Position Description: Embedded EthiCS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Philosophy 2025-2026
The Harvard Program for Embedded EthiCS invites applications for one or more fellowships based in the Philosophy Department beginning July 1, 2025, pending funding and program needs. The fellowships will be for a maximum of three years, with the second and third years contingent on program need and funding and a yearly satisfactory review. The postdoctoral fellows will be expected to spend 50% of their time working with the Embedded EthiCS program (including teaching, mentoring, and engagement activities) and 50% of their time on their own independent research.
Harvard's Embedded EthiCS is a collaborative, multidisciplinary pedagogical program that embeds the teaching of ethics directly into the computer science curriculum by creating and teaching ethics modules for courses across the CS curriculum. For details about this exciting program, please see our website. You can view where past Fellows have moved on to through our placement page.
The postdoctoral fellows will have responsibility for:
teaching modules in the program,
participating in a Teaching Lab that develops ethics modules,
coaching less experienced Fellows or Teaching Assistants,
advising an undergraduate senior thesis related to the fellows' areas of expertise,
participating in engagement activities with other programs around Harvard and the greater Boston area, and
serving as liaison with other groups developing computing ethics education programs around the globe.
The fellows will have a faculty advisor in the Department of Philosophy and are encouraged to participate in the full range of Department activities. The fellows are also encouraged to participate in the many efforts at Harvard to address the social impact of technology through our program's ties with Harvard's Center for Research in Computation and Society; Harvard's Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics; and Harvard's Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society (among many others).
We seek applicants who are enthusiastic about working with computer scientists to develop ethics modules for their courses and who are passionate about building a more ethical and responsible computing ecosystem. They need not have computer science experience themselves, but they should be eager to engage with computer science experts, even if that requires engaging with technical material. They must demonstrate competence to teach ethics, but ethics need not be their area of specialization. Successful candidates will have significant teaching experience, ideally including experience with cross-disciplinary research or teaching, and enthusiasm about developing ethics pedagogy.
Applicants must have completed all the requirements for a doctorate in Philosophy or related discipline by June 30, 2025. The term of the fellowship is July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026, with the possibility of renewal (see above).
We celebrate the multiple dimensions of diversity that each member of our community offers, including diversity of background, perspective, and lived experience. Applications from individuals from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged.
Please submit the following materials by December 1, 2024
Cover letter stating your background and interest in the Embedded EthiCS program
CV
Teaching statement
Teaching portfolio (teaching chart listing courses taught with dates; at least one representative syllabus; teaching evaluations, ideally accompanied by a chart or table summarizing the quantitative data on main questions; list of undergraduates for whom you have been primary advisor, if applicable)
Research statement
Recent writing sample (no more than 10,000 words)
Names and contact information of three to five referees, who will be asked by a system-generated email to upload a letter of recommendation once the candidate's application has been submitted. Three letters of recommendation are required, and the application is considered complete only when at least three letters have been received. Please notify your referees to expect a request for their letter of recommendation.
If you have questions about the Embedded EthiCS program or the application process, please contact us at embeddedethics@g.harvard.edu.
Basic Qualifications: Applicants must have completed all the requirements for a doctorate in Philosophy or related discipline by June 30, 2025.
Special Instructions: Please submit the following materials by December 1, 2024
Cover letter stating your background and interest in the Embedded EthiCS program
CV
Teaching statement
Teaching portfolio (teaching chart listing courses taught with dates; at least one representative syllabus; teaching evaluations, ideally accompanied by a chart or table summarizing the quantitative data on main questions; list of undergraduates for whom you have been primary advisor, if applicable)
Research statement
Recent writing sample (no more than 10,000 words)
Names and contact information of three to five referees, who will be asked by a system-generated email to upload a letter of recommendation once the candidate's application has been submitted. Three letters of recommendation are required, and the application is considered complete only when at least three letters have been received. Please notify your referees to expect a request for their letter of recommendation.
Contact Information: If you have questions about the Embedded EthiCS program or the application process, please contact us at embeddedethics@g.harvard.edu
Contact Email:
embeddedethics@g.harvard.edu
Equal Opportunity Employer: Harvard is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, military service, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or other protected status.
Minimum Number of References Required: 3
Maximum Number of References Allowed: 5
Supplemental Questions: Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
