Postdoctoral Fellow - ECE H. Tabkhi

The Postdoctoral appointee must have recently (within the last eight years) been awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate (e.g., Sc.D., M.D.)

Ph.D. awarded within the past eight years in Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Public Policy, Information Science, or a related interdisciplinary field.

Preferred Qualifications:
* Demonstrated expertise or coursework in AI ethics, responsible AI, or technology governance.

* Strong background in community-based research, participatory design, or civic technology projects.

* Excellent writing, communication, and project-coordination skills across technical and non-technical audiences.

* Experience managing or contributing to interdisciplinary, multi-partner research projects.

* Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equitable technology development.

A Postdoctoral Fellow (""postdoc"") is a professional apprenticeship designed to provide recent Ph.D. recipients with an opportunity to develop further the research skills acquired in their doctoral programs or to learn new research techniques, in preparation for an academic or research career. In the process of further developing their own research skills, it is expected that Postdoctoral Fellows will also play a significant role in the performance of research at the University and augment the role of graduate faculty in providing research instruction to graduate students. A Postdoctoral Fellow works under the supervision of a regular faculty member, who serves as a mentor to the Fellow, and it is expected that the faculty mentor will impart the realities, and variety, of scientific careers, and will encourage experiences outside the laboratory to broaden postdocs' aspirations. Within the confines of the particular research focus assigned by that faculty member, the Postdoctoral Fellow functions with a considerable degree of independence and has the freedom (and is expected) to publish the results of his or her research or scholarship during the period of appointment. Thus, the role of Postdoctoral Fellows is clearly differentiated from full-time technical employees.

Postdoc appointments are characterized by all of the following conditions:

* the appointee was recently (within the last eight years) awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate (e.g., Sc.D., M.D.);
* the appointment is temporary;
* the appointment involves substantially full-time research or scholarship;
* the appointment is viewed as preparatory for a full-time academic and/or research career;
* the appointee works under the supervision of a faculty member; and
* the appointee has the freedom and is expected to publish the results of his or her research or scholarship during the period of appointment.


As an EOE/AA employer and an ADVANCE Institution that strives to create an academic climate in which the dignity of all individuals is respected and maintained, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte encourages applications from all underrepresented groups. Applicants subject to criminal background check.

Under the mentorship of PI Hamed Tabkhi, the postdoctoral researcher will explore the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI), public policy, and community-centered innovation. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in community engagement, project management, and responsible technology development, with demonstrated experience bridging technical AI research and societal impact.

This position will contribute to ongoing NSF-funded projects focused on advancing ethical, human-centered AI systems that address real-world community challenges. Working closely with interdisciplinary teams-including policy scholars, city planners, and technology partners-the postdoc will play a key role in connecting research outcomes to community and policy impact.

Primary Responsibilities
* Lead and support community-driven research exploring responsible and equitable AI applications for smart cities and public infrastructure.

* Manage and coordinate multi-stakeholder collaborations between university researchers, city partners, and community organizations.

* Mentor graduate and undergraduate students, including senior design teams developing prototypes and pilot deployments in the TeCSAR Lab.

* Organize and facilitate community workshops, public forums, and stakeholder meetings to ensure responsible deployment and transparency of AI technologies.

* Contribute to scholarly publications and presentations in venues that bridge AI, ethics, governance, and policy.

* Support the development and teaching of interdisciplinary courses in AI and society, technology policy, or ethical AI systems.

* Assist in proposal preparation for future NSF and cross-agency research efforts related to AI policy and governance.

Professional Development
The postdoctoral fellow will receive active mentorship from PI Tabkhi and collaborators to:
* Strengthen research independence and project-management experience.

* Develop grant-writing and proposal development skills (including NSF postdoctoral fellowships).

* Engage in interdisciplinary networking through conferences and policy roundtables.


This position is a full-time, temporary research appointment designed as a professional apprenticeship to further develop independent research skills and prepare for an academic or policy-research career. Postdoctoral fellows are expected to conduct original research, publish findings, mentor students, and contribute to lab leadership.

Hamed Tabkhi
htabkhiv@charlotte.edu

Please upload the following documents with your electronic submission:
1) Cover Letter
2) Curriculum Vitae / Resume
3) Contact information for 3 references

The selected candidate will be subject to a standard background check.

The selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript of their highest degree.