tarleton

Some news: we have the chance to hire a Principal Researcher studying information technology from a sociotechnical perspective at Microsoft Research New England! We're looking for a social scientist working at the intersection of information technologies, people, institutions, labor, culture, and power. Someone with an established research arc, 3+ years post PhD. MSRNE, Cambridge MA, provides a vibrant, multidisciplinary environment, with an open publication policy. 

https://jobs.careers.microsoft.com/global/en/job/1849026/Principal-Researcher-%E2%80%93-Sociotechnical-Systems-%E2%80%93-Microsoft-Research

Thrilled to share that we're once again accepting applications for our SMC internships at Microsoft Research New England, for summer 2025. If you're a current PhD student in the social sciences, thinking critically about information technologies as sociotechnical systems, take a look. (Hey #AoIR2024 I'm looking at you!) Follow the link for lots more info, including everything you need to know to apply. https://socialmediacollective.org/2024/11/01/2025-smc-summer-internship/

Meet the interns and postdoc joining the SMC this summer at Microsoft Research! Excited for this group. https://socialmediacollective.org/2024/06/19/welcoming-our-new-smc-postdoc-and-2024-interns/

Haven't posted to any form of social media in a while, for plenty of reasons. This felt worth an exception. Thanks, Ethan. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/05/opinion/facebook-court-internet-meta.html

Thrilled to announce that our call for applications to the 2024 Microsoft Research PhD internship program is live! if you are an advanced PhD student studying the implications of sociotechnical systems, join me, @nancybaym@aoir.social, @zephoria@mastodon.social, @maryLgray@dair-community.social, and our colleagues at Microsoft Research New England! Applications are due by Dec 15. https://socialmediacollective.org/2023/11/06/2024-smc-internships/

Microsoft Research has new $$ awards for academics thinking about AI & Society. There are several "research challenges" - one of which I'm overseeing (looking for people in our field thinking about generative AI as a media technology: could mean stand-alone tools like ChatGPT, or AI incorporated into media production at professional or amateur levels.) There are others sponsored by my SMC pals on emerging norms, hidden labor, and more. Take a look! Deadline is Nov 29. https://msft.it/60429NjgC

Really thoughtful, really provocative. Worth reading in full. Lee Vinsel, "How to Be a Better Reactionary: Time and Knowledge in Technology Regulation"
https://sts-news.medium.com/how-to-be-a-better-reactionary-1630b5098fbc

A job that might be relevant to #AoIR2023: "an open rank search in Global Media, Technology & Democracy at Northeastern University. The posting tries to be more specific by listing even more words! Application deadline is November 15."
https://northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/careers/details/Tenure-Track-Professor--open-rank--in-Global-Media--Technology-and-Democracy_R120157?q=global+media

MSR is seeking a 2024 postdoc, and it could be you! Do you study the sociotechnical systems we depend on for work or play, the communities grappling with them, the polit+economic forces driving their deployment or governance, or how they inflect race, gender, class, or sexuality? Join SMC - @tarleton@aoir.social, @nancybaym@aoir.social, Mary Gray, @zephoria, superb postdocs + predocs, in a unique research setting. https://socialmediacollective.org/2023/10/19/smc-postdoc-2024/ At #AoIR2023? Ask me, @nancybaym@aoir.social, @ZoeGlatt@aoir.social, or Ryland Shaw about it. App due 12/1

worth reading Thompson's sharp summary of recent research on the enormous water consumption needed to train and use generative AI models: https://clivethompson.medium.com/ai-is-thirsty-37f99f24a26e

The SMC is feeling a little proud today. The Verge chose the 40 best tech books ever – and included Lana Swartz and André Brock! https://socialmediacollective.org/2023/06/29/verge-swartz-brock/

Thrilled to get to join aoir.social. AOIR has been my intellectual home for my entire career, and seems the ideal place to continue the kind of committed public thinking about new media technologies that I enjoyed back on other... ahem... platforms.