Call for Student Research Assistants
The AI Ethics Lab is a social science research initiative that examines how artificial intelligence affects communities at both local and global levels. Led by Principal Investigator Dr. Nathan C. Walker, the lab supports the development of the Munich Convention on AI and Human Rights. Through ethics and legal research, the team investigates how human rights instruments can be applied to regulate the entire lifecycle of AI technologies—from development to deployment to oversight. This research is grounded in core ethical principles, including human dignity, privacy, transparency, fairness, safety, and accountability. It is a collaboration between Rutgers University-Camden’s Digital Studies Center (DiSC), the Department of Philosophy & Religion, and international partners from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
About the Departments: DiSC is a research center that conducts and supports research at the convergence of digital technologies and the various disciplines of the Rutgers-Camden College of Arts and Sciences. The Department of Philosophy & Religion sponsors courses and research about the various ways in which human beings understand and give expression to the nature and meaning of reality, knowledge, life, the self, societies, ethics, and values.
Research Deliverables: Research assistants will collaboratively design and publish a knowledge base and map AI ethics and AI’s relationship to human rights instruments. (1) AI Knowledge Base: Collaboratively craft a glossary of terms that makes technical and legal jargon accessible to a general audience. This living knowledge base will ensure key terms remain relevant as technology and AI regulations develop. (2) Mapping AI Ethics: Explore philosophical and applied ethical principles related to AI, such as human dignity, privacy, transparency, fairness, safety, and accountability. Research assistants will help build a comprehensive, annotated bibliography and conduct a literature review. (3) Mapping AI and Human Rights: Investigate how AI intersects with global human rights instruments and impacts multinational corporations.
Ideal Candidates: The AI Ethics Lab engages undergraduate and graduate students at any stage of their academic careers. No prior experience in computer science, philosophy, or law is required; however, students majoring or minoring in these disciplines are encouraged to apply. Maintaining a strong academic standing is the highest priority. Therefore, applicants must have and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, and students enrolled in more than five courses are encouraged not to apply for this demanding research position. During the application and interview stages, candidates should demonstrate a track record of exceptional academic assignments that showcase self-motivation and strong task-completion skills. Our research team intentionally fosters a relational culture, prioritizing collegiality, effective communication, mental flexibility, and high attention to detail. Applicants should be self-disciplined team players who thrive in creative and collaborative environments.
Commitments & Benefits: Research assistants are expected to dedicate a minimum of six hours per week, physically working from the Digital Studies Center at Rutgers-Camden on Fridays from 9 AM to 3 PM. Additional onsite hours are optional. Appointments are semester-based (Fall, Spring, Summer) and potentially renewed based on excellent performance. Participation in this project offers hands-on experience in social science and legal research methods, a deeper understanding of AI ethics and law, and the opportunity to earn publication credits for meaningful contributions to the research projects.
Application Process: To apply, please email program coordinator Doreen Wheeler at wheelerd@camden.rutgers.edu explaining your interest in the project. Students who advance to the next stage will be invited to submit a formal cover letter, resume, and application form and partake in an interview.
