Postdoctoral Scholar - Fairness and Privacy in Spatial-Temporal Data Modeling, UW Bothell
Position Overview
Organization: Computing & Software Systems
Title: Postdoctoral Scholar - Fairness and Privacy in Spatial-Temporal Data Modeling, UW Bothell
Position Details
Position Description
The University of Washington Bothell invites applications for a full time Postdoctoral Scholar to participate in research on fairness and privacy in special-temporal data modeling. This position has an anticipated start in Winter 2024.
This position is a full time 12 month (one year) appointment, with the opportunity to renew. The base salary range for this position will be $5,705/month ($68,460 per year), commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination. Other compensation associated with this position may include travel to present research fundings at a conference. Note this is not a remote position and successful candidate must relocate to Seattle, Washington.
This position is open until filled.
Project Overview:
Recent years have witnessed a surge in the utilization of location-based social media and other spatial-temporal data for a variety of decision-making applications within the realms of urban computing and smart mobility networks. Nevertheless, as decision-making tasks increasingly rely on predictive models built upon historical data, a critical concern arises: to what extent are these models and analyses representative of actual usage, fair, and inclusive?
In response to this concern, our cutting-edge research project aims at auditing spatial-temporal (ST) predictive models for fairness from both individual and collective perspectives. Our research seeks to address the existing gaps in measuring and quantifying the fairness of ST data and models, especially as they relate to enhancing the privacy of this type of data.
This multifaceted role offers the opportunity to engage in groundbreaking research, collaborate with a diverse team, potentially teach, and mentor students, contribute to open-source software development, and actively participate in knowledge dissemination and ethical data handling. The postdoctoral fellow will play a pivotal role in advancing the state of the art in fairness and privacy within spatial-temporal data modeling while fostering a collaborative and inclusive research environment.
Position Responsibilities:
- Conduct cutting-edge research in the field of fairness and privacy in spatial-temporal data modeling, in alignment with the project's objectives.
- Develop novel algorithms and models for collective-level and individual-level fairness in spatial-temporal data.
- Collaborate closely with members of Dr. Mashhadi's research lab to facilitate interdisciplinary research efforts.
- Provide mentorship and guidance to undergraduate and graduate students on research projects.
- Engage in regular meetings and discussions to share progress, insights, and findings with team members.
- Prepare research papers and publish research findings in top-tier conferences and journals within the field.
- Maintain thorough documentation of research methodologies, results, and code.
- Assist in preparing progress reports and project documentation.
- Develop and maintain a Python package for quantifying fairness in crowd flow algorithms, contributing to the open-source community.
- Assist in writing grant proposals to secure funding for ongoing and future research projects.
- Engage with the broader academic and professional community through workshops, seminars, and outreach activities.
Teaching Opportunities:
- Collaborate with faculty in the department to explore potential teaching opportunities, which may include leading guest lectures or co-courses related to machine learning, data science, or fairness in AI.
Postdoctoral scholars at the University of Washington are engaged in full-time, mentored, advanced training to enhance professional skills and research independence, and perform primarily research and scholarship under the direction and supervision of University faculty mentors. Postdoctoral scholar positions are non-tenure eligible. Postdoctoral Scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website (https://hr.uw.edu/labor/academic-and-student-unions/uaw-postdocs/uaw-postdoc-contract).
Contact Information:
For inquiries about the position or the research project, please contact Dr. Mashhadi at mashhadi@uw.edu. Join us in advancing the state of the art in fairness and privacy within spatial-temporal data modeling. Your research will have a meaningful impact on ensuring that decision-making processes are inclusive and equitable in our increasingly data-driven world.
The School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics is the largest school at UW Bothell, and we remain committed to attracting diverse faculty and staff who create an exceptional student experience in support of our core values of COLLABORATION, OPPORTUNITY, RESPONSIBILITY, and ENGAGEMENT. We offer twenty-three undergraduate and graduate degrees and eight minors across four Divisions (Biological Sciences, Computing and Software Systems, Engineering and Mathematics, Physical Sciences). The School is housed in several buildings on a vibrant campus collocated on a restored 100-acre wetland with an active salmon stream, including the 74,000 square-foot Discovery Hall teaching and laboratory facility, with a new 77,000 square-foot STEM building in collaboration with Cascadia College opening in Fall 2023.
Located in the heart of the Puget Sound region, the University of Washington Bothell is one of the most dynamic public universities in the state of Washington. The campus is committed to increasing access to an excellent UW education and preparing students to be leaders throughout Washington and beyond.
UW Bothell provides students a participatory, cross-disciplinary experience grounded in hands-on learning, community-based research, close relationships with faculty as teachers and mentors, and the personalized support of staff who are dedicated to student success.
The campus offers more than 55 undergraduate and graduate degrees. Current enrollment is approximately 6,000 students. More than 90% of undergraduates are from Washington State, approximately 40% are first-generation college attendees, and more than half are students of color. The University values hiring faculty and staff who have demonstrated experience and ability to work successfully with diverse student populations and who can contribute to a campus culture that promotes equity among colleagues.
Diversity and inclusion are core values at UW Bothell. Our work begins with the acceptance and celebration of the differences that are represented through the many diverse and minoritized communities on our campus and in the surrounding community. We recognize that we are bound together in a collective experience and that our actions impact all in our community. When we focus on the lives of the most marginalized groups among us, we also create conditions of equity, justice and academic excellence for everyone. To learn more about our commitment to diversity, visit https://www.uwb.edu/diversity.
The three priorities of the University’s current Strategic Plan, “Increasing Access, Achieving Excellence,” are to strengthen diversity and equity, enhance community and campus engagement, and advance cross-disciplinary teaching and scholarship.
In addition to having award winning faculty and staff, UW Bothell has been recognized for innovations in academic programming and support services designed to help students graduate on time and debt-free. It has also earned both recognition and awards for its work in the area of environmental sustainability.
UW Bothell is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) that participates in the AANAPISI program. This program provides grants and related assistance to enable MSI to improve and expand their capacity to serve Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders and low-income individuals.
Qualifications
- A Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field by the appointment start date.
- Strong research background in machine learning, including proficiency in programming languages such as Python and experience with machine learning frameworks such as Pytorch and Tensorflow.
- Strong publication record in top tier peer-reviewed journals or conferences related to the CS field.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills shown through international publications and presentations.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research team.
Instructions
Interested candidates should submit the following application materials through Interfolio:
- A cover letter detailing their research experience and interests.
- A curriculum vitae (CV) with a list of publications.
- Contact information for at least three references.
- Sample Publication
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.
Benefits Information
A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.
Commitment to Diversity
The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).
Privacy Notice
Review the University of Washington Privacy Notice for Demographic Data of Job Applicants and University Personnel to learn how your demographic data are protected, when the data may be used, and your rights.
Disability Services
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.