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Cornell University Postdoctoral Associate in Political Economy and Technology 2026/2027: PhD Research Opportunity in Communication, AI and Technology

Nana Safo
Cornell University Postdoctoral Associate in Political Economy and Technology 2026/2027: PhD Research Opportunity in Communication, AI and Technology
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Are you a recent PhD graduate with a strong background in empirical research, social science, Science and Technology Studies (STS), communication, technology, history, political economy, or a related field? Cornell University is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Associate in Political Economy and Technology within its Department of Communication.

The position offers an exciting opportunity for an early-career researcher to develop an independent research project examining how technology is reshaping political and economic systems while also becoming part of an active research team led by Dr. danah boyd.

Unlike many postdoctoral positions that primarily allow researchers to continue developing their dissertation projects, this fellowship-style research appointment is specifically designed for scholars who are ready to put their dissertation project temporarily on the backburner and investigate a new, original empirical research question.

The successful candidate will conduct original fieldwork and data collection, collaborate with Dr. boyd and her research team, mentor graduate students, participate in the intellectual life of Cornell’s Department of Communication, and contribute to broader research activities.

Applications are being accepted until November 1, 2026 at 03:59 AM GMT, although applicants should be aware that the review of applications will begin much earlier, on October 16, 2026.

Cornell University Postdoctoral Associate Opportunity at a Glance

About the Cornell University Department of Communication

The position is housed within Cornell University’s Department of Communication and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences describes itself as a purpose-driven college working across disciplines to address major challenges facing society. Its research and educational work spans complex systems, communities, the environment, technology, agriculture, and other areas with significant social impact.

The Department of Communication provides the academic environment for this postdoctoral appointment, while the successful candidate will work closely with Dr. danah boyd and her research team.

The position is particularly suitable for researchers interested in understanding the relationship between technology and society rather than studying technology solely as a technical phenomenon.

What Is the Political Economy of Technology?

The central intellectual focus of the position is the political economy of technology.

Broadly, this area examines how technological systems interact with institutions, markets, governments, communities, organizations, workers, and social structures.

Researchers may investigate questions such as:

Cornell is particularly interested in applicants who can identify new and understudied questions rather than simply reproducing existing research.

Main Purpose of the Postdoctoral Position

The successful Postdoctoral Associate will be expected to propose, develop and execute an independent empirical research study focused on a novel question related to the political economy of technology.

The researcher will also become an active member of Dr. boyd’s research team.

This means the position combines three major components:

  1. Independent research
  2. Collaborative research
  3. Participation in the broader intellectual and academic community

The appointment is therefore not simply a continuation of a candidate’s PhD research. Cornell is looking for someone capable of developing a new research agenda and producing rigorous empirical work.

Important Difference From a Traditional Postdoctoral Position

One of the most important features of this opportunity is that applicants should be prepared to put their dissertation project on the backburner.

Many social science postdoctoral positions are designed to help researchers transform their doctoral dissertations into books or continue their existing dissertation research.

This position takes a different approach.

Dr. boyd’s philosophy is that stepping away from the dissertation project can give an early-career scholar the intellectual space needed to:

Applicants should therefore be comfortable starting a new empirical research project rather than simply extending their doctoral dissertation.

Expected Division of Time

The appointment has a clearly defined distribution of responsibilities.

1. Independent Primary Research — 50%

Approximately half of the Postdoctoral Associate’s time will be devoted to their proposed research project.

Activities may include:

The research project should be sufficiently focused and realistic to be completed during the postdoctoral appointment.

2. Supporting Dr. danah boyd’s Research — 25%

Approximately 25% of the position will involve supporting research conducted by Dr. boyd.

Potential responsibilities include:

Depending on the candidate’s level of involvement in specific projects, there may also be opportunities for co-authorship.

3. Intellectual Community and Mentoring — 25%

The remaining 25% will involve contributing to the broader intellectual community of the research team and department.

Responsibilities may include:

Although the position does not include formal supervisory responsibilities, the Postdoctoral Associate should expect to play a meaningful mentoring role.

Who Should Apply?

