Research Assistant
Research Assistant: Global Systemic Risk, Tech Innovation, and Policy
Job Description:
The Stanford Existential Risk Initiative (SERI) is seeking a student to work for Trond Arne Undheim, Research Scholar in Global Systemic Risk, Innovation, and Policy, and his collaborators bringing together available data sets and insights, and assisting in developing new empirical, on a myriad of existential technology risks (nuclear, AI, bio, etc.), ecological risks (pandemics, biodiversity, climate change), and geopolitics (long-term shifts), as part of looking to create a set of scenarios for 50 years into the future. The anthropocene period of the past fifty years has drastically increased the odds that human activity can play a part in negative knock-on effects. How can we increase the understanding about what the next 50 years will bring? For more information on the topic of Existential risk, see SERI’s website or Trond’s new spring ‘23 course: The Future of Global Systemic Risk.
Duties will include:
- Conduct literature research, synthesize information, and help write scenario background analysis materials and data projections based on an eclectic set of data sources
- Assist with writing, editing and refining raw material for journal articles and for Trond’s new book on Saving Humanity: The Next 50 Years
- Help build a strategic sample of stakeholders to engage, organize data gathering events, focus groups, and scenario workshops globally (virtual and in-person events), and stay in constant touch with the growing network
Requested skills of student: Students should be a junior, senior or graduate level and have some background in economics and/or data analysis and have a working knowledge of Stata and/or R. Some background in science- and technology studies (STS) and/or interest in scientifically informed futurism would be helpful. Students with an interest in catastrophic and existential risk from either systemic, tech, or policy angles are encouraged to apply.
Anticipated commitment: 10-15 hours per week through the 2022-23 Academic Year.
Please send a resume, cover letter and transcript to trondun@stanford.edu. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
