Postdoctoral Fellow: AI and Child Development

Description

The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow to join Dr. Ying Xu's research group in conducting interdisciplinary research at the intersection of AI, Child Development, and Education. This is a two-year, in-person position based in Cambridge, MA, with the possibility of renewal pending funding availability.

We seek a highly motivated candidate with a strong foundation in research methodologies and a deep interest in understanding learning and development in the context of AI. Research focus areas include, but are not limited to:

• Language development through child-AI interactions;
• STEM learning, creativity, and curiosity through playful learning with AI;
• Children's beliefs, conceptualizations of AI agents, and AI literacy;
• Cognitive and social mechanisms of AI-assisted learning;
• Human-AI collaborative systems for supporting teaching practices;
• Large-scale randomized controlled trials or surveys evaluating the impact of AI in educational settings

The postdoc will take a leading role in designing and conducting empirical studies and disseminating findings. They will work closely with Dr. Xu and other team members and collaborators across sectors and disciplines.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Education, Computer Science, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Linguistics, Informatics, or a related field, completed by the position's start date
• Strong background in quantitative research methods, experimental design, and program evaluation; solid understanding of developmental psychology and learning theories
• Demonstrated ability to lead research projects and work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams
• Working knowledge of programming languages and practices (e.g., Python, GitHub) sufficient to collaborate effectively with technical team members
• Experience in independently developing AI systems is not required but will be viewed as a plus

Application Instructions

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting August 15, 2025. Interested applicants should submit the following materials:

• A one-page cover letter explaining how your skill set and research background align with the position;
• A curriculum vitae;
• The names of three references (letters are not required at the initial stage).

The start date is flexible, but a Fall 2025 start is preferred. Salary is based on a 12-month appointment and typically begins at $72,000, commensurate with the candidate's experience and expertise.

For inquiries, please contact Dr. Ying Xu at yingxu@g.harvard.edu

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Harvard University shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.