The opportunity is particularly suitable for researchers who are interested in the intersection of:

Applicants should have demonstrated their ability to conduct serious empirical research and should be able to propose an original research question with a realistic methodology.

Academic Requirements

Applicants must meet several important requirements.

PhD Requirement

Applicants must have a PhD in the social sciences, Science and Technology Studies (STS), history, or another relevant field.

The PhD must be completed and officially in hand by the start date of the position.

Applicants who have not yet completed their PhD by the start date would therefore not satisfy this requirement.

Recent PhD Requirement

Applicants must be no more than two years post-completion of their PhD.

This makes the opportunity particularly appropriate for very early-career researchers who have recently completed doctoral studies.

Applicants should carefully assess their PhD completion date against Cornell’s two-year requirement before applying.

Empirical Research Experience

Applicants must have conducted significant empirical research as part of their doctoral work.

The position is strongly research-oriented and requires the successful applicant to be capable of conducting original data collection and rigorous qualitative analysis.

Having a PhD alone is therefore not sufficient. Candidates need to demonstrate meaningful empirical research experience.

Research Methodology Requirements

Cornell has provided particularly detailed expectations concerning the methodology of the proposed project.

Qualitative Research Is Central

The proposed research should be a qualitative empirical study involving original data collection.

Cornell gives particular preference to:

Other methodologies may be incorporated as complementary approaches.

For example, researchers may use:

However, these approaches should not be the primary method of the proposed study.

This is an important consideration for applicants whose research background is primarily quantitative or computational.

Ethnographic Research Is Especially Encouraged

Applicants proposing ethnographic projects may receive particular consideration.

Ethnographic research can allow researchers to closely examine how people, institutions and organizations experience and respond to technological systems in real-world settings.

For example, a project could involve spending substantial time observing:

However, applicants are not required to conduct ethnography if they can present a strong interview-based or other qualitative empirical design.

Original Data Collection

A major requirement is that the project should involve new, original data collection.

Applicants should therefore explain precisely how they will obtain the information needed to answer their research question.

A strong proposal should demonstrate:

Access to Research Participants and Field Sites

Cornell places significant emphasis on research access.

This is because ethnographic and interview-based research can fail if a researcher cannot obtain access to the relevant people, organizations or institutions.

Applicants should therefore demonstrate a viable pathway to access.

For example, an applicant studying a technology company’s relationship with local government agencies should explain how they could realistically gain access to government officials, procurement staff, technology vendors or other relevant stakeholders.

Simply identifying an interesting research question is not enough.

The applicant needs to show that the proposed research can actually be conducted.

Theoretical Requirements

The successful applicant should have strong theoretical foundations.

Cornell gives preference to applicants with deep grounding in areas such as:

Applicants should demonstrate that they understand the theoretical debates relevant to their research question.

The proposal should therefore not merely describe a social problem. It should explain:

Projects Near Ithaca Are Especially Encouraged

Cornell particularly encourages research projects where data can be collected within driving distance of Ithaca, New York.

This is intended to help the Postdoctoral Associate remain an active member of the Cornell academic community.

Applicants proposing research requiring extensive travel should therefore carefully explain why that travel is necessary and how they will still meet the expectation of spending significant time in Ithaca.

The position requires at least 50% of the candidate’s time to be spent in Ithaca.

Living in Ithaca during the academic year is a requirement.

Examples of Research Projects

Cornell provides several examples to illustrate the kind of research it considers appropriate.

These examples are not mandatory topics. They are intended to demonstrate the type of original question the department is seeking.

AI and Agricultural Technology

One example examines how AI-based agricultural technology, such as self-milking cow machines, changes the political economy of the dairy industry.

Such research could investigate how automation affects:

Betting Markets and Technology

Another example explores how betting markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi may change norms surrounding:

The broader point is to investigate how emerging technological systems create new economic and political arrangements.

Technology Vendors and Local Governments

A third example asks how technology vendors can make local government agencies dependent on their systems and contractual arrangements.

This could potentially examine:

Again, these are examples rather than prescribed research topics.

