Research Educator – Artificial Intelligence and Society

The First-year Research Immersion (FRI) program at Binghamton University invites applications for a three-year renewable, full time Research Assistant Professor (also known as the Research Educator) position, to begin August 2026. This is a unique 10-month non-tenure track faculty position that directly combines teaching and research to empower faculty to grow as research educators, leaders, mentors, and higher education professionals.
This Research Educator will launch the new research stream entitled "Artificial Intelligence and Society". We seek candidates whose research applies or analyzes artificial intelligence (AI) in ways that address real-world social, cultural, ethical, or economic challenges. The position is open to candidates from diverse academic backgrounds, provided they have a foundation in AI or computational methods, and an interest in examining AI's broader societal impacts or leveraging AI to address societal challenges. Candidates must have completed a terminal degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) by August 18, 2026.
Depending on the Research Educator's expertise, the stream may investigate topics such as:
Using AI and machine learning to understand or address social challenges (e.g., health disparities, misinformation, sustainability)
Evaluating the ethical, psychological, or cultural implications of AI applications
Measuring the economic or sociological impact of AI integration
Identifying, assessing, and mitigating bias in AI systems
Exploring how governance, policy, and public perception influence the development and deployment of AI
We envision a multidisciplinary approach that draws on both technical AI skills and relevant domain expertise to use, inform, or develop AI systems for the public good. The stream will work closely with Binghamton University's new Institute for AI and Society, funded by New York State's initiative to advance the public good through AI education and innovation (Learn more about the Institute).
Research Educators are responsible for guiding first- and second-year student cohorts (~30 per cohort) through authentic research experiences and, in doing so, will help students develop the professional skills desired by graduate schools and employers. The Research Educator is expected to teach students via student-centered, active learning, and open-source education approaches. Within that high-impact learning environment, and alongside faculty stream collaborators, the Research Educator maintains and/or expands their own research program. More detail about the FRI program is available at our website: www.binghamton.edu/fri
Overall, FRI provides an excellent education and research training program with opportunities for continuation in the FRI program with expanded roles and responsibilities over time. Although non-tenurable, a promotion pathway is in place for Research Educators.

Responsibilities:
Teaching & Mentorship
Serve as instructor for stream FRI courses (Fall: FRI Semester 1 & FRI Semester 3; Spring: FRI Semester 2)
Continually develop, maintain and revise stream curriculum
Supervise, train & manage undergraduate peer mentors (UGPMs)
Research
Maintain research lab & budget
Perform research in conjunction with stream students
Collaborate with faculty and relevant collaborators on research projects
Disseminate results
Service
Participate in FRI program events & committees
Support students in continuing efforts and activities post-FRI program experience
General
Attend and actively participate in FRI faculty/staff meetings
Facilitate formative and summative assessments of the research stream and FRI students
Professional Development
Actively participate in research and educational professional development activities
The FRI research community empowers students to make scientific and personal discoveries while developing vital skills for success through four main value pillars: community, transferable-skills, personal impact, and discovery.
Requirements:
PhD in a discipline matching the theme for the research stream by August 18, 2026.
Demonstrated expertise in one or more disciplines that align with the theme for the research stream.
Advanced experimental design and technical skills that align with the research stream
Effective communication skills
Ability to manage multiple responsibilities and timelines simultaneously with a high degree of organization, accuracy and efficiency
Ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively
Effective professional and organizational skills
Ability to problem solve, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks
Ability to analyze and organize information and materials for a variety of research projects
Preferred:
Minimum of two years of teaching experience in higher education (can be as a teaching assistant)
Experience mentoring undergraduate researchers
Experience supervising undergraduate and/or graduate teaching assistants
Experience managing a research laboratory (i.e., physical space with equipment for a research program/project used by several people)

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, please note that Binghamton University is not an E-Verify employer.

Additional Information:
Binghamton University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the ADA Coordinator by completing the following Request Form.
The State University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. It is the policy of Binghamton University to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.
As required by title IX and its implementing regulations, Binghamton University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the educational programs and activities which it operates. This requirement extends to employment and admission. Inquiries about sex discrimination may be directed to the University Title IX Coordinator or directly to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Contact information for the Title IX Coordinator and OCR, as well as the University's complete Non-Discrimination Notice may be found here.
Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.
Effective October 15, 2025, the University will fully implement Management Procedure 633 – Pre-Employment Background Checks. This policy applies to all new faculty and staff hires who will be placed on the University's faculty/staff payroll.

Candidates selected for employment will receive a conditional offer of employment, contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Hiring managers are responsible for ensuring that the required HR-provided language is included in all offer letters. Employees may not begin work until the process is complete and HR has provided final clearance.

The background check process is managed by a third-party vendor and is designed to be fast and efficient, minimizing any impact on the hiring timeline. The presence of a conviction does not automatically disqualify an individual from employment. Each situation is reviewed in context, considering factors such as the nature, number, and date(s) of the conviction(s), and their relevance to the duties and responsibilities of the position.

This policy does not apply to current University employees. However, employees who have a break in service of more than six months and are subsequently re-employed will be subject to the same procedure.

For more information, please review the full policy here: https://www.binghamton.edu/operations/policies/policy-633.html.
Binghamton University is a tobacco-free campus effective August 1, 2017.
Applicant Instructions:
All applicants must apply via Interview Exchange: Insert Link
Review of applications will begin January 16th and continue until the vacancy is filled.

Please submit:
1. Curriculum vitae
2. Cover letter (1 page maximum) telling us why you are interested in the position and why you feel you are qualified
3. Teaching philosophy and how it relates to teaching undergraduates how to conduct research (250-500 words)
4. Diversity statement (the candidate's individual experience, participation in, promotion of and/or impact of diversity in their own lives) (250-500 words)
5. Research statement written for a broad general audience that includes example research projects that could be employed with first- and second-year students as well as a list of the equipment, software and other supplies needed (250-500 words)

You may add additional files/documents after uploading your resume. After you fill out your contact information, you will be directed to the upload page. Please login to check/edit your profile or to upload additional documents: http://binghamton.interviewexchange.com/login.jsp.