The School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S) is the center of a world-class liberal arts education at Stanford University. H&S encompasses 23 departments--from Art and Art History, English, and History to Economics, Mathematics, and Biology--as well as 23 interdisciplinary programs. As the university's largest school, H&S serves as the foundation of a Stanford undergraduate education no matter which discipline students pursue as a major. Graduate students work alongside world-renowned faculty to pursue and shape foundational research that leads to breakthroughs and discoveries that shed new light on the past, influence the present, and shape the future. Together, faculty and students in H&S engage in inspirational teaching, learning, and research every day.

The Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (PACS) is a global interdisciplinary research center and publisher of the Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR). Stanford PACS develops and shares knowledge to improve philanthropy, strengthen civil society, and address societal challenges. By creating a shared space for scholars, students, and practitioners, Stanford PACS informs policy and social innovation, philanthropic investment, and nonprofit practice.

The Program on Democracy and the Internet creates and shares original empirical research around how digital technologies are impacting democracy to inform and educate decision-makers in the field, including the next generation of technologists, business leaders, and policymakers. Nathaniel Persily is the James B. McClatchy Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, with appointments in the departments of Political Science, Communication, and FSI. He is the co-director of the Program on Democracy and the Internet and the Cyber Policy Center. He is seeking a research assistant with excellent analytical and organizational skills and outstanding academic credentials to support research, teaching, and administrative activities at the Program on Democracy and the Internet.

The position involves overseeing multiple research initiatives at the intersection of ethics, democracy, and policy technology involving Professor Persily (and other collaborators) including (1) training and supervising undergraduate research assistants (2) drafting reports, conducting literature reviews, and leading the preparation of research memos (3) organizing and convening research workshops/symposia with other faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students, (4) leading and organizing public events at which research is discussed and presented, (5) supporting work at the Program on Democracy and the Internet, which is partly located at the Cyber Policy Center. The Research Assistant will also support Professor Persily's current and future teaching and lecture activities, including serving as course manager for university-wide courses on cyber policy, online trust and safety; the "hack lab"; ethics, public policy, and technology; and the law of democracy. Additionally, the Research Assistant will assist with a range of administrative needs, including (1) manage a variety of outreach and communication activities to promote research initiatives, including a conference on blockchain policy, regulation of the metaverse, and redistricting; (2) drafting grant proposals for funding; and (3) leading communications and outreach to external audiences on behalf of the Program on Democracy and the Internet.

Learn more about his work at: https://law.stanford.edu/directory/nathaniel-persily/#slsnav-policy-practicums

This is a one year fixed term, with possibility of renewal, up to two years.

Your responsibilities include*:

• Plan and perform research tasks requiring initiative and judgment by applying basic knowledge and understanding of scientific theory when precedents do not provide specific guidance. General instruction provided by the supervisor as needed. May interpret study results in collaboration with supervisor or PI.
• Participate in the development and administration of survey instruments and rating scales requiring judgment in applying non-routine procedures. Analyze and summarize results for review with supervisor. Audit the accuracy and validity of data
• Review and audit case report forms for completion and accuracy with source documents, and ensure compliance with research protocols.
• Identify, select, extract and summarize data and structured information. Present summary of findings to supervisor.
• Conduct literature searches, and write literature summaries and manuscripts, requiring preliminary judgments after the supervisor outlines conceptual approach.
• Build and organize data as requested by principal investigator or supervisor; use common statistical programs requiring the application of job control language in generating and organizing data.
• Adapt new, nonstandard methods outlined by supervisor in designing and evaluating phases of research projects, (i.e., educational materials, questionnaires, strategies for recruitment, data quality control procedures and processes). May follow up with Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure renewals are approved and completed, seeking guidance where necessary.
• Assist with development, communication and design of research findings to internal and external audiences, which may include web updates, social media, and/or white papers, for use in recruitment, educational, or awareness of programs, with guidance from supervisor.
• May orient and train new staff or students.

* - Other duties may also be assigned