What Cornell Really Wants From the Research Proposal

The university emphasizes that the most important factor is novelty combined with feasibility.

Applicants should ask themselves:

What important question about the political economy of technology is not being adequately studied?

The ideal project should be:

A highly ambitious project that cannot realistically obtain participants or complete data collection may be weaker than a narrower project with exceptional access and a clear research strategy.

Travel and Location Expectations

The position is based in Ithaca, New York.

The successful applicant must be willing to relocate to Ithaca and remain based there.

Depending on the proposed research project, significant travel may be necessary.

However, Cornell requires that the project be designed so that at least 50% of the candidate’s time is spent in Ithaca.

Living in Ithaca during the academic year is specifically identified as a requirement.

This means the opportunity may not be suitable for applicants who want to remain permanently outside the United States or conduct the majority of their research remotely from another country.

Funding and Research Support

The Postdoctoral Associate will receive some project and travel support.

However, the successful candidate will also be encouraged to pursue external funding opportunities.

The researcher may contribute to Dr. boyd’s grant proposals as part of their professional and academic development.

This can potentially help the researcher:

The announcement notes that the Postdoctoral Associate will not be eligible to serve as a Principal Investigator (PI).

Salary

Cornell lists the CALS hiring range for this position at:

$64,000–$70,000 per year

The final hiring rate may be determined based on factors such as:

Applicants should therefore understand that the stated range represents the hiring range rather than necessarily guaranteeing one specific salary for every successful candidate.

Duration of the Appointment

The initial appointment is for one year.

There is a possibility of a one-year renewal.

The start date is flexible, but the appointment must begin no later than August 30, 2027.

Applicants should indicate their desired start date in their cover letter.

Application Deadline

The official application deadline is:

November 1, 2026 at 03:59 AM GMT

However, applicants should not wait until the final deadline.

Cornell states that the review of applications will begin on October 16, 2026.

Applications will then continue to be reviewed as they are received until a suitable applicant is identified.

This means early submission could be strategically important.

Required Application Documents

Applicants are required to submit several materials through Academic Jobs Online.

1. Curriculum Vitae

Your CV should clearly demonstrate:

Because this is a research-intensive postdoctoral appointment, applicants should make their research profile particularly clear.

2. Cover Letter

Applicants should submit a 1–2 page cover letter.

The cover letter should describe:

The cover letter should help Cornell understand how the applicant’s academic background connects with the position and Dr. boyd’s research environment.

3. Two-Page Project Proposal

Applicants must submit a 2-page project proposal.

This is one of the most important parts of the application.

The proposal should focus on:

Applicants should demonstrate that the project is both intellectually ambitious and realistically executable.

The proposal should clearly answer:

  1. What are you studying?
  2. Why does the question matter?
  3. What is novel about the project?
  4. What data will you collect?
  5. How will you collect it?
  6. Who will you interview or observe?
  7. How will you gain access?
  8. What theories will guide the analysis?
  9. Why is the project feasible?
  10. Why is Cornell an appropriate environment for the research?

4. Dissertation Chapter and Dissertation Cover Letter

Applicants must submit:

The dissertation cover letter should explain:

The selected chapter should be a substantial internal chapter that demonstrates the applicant’s intellectual ability and research quality.

Applicants should therefore avoid automatically selecting the introduction or literature review unless it is genuinely the strongest representation of their scholarly work.

5. Article-Length Academic Paper

Applicants must also submit an example article-length paper.

The paper should be written for publication in a journal or conference proceedings.

If the paper is co-authored, applicants should attach a note explaining their specific contribution.

This requirement allows the selection committee to evaluate the applicant’s ability to produce publication-quality academic work.

6. Three References

Applicants must provide the names and contact information for three references.

The announcement specifies that applicants should provide:

Actual recommendation letters are not required at the application stage.

How Applications Will Be Evaluated

Based on the requirements in the announcement, strong applicants are likely to demonstrate several qualities.

Strong empirical research experience

Applicants should be able to demonstrate that they have successfully conducted substantial empirical research.

A genuinely original research question

The project should not simply repeat an existing research agenda.

