Tech Ethics & Policy Rising Scholars Program

Applications are now closed for the 2025-26 cohort. Please check back in Spring for updates. 

The Tech Ethics & Policy (TEP) Rising Scholars program aims to bring early-career scholars who have a bachelor’s degree and an interest in issues at the intersection of ethics, policy, society, and technology into full-time research positions at Stanford University. The goal of the program is to serve as a bridge into long-term careers in ethics, technology, and policy. Successful outcomes for participants include going on to competitive graduate programs in related fields or into impactful jobs in government, the private sector, or civil society.

TEP Rising Scholars will be hired as full-time research associates who will work to support research, teaching, and administrative activities at the Ethics Center or the Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI).

This program is made possible by Frank McCourt in association with Stanford’s partnership with the Project Liberty Institute.

Meet the current TEP Rising Scholars

Core Duties

Scholars will oversee and contribute to multiple research initiatives at the intersection of ethics, policy, and technology including:

  1. drafting reports, conducting literature reviews, and leading the preparation of research memos
  2. collecting and analyzing research data
  3. organizing and convening research workshops/symposia with other faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students
  4. leading and organizing public events at which research is discussed and presented

There are two positions available.

1. McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society Research Associate, PI Professor Rob Reich

Professor Rob Reich is the McGregor-Girand Professor of Social Ethics of Science and Technology. He is also the Faculty Director of the Ethics, Society, and Technology Initiatives at the McCoy Center for Ethics in Society and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. He seeks a rising scholar with excellent analytical and organizational skills and outstanding academic credentials to support his overall research, teaching, and administrative activities. The position will chiefly involve work on supporting the development and delivery of a new course on AI Governance, research initiatives on the governance of frontier science and technology (especially AI), and support on internal and external scheduling and presentations. The Rising Scholar will work on (1) drafting reports, conducting literature reviews, and leading the preparation of research memos (2) organizing and convening research workshops/symposia with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students, (3) leading and organizing public events at which research is discussed and presented, (4) supporting current and future teaching and lecture activities, including the new course on AI governance as well as CS182, Ethics, Public Policy, and Technological Change.

2. Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI) Research Associate, PIs Dr. Jennifer King and Elena Cryst

The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI) Policy team and HAI Privacy and Data Policy Fellow Dr. Jennifer King seek a rising scholar with excellent communication, research, analytical and writing skills to support their policy research projects. The rising scholar will primarily work on a set of research projects on the interplay of AI and data privacy; policy considerations for different AI-enabled technology sectors; and the governance and development of AI in a global context. The rising scholar will work on 1) organizing workshops and roundtable discussions; 2) conducting literature reviews, research memos, and desk research; 3) data collection, analysis, and clear visual presentation; and 4) drafting academic papers and reports. The fellow will be an integrated member of the HAI policy team, including attending bi-weekly working group meetings and engaging with the broader team on conferences, events, and more. This role is shared between the policy team (directed by Elena Cryst) and Dr. Jennifer King.

TEP Rising Scholars will also have the opportunity to participate in the intellectual community of Ethics in Society and HAI, including auditing courses, attending workshops and conferences, and being mentored by prominent scholars in their fields.

Education and Experience

Successful candidates will have a bachelor's degree in a field or combination of fields such as computer science, philosophy, data science, sociology, science & technology studies, political science, psychology, public policy, history, communication, and other related disciplines. Candidates should also have a passion for investigating issues at the intersection of ethics, technology, society, and policy.

Rising Scholars will begin the program in September 2025 and will be based on the Stanford campus, but can be considered for an option of telecommuting (hybrid of working on-site and off-site), subject to operational need. Up to four positions are available.

How to Apply

We invite you to apply for this position via the Stanford careers site.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. To be considered, along with your online application, you must submit:

  1. Resume/CV
  2. 2-page cover letter describing how your academic, personal, and/or professional experiences have prepared you for this position and how the TEP Rising Scholars Program will contribute to your career development. Applicants are encouraged to include references to related courses, research, or other experiences that may have prepared them for the program. Please indicate which role (Embedded Ethics or the Ethics and Society Review) you are applying for in your cover letter.

Please email estinitiatives [at] stanford.edu (estinitiatives[at]stanford[dot]edu) with any questions.