Postdoctoral Researcher - Public Tech Media Lab

Job Category:
Employees in Training

Employment Type:

Terminal (Fixed Term)

Job Profile:
Postdoctoral Fellow

The Public Tech Media Lab is currently hiring a postdoctoral researcher to lead studies of artificial intelligence in journalism. Specific research directions would be developed with the postdoctoral scientist. The broad focus should be on creating AI-based systems to help journalists collect, analyze, and distribute news content, as well as engage audiences. The position is fully funded and will initially be for one year, with the possibility of renewal for another year.

We offer a collaborative and international research environment, with Lab members and media partners from across the world, access to computational resources, and research funding.

The PTML seeks a postdoctoral fellow who will advance their scholarly projects with opportunities to participate in the vibrant intellectual community at UW-Madison and foster cross-campus exchange.

• Appointments as postdoctoral fellows and postdoctoral trainees should be made only if it can be demonstrated that the appointee's activities are primarily for the benefit of the appointee's own learning and research. Otherwise, it is more appropriate to use an employment title such as researcher or scientist. Employment titles apply whenever the duties assigned are under the direct supervision and control of the employer and are primarily for the benefit of the University or granting agency.
  
  The work of individuals appointed as postdoctoral fellows or postdoctoral trainees should be independent or self-directed, subject only to such supervision as might be given by a teacher to a student.
• These criteria do not prevent the university of the extramural source of funds from receiving some benefit from the appointee's activities. Activities still may be of value to the extramural grantor, or may be useful internally to the university in satisfaction of other grant or contract requirements. The test is whether the work undertaken by the appointee is a necessary and relevant part of the appointee's learning program.
  
  However, the "primary benefit" test outlined above does forbid assigning tasks to the appointee which are unnecessary and irrelevant to the learning program or are repetitive beyond that which is necessary to achieve excellence in the activity, even if these tasks do not constitute the major portion of the appointee's activities. Except in rare cases, stipends paid to postdoctoral fellows or trainees are not excludable from gross income for purposes of income tax and thus are fully taxable.
  
  Since such stipends are not wages, however, the University will not withhold taxes from monthly stipend checks. Therefore, trainees and fellows may be required to pay estimated taxes on a quarterly basis.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication

$70,000

• We seek individuals who think critically, work independently, and approach research with rigor and precision. For this particular position, strong quantitative skills are a must. Other desirable knowledge/skills include: i) machine learning, ii) computational social science methods, and iii) strong writing skills.

We are looking for individuals with a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Network Science, Communication Studies, or related fields.

• Statement of Interest (2 pages maximum, single-spaced) describing how your research aligns with the mission of the Public Tech Media Lab.
• Postdoctoral Project Narrative (3 pages maximum). In your research proposal, please outline a concrete idea for a research project you would like to conduct in the lab and with our media partners.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Contact information for three potential references.

Click the "Apply" button to start the application process.

Note:

There is only one attachment field. Please compile all materials into a single PDF and upload in the attachment field.

The Final date to receive applications for this position is February 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM.

Tomas Dodds, Assistant Professor, doddsrojas

Diversity…