Positions
At the Macro Connections group we are looking for highly skilled individuals that are interested in working on the evolution of naturally occurring networks by analyzing and collecting large data sources.
What our group does
Currently our main area of focus is the study of naturally occurring networks that can help us characterize and understand processes of social, cultural and economic development.
These research leverages our work in Economic Complexity and The Product Space, and is now focusing on the creation of new predictive algorithms and analytical models. Additionally we have begun to collect and analyze the process of international development from the perspective of cultural development, by collecting new data sources that can help us map the structure and dynamics of cultural evolution.
In addition, we are also working on urban perception, making tools that can help us measure urban perception, while developing research that can help us understand their implications (see place pulse).
Finally, we are a group with a passion for information visualizations, and are involved in the creation of rapid visualization engines that can help make large databases accesible to a global community. A good example of this is The Observatory of Economic Complexity.
What we’re looking for
We are looking for highly motivated individuals that are skilled in the sciences, arts and technologies. At the Macro Connections group, students and postdocs are expected to work on high impact research projects and papers, and to execute these swiftly and under minimum supervision.
The expectation for projects is to be scientifically relevant, but also for these to be implemented through well designed technology.
Candidates must have a background in a technical area, such as physics, computer science, or applied math, and knowledge of complexity science, networks, and/or social sciences. Pluses are experience working with large data sets and having computational skills, but also having creative analytical skills, which should be expressed in an ability to come up with observables for a system and to be able to think through problems critically without using a computer. Finally, a good sense of design and artistic sensitivity are important.
Applications should be submitted at the MIT Media Lab, during the application cycle that opens up each fall. Applicants should indicate the Macro Connections group as one of their three priorities and describe in their statement why they would like to work in this group.