Type: Postdoctoral Fellowship
Start date: Flexible (but ideally September 1, 2020)
Duration: One-year fellowship (with possibility of renewal)
Salary range: $45,000, plus benefits
Reports to: Dr. Colleen M. Flood, University Research Chair in Health Law and Policy (in collaboration with Dr. Kelly Bronson and Dr. Florian Martin-Bariteau)
Fellowship Description
We are seeking a skilled and enthusiastic Postdoctoral Fellow to pursue an innovative research program focused on the legal and ethical aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied to the health and health care sector.
The successful candidate will be supervised throughout the postdoctoral fellowship by leading health law, ethics, and law and technology scholars from the University of Ottawa together with an advisory committee of national and international scholars, as part of the new Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue’s Project on AI for Healthy Humans and Environments.
Applicants are encouraged to propose creative ideas for a postdoctoral fellowship, emphasising how they plan to contribute to new knowledge within the domain of the application of AI to health and health care. We are particularly interested in proposals focused on regulation of medical devices and innovative approaches to regulation thereof to ensure the support of innovation whilst protecting patients and providers from a safety, quality, privacy and other human rights perspectives.
It is expected that this work will result in a series of joint publications by the end of the fellowship. Research outputs (e.g. policy recommendations and framework proposals) will be disseminated through a series of publications, white papers and other knowledge mobilization activities. The postdoctoral fellowship will focus on research dissemination and knowledge translation both within and outside the academy, and with public and private sector actors
The successful candidate will be registered as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Ottawa and will enjoy all associated privileges. This individual will have a strong background in law and, in addition, it would be helpful but not necessary to have training in ethics and/or policy.
About the Project
The Postdoctoral Fellow will join the dynamic research community of the AI + Society Initiative at the University of Ottawa, and the new Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue’s Project on AI for Healthy Humans and Environments.
The University of Ottawa has positioned itself as a leader in transdisciplinary research and training for responsible AI for the benefit of Canada and the world. The AI + Society Initiative leads a research agenda for a better understanding and framing of the ethical, legal and societal implications of AI research and its uses, as well as leveraging a transdisciplinary approach to advancing AI methods and tools, with a focus on their responsible applications.
Co-lead by Dr. Kelly Bronson, Dr. Colleen M. Flood and Dr. Florian Martin-Bariteau, the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue's Project on AI for Healthy Humans and Environments synergistically brings together leading centres and researchers on AI and proposes research and knowledge translation in the areas of health care, agriculture and the environment. The project aims at developing tools and a framework to support policy makers in Canada and abroad in implementing “smart” changes–ones which support healthier and more sustainable AI-powered healthcare and food production.
The Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue’s Project on AI for Healthy Humans and Environment builds on the expertise of the Centre for Law, Technology and Society, Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics, the Institute for Science, Society and Policy, and a network of leading experts from the Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability, the LIFE Institute, the Centre for Governance, and the Centre for Public Law.
Position Requirements
- Doctoral degree in law or allied field (e.g., ethics [social or bioethics], political science, public health) with training in law. The preference will be on candidates with doctorates awarded in the last 5 years, but all candidates will be considered.
- Research experience, preferably in law and policy.
- English Proficiency.
Additionally, the following skills will be considered as assets:
- Bilingualism (English and French).
- Scholarship on the relevant topics.
- Experience with knowledge mobilization (translation and exchange).
If the start date for this position is affected either by the candidate being under COVID-19-related travel restrictions or the campus being closed, remote working options can be negotiated.
How to apply
Apply on our Application Portal
The application package should include:
- a cover letter,
- a complete curriculum vitae,
- a one-page (max.) description of research interests relevant for this position.
The selection committee will start to review applications on June 8th. Applications will be considered until a successful candidate is found. We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those under consideration for the role will be contacted.
The cover letter shall indicate the level of proficiency in English and French.
The University of Ottawa is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.
In keeping with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada requirements, all qualified persons are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The cover letter should confirm the immigration status of the candidate.
In keeping with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, the University of Ottawa will provide accommodations upon request during the recruitment, selection and assessment process for candidates with a disability.