The Civic Data Design Lab Has
Three Open Research Positions:
We are looking for researchers that have skills in developing data visualizations, managing databases, performing data analytics, and developing crowdsourcing applications. Candidates for the position should be interested in developing code, but also producing scholarship on the outcomes of both the data visualizations and programs developed.
The Lab is Currently Looking for Candidates with the Following Skills
- A Master’s degree or terminal degree in geography, GIS, urban planning, urban design, landscape architecture, architecture, data science, statistics, sociology or related field of study, or 5 or more years of direct experience in one of these fields.
- Experience with mapping, Geographic Information Systems, and statistics packages.
- Familiarity with Python.
- Experience with acquiring, managing and cleaning data from various sources.
- Familiar with database systems including the development of spatial databases such as PostgreSQL and PostGIS.
- Familiarity with front end web page development, developing CSS and using Bootstrap templates. Understanding of latest web-based mapping and visualization software such as D3 and leaflet.
- MIT is committed to building a culturally diverse educational environment; women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.
EOE.
Please contact civicdatajobs@mit.edu with your CV and sample of your work if you are interested in applying.
About us:
The Civic Data Design Lab works with data to understand it for the public good. We seek to develop projects which can make the work we do with data more responsive to the needs and interests of citizens traditionally on the margins of policy development. In this practice we experiment with and develop data visualization and collection tools that allow us to highlight urban phenomena. Our methods borrow from the traditions of science and design by using spatial analytics to expose patterns and communicating those results, through design, to new audiences.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS:
1 - Data Visualization Research Associate –Phillips
MIT’s Center for Advanced Urbanism and Civic Data Design Lab are seeking a Research Associate, who specializes in GIS and data visualization to join a team exploring issues around Smart Cities and lighting. The Atlas of Lighting project is examining the relationship between lighting and the socio-economic characteristics of approximately ten cities across the US. This work will help to shape part of the research framework for the five-year MIT-Philips research alliance. The Research Associate will be responsible for managing the Atlas of Lighting project, as well as assisting with the development of the research agenda with Philips for additional years of the collaboration. They will help to manage the coordination of this project to ensure deadlines are met, and will be responsible for overseeing and providing guidance to RAs and students working on this project. Other responsibilities may include coordinating internal bi-weekly project meetings, preparing materials for meeting with the sponsor, and preparing future project proposals in conjunction with PI. This is a one-year appointment with the possibility of renewal dependent upon funding and progress.
2 - Post Doctorate / Research Associate Position - Transportation Visualization
This is a two years post doctorate position looking at issues of Transportation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on collecting data for the provision of transport services to populations on the margins of society. The post-doctorate candidate for this position should have skills in data analytics and Geographic Information Systems, as they will be asked to analyze how data can help create evidence for the needs of these transport users. Candidates should have an interest in crowd sourcing as the research team will use crowd sourcing techniques as a way to obtain information. There will be a focus on visualizing the results of the data collection. Therefore, familiarity with D3 or other web-based visualization packages would be helpful. Candidates for this position should have a degree in Geography, Transportation, Urban Planning or a related field, with an ability toward developing academic writing projects about the use of technology and data to impact civic change. Candidates who do not have a Ph.D. will be considered at a Research Associate level.
3 – Research Associate – Chinese Social Media – Cities That TalkBack
The Civic Data Design Lab has just received a Sam Tak Lee grant that looks at the impact social media data can have in describing land use, urban flows, and real estate patterns in Chinese cities. In this process, we have two main goals: 1) gather data available through Chinese social media APIs 2) create an app within WeChat that will allow us to gather data on topics of our own choosing, a civic crowd sourcing application. We have already begun to collect data from Chinese social media site, and we need to begin analysis of the data and the development of the development of the WeChat application, the research team is, therefore, looking for someone who can develop the application and had data analysis skills using GIS or other spatial statistical packages. Chinese fluency would be extremely helpful (both speaking and writing), and research may need to travel to China. Desired skills include fluency in Python, Java, or other back-end programming languages. JavaScript and node.js, Database management practices and SQL. Familiarity with front-end development (CSS, HTML5, JavaScript).
MIT is committed to building a culturally diverse educational environment; women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. EOE.
Please contact civicdatajobs@mit.edu with your CV and sample of your work if you are interested in applying.