonomy over the questions they pursue, the approaches they take, and the conclusions they reach. Consultation and feedback from Center faculty are intended to strengthen the work rather than predetermine its substantive conclusions.

The Center may apply additional review and editorial standards to work published as a Center report, published on the Center website, or otherwise clearly associated with the Center. Independently authored academic work need not represent the views of the Center and can be published without this extra review.

10% — Center-led outreach and field-building activities

The Postdoctoral Associate will also contribute to the broader intellectual and institutional work of the Center. Activities may include:

• Helping organize and host workshops, conferences, seminars, and other events;

• Participating in outreach to researchers, policymakers, industry actors, funders, the public, and other stakeholders;

• Reviewing funding proposals from external researchers; and

• Participating in other Center activities.

10% — Professional development

The Postdoctoral Associate will have protected time for activities that support their longer-term development as an independent scholar. These may include:

• Attending and presenting at academic conferences and workshops;

• Developing new substantive or methodological expertise;

• Preparing grant and fellowship applications;

• Participating in mentoring and professional-development activities; Developing public-engagement or other relevant professional skills; and

• Preparing for future academic or research positions.

Applicants should have completed, or expect to complete before the start date, a PhD or equivalent terminal degree in a field relevant to digital minds.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• An excellent record of research appropriate to their career stage;

• Expertise relevant to nonhuman consciousness and welfare;

• The ability to conduct rigorous and original independent research;

• The ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines and perspectives;

• Strong written and oral communication skills;

• Interest in contributing to the intellectual and institutional development of a growing research center; and

• Broad alignment with the Center's mission and commitment to rigorous, open-minded, and responsible inquiry.

Experience with any of the following is welcome but not required:

• Empirical methods for studying AI systems (such as model evaluations or interpretability);

• Consciousness science or welfare science;

• Moral philosophy or philosophy of mind;

• Policy engagement or public communication; and

• Interdisciplinary research collaboration.

Applications should include:

• A curriculum vitae

• A one-page cover letter addressing why you are interested in and well-suited to this role

• A 1-3 page statement describing your research background and research plans

• A writing sample of no more than 10,000 words or 25 pages, such as a publication, dissertation chapter, or working paper

• Names and email addresses of three academic or professional references. Letters will be requested only for shortlisted candidates.

Applications received by December 1, 2026 will receive full consideration. Please contact [email protected] with questions related to the role.

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