Postdoctoral Fellow – Costello Lab – Dietrich College

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

Carnegie Mellon University, in collaboration with FAR.AI and Cornell University, is seeking a postdoctoral researcher for a one-year appointment (with the possibility of extension) in Dietrich College. The position has a flexible start date, though early summer 2026 is preferred.

The postdoctoral fellow will work closely with Thomas Costello (CMU), Kellin Pelrine (FAR.AI), Gordon Pennycook (Cornell), and David Rand (Cornell). In addition to being a core member of the research team, the fellow will be embedded within the FAR.AI research community, providing direct access to technical AI safety expertise and a broader interdisciplinary network.

This position builds on our recent work demonstrating that large language models (LLMs) can meaningfully influence human beliefs — including shifting political attitudes, reducing belief in conspiracy theories, and, more recently, increasing belief in them. The research sits at the intersection of AI safety and behavioral science, examining both the persuasive capabilities of AI systems and the risks they pose to the information ecosystem.

Core responsibilities include:

• Advancing research on the risks of AI-driven persuasion within the information ecosystem and developing tools that translate this work into meaningful real-world impact. This includes building scalable interventions in the spirit of our debunking platform, debunkbot.com, which has facilitated more than 120,000 conversations.

• Designing and running experiments to examine how AI systems shape human beliefs; developing rigorous methods to evaluate and mitigate persuasive risks; and creating interventions capable of operating at scale.

• Serving as a core member of the Viewpoints Lab at Carnegie Mellon University, with strong ties to the Rand/Pennycook research network at Cornell University and collaborators at FAR.AI. The position includes dedicated funding for experiments, travel, and equipment, as well as substantial opportunities for first-authored publications.

• Other duties as assigned

Adaptability, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within Carnegie Mellon University. We are in search of a team member who can effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.

You should demonstrate:

• We're open to candidates from technical/computational backgrounds (ML, NLP, AI safety, working with LLMs) as well as computational social scientists. The ideal candidate bridges these worlds or is eager to learn across them.

Qualifications:

• PhD required or must be obtained by start date

• Relevant experience might include: Working with large language models (fine-tuning, prompting, evaluation) Online/lab experiments on belief change and persuasion Building user-facing tools or running interventions at scale AI safety research (especially related to deception, manipulation, or evaluation) Computational text analysis, web development, or working with social media data. If you're excited about AI persuasion risks, human-AI interaction, misinformation, or AI safety more broadly, please apply regardless of your specific background.

• A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.

Additional Information:

• Sponsorship: Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for CMU in the United States. We will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Carnegie Mellon is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Carnegie Mellon.

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.

Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance. 

Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Pre/Post-Doctoral Associates & Fellows

Position Type

Postdoctoral Associate / Fellow (Fixed Term)

Full Time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information: