Senior research scientist (prof haidt)

About the Lab

The Tech & Society Lab at NYU Stern, led by Jonathan Haidt and managed by Zach Rausch, is the research home of one of the most influential bodies of work on technology, adolescent mental health, and social behavior. The Lab sits at the intersection of rigorous academic research and real-world impact — generating the evidence base that drives policy, shapes public discourse, and informs the work of The Anxious Generation Movement organization. We are in an active growth phase, expanding our research agenda, team, and institutional footprint.

The Role

The Research Writer’s primary role is to help shape major arguments about technology’s impact on society to advance the goals of the Tech and Society Lab. The role sits at the intersection of research, communications, and editorial development. The Research Writer will work closely with Jonathan Haidt, Zach Rausch, and the broader lab team to develop essays, rapid-response pieces, literature syntheses, and research-driven public writing across various channels, including After Babel, academic publications, policy briefs, and major media outlets. In this role, you will help the lab clarify and refine its positioning on emerging issues within our core areas of focus and help the Lab stay intellectually current in a rapidly changing technological environment. This role is highly collaborative and creative. You’ll help bring the Lab’s ideas to life while also developing your own research-driven writing within the Lab’s core areas of focus. While there will be room for broader conceptual exploration, the primary focus of the role will be advancing the Lab’s existing research and public communication agenda. You will work closely with our research team, strengthen and edit colleagues’ work, and contribute to building After Babel as a leading platform on the impacts of digital technology on children’s health and political life.

Key Responsibilities

1. Writing, Speaking, and Editorial Development
   • Work closely with our executive, research, and policy teams to develop essays and arguments into publishable pieces
   • Draft, ghostwrite, co-author, and edit essays, op-eds, Substack posts, policy briefs, and research-driven public communications
   • Shape the framing, structure, tone, and argumentative clarity of public-facing work
   • Translate complex empirical research into clear and accessible narratives for broad audiences
   • Contribute to rapid-response analysis of new studies, policy developments, and media narratives
   • In partnership with senior editors, manage a pipeline of essays and strategic communications from idea stage through publication
   • Adapt writing across different voices, audiences, and formats while preserving author voice
   • As appropriate and at the discretion of the Chief Researcher, communicate to media and other stakeholders on behalf of the Lab on background and/or public-facing materials
2. Research Synthesis and Strategy
   • Produce literature reviews, synthesis memos, research roundups, and background briefings
   • Support deep-dive research projects across the Lab’s core focus areas
   • Connect empirical findings to broader questions involving education, social development, democratic life, institutional trust, and human flourishing
3. Emerging Technology Research
   • Help the lab stay current on rapidly evolving digital technological developments, emerging debates, and new research landscapes
   • Contribute to the Lab’s growing research agenda on AI and adolescent development, with a focus on education, attention, relationships, and well-being
   • Collaborate with research, policy, and movement teams on emerging technology initiatives
   • Support the development of future projects, partnerships, and public-facing initiatives involving AI and digital childhood
4. Supporting the Lab: Research Vetting and Quality Assurance
   • Help the lab maintain and grow its intellectual credibility. Vet public-facing submissions and drafts for rigor, evidence quality, fairness, and accuracy
   • Evaluate whether arguments appropriately reflect the broader state of the field and the lab’s standards for evidence
   • Provide ongoing QA support across research and writing projects throughout the lab
   • Help ensure consistency between academic evidence, public claims, and strategic communications

Expectations

Operate as a highly collaborative thought partner across research, writing, and strategy. Work flexibly across fast-moving projects with rapid turnaround times. Engage constructively with multiple perspectives while helping represent the broader voice and goals of the lab. Balance independent thinking with the ability to channel and support the perspectives of different authors and collaborators. Contribute to building the broader Tech & Society Lab ecosystem as the leading authority on technology and human flourishing.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $100,000-$250,000. 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.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in psychology, sociology, education, data science, public policy, or related field (or equivalent experience). Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with experience working with large datasets. Excellent writing and communication skills, with ability to translate research for broad audiences. Ability to rapidly synthesize complex research into clear narratives for broad audiences. Experience managing multiple projects with high attention to detail and deadlines. Commitment to honest, constructive dialogue and rigorous truth-seeking.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience writing for major media outlets, think tanks, or academic/public platforms. Knowledge of youth mental health, education, or technology and society scholarship. Understanding of major datasets or survey research a plus.