Applicants should identify a research question that could open a new perspective on technology and political economy.

Methodological rigor

The proposed methodology should be appropriate, detailed and realistic.

Strong theoretical grounding

Applicants should demonstrate familiarity with relevant theoretical traditions, particularly STS, political economy and social theory.

Realistic access

The applicant should provide convincing evidence that they can actually reach the people, organizations or communities needed for the research.

Feasibility

The project should be achievable within the postdoctoral appointment.

Collaborative ability

Because 25% of the position involves supporting Dr. boyd’s research and another 25% involves participating in the intellectual community, applicants should demonstrate that they can work effectively with others.

International Applicants

The announcement does not state that applicants must be citizens or residents of the United States.

Cornell also states that it is an equal opportunity employer and indicates that employment decisions are not made on the basis of legally protected characteristics, including national or ethnic origin, citizenship and immigration status, race, color, religion, sex, age, disability and other protected characteristics.

Therefore, qualified international applicants may apply.

Researchers from Africa and other regions outside the United States are not excluded simply because of their nationality or location.

However, an international applicant must be prepared to meet the practical requirements of the position, particularly relocation to Ithaca and any applicable U.S. employment or immigration requirements.

Why This Opportunity Could Be Valuable for Early-Career Researchers

This position could be particularly valuable for a researcher seeking to build an academic career around technology and society.

Potential benefits include:

The opportunity is particularly distinctive because it deliberately encourages researchers to step outside their dissertation project and develop a new line of inquiry.

Important Things Applicants Should Consider Before Applying

Before beginning an application, prospective candidates should carefully assess whether they meet the essential requirements.

Ask yourself:

If the answer to these questions is largely yes, the opportunity may be worth serious consideration.

Pro Tip for Applicants

The two-page project proposal should receive significant attention.

Do not simply submit a broad statement such as “I want to study AI and society.”

Instead, develop a specific, compelling and researchable question.

A strong proposal should make the reader quickly understand:

the problem → the research question → why it is novel → who you will study → how you will gain access → what data you will collect → how you will analyze it → what theoretical contribution the research could make.

Because Cornell specifically emphasizes novelty and viability, an original project with a convincing access strategy is likely to be more persuasive than an extremely broad project that would be difficult to execute.

Application Link

Applications should be submitted online through AcademicJobs Online.

Applicants should prepare all required materials before beginning the submission process, including the CV, cover letter, research proposal, dissertation materials, writing sample and three references. Visit HERE for more information

Application Deadline: November 1, 2026 at 03:59 AM GMT

Application Review Begins: October 16, 2026

Conclusion

The Cornell University Postdoctoral Associate in Political Economy and Technology is a highly specialized opportunity for recently graduated PhD researchers interested in understanding the relationship between technology, society, institutions, markets and power.

The position stands out because it is not simply intended to help a researcher turn an existing dissertation into a book. Instead, the successful candidate will be expected to develop a new empirical research project that offers an original perspective on the political economy of technology.

The researcher will spend approximately half of their time conducting independent research, while the remaining time will involve supporting Dr. danah boyd’s research activities and contributing to Cornell’s broader intellectual community.

Applicants should have a relevant PhD, substantial empirical research experience, strong theoretical and methodological foundations, and a convincing plan for conducting qualitative research and gaining access to appropriate research participants or field sites.

International applicants can apply, as the announcement does not impose a nationality, country or continental restriction. Nevertheless, applicants must be prepared to relocate to Ithaca, New York, and meet the position’s requirement to be based there during the academic year.

With a salary range of $64,000–$70,000, an initial one-year appointment with possible renewal, access to Cornell’s academic environment, opportunities for collaboration and research support, and the chance to develop an entirely new research agenda, this position represents a strong opportunity for an eligible early-career scholar working at the intersection of technology, communication, AI, political economy and society.

Prospective applicants should begin preparing their materials early because application review starts on October 16, 2026, even though the listed application deadline is November 1, 2026 at 03:59 AM GMT.

For more global PHD jobs, visit the OFY Website HERE

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