Research Fellow (1-Year): Technology, Work, and Economic Change

Department: Cohere Labs

Location: Toronto, Montreal, New York, Paris, San Francisco, London

Employment Type: Contract

Who are we?

Our mission is to scale intelligence to serve humanity. We’re training and deploying frontier models for developers and enterprises who are building AI systems to power magical experiences like content generation, semantic search, RAG, and agents. We believe that our work is instrumental to the widespread adoption of AI.

We obsess over what we build. Each one of us is responsible for contributing to increasing the capabilities of our models and the value they drive for our customers. We like to work hard and move fast to do what’s best for our customers.

Cohere is a team of researchers, engineers, designers, and more, who are passionate about their craft. Each person is one of the best in the world at what they do. We believe that a diverse range of perspectives is a requirement for building great products.

Join us on our mission and shape the future!

Location: Flexible / Remote
Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Why this role?

Cohere Labs is the dedicated research arm of Cohere. Our mission is to tackle foundational questions in artificial intelligence by bringing together researchers across disciplines to study not only how AI systems are built, but how they reshape economies, labor markets, and institutions.

As AI technologies rapidly diffuse into the economy, there is an urgent need for rigorous, theory-informed, and empirically grounded research on their implications for productivity, inequality, skills, organizational design, and the future of work. This role is designed to create space for exactly that kind of work.

The Research Fellow (Future of Work & AI) position is a 1-year, full-time research appointment aimed at advanced PhD students, postdocs, or early-career researchers in economics, political economy, public policy, or related social sciences who want to engage deeply with frontier AI systems while maintaining scholarly independence and publication-oriented research.

What makes this role unique

• Designed for economists, not engineers: No expectation that you are an ML practitioner, intellectual curiosity and analytical rigor matter most

• Research-first: Time and support to write, think, and publish

• Interdisciplinary exposure: Work alongside leading AI researchers while maintaining disciplinary depth

• Societal relevance: Direct engagement with questions shaping policy, labor, and economic futures

• Global perspective: Opportunity to study impacts beyond high-income, English-speaking contexts
  

You are likely a strong fit if you have

• A PhD (or are an advanced PhD candidate) in Economics, Political Economy, Public Policy, or a closely related field

• Strong training in economic theory, econometrics, or applied micro / macro

• A demonstrated research interest in technology, innovation, labor, growth, or institutions

• A publication record (or pipeline) in peer-reviewed academic venues

• An interest in engaging seriously with AI systems and their real-world deployment

• A desire to collaborate across disciplines while retaining intellectual independence
  

You may be especially excited about this role if you

• Want to study AI as a general-purpose technology, not just a tool

• Enjoy connecting theory to emerging empirical realities

• Care about the long-run societal consequences of technological change

• Are interested in shaping conversations at the intersection of academia, industry, and policy

• Value mentorship, open science, and collaborative research cultures

If some of the above doesn’t line up perfectly with your experience, we still encourage you to apply!

We value and celebrate diversity and strive to create an inclusive work environment for all. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to providing equal opportunities. Should you require any accommodations during the recruitment process, please submit an Accommodations Request Form, and we will work together to meet your needs.

Full-Time Employees at Cohere enjoy these Perks:

🤝 An open and inclusive culture and work environment 

🧑‍💻 Work closely with a team on the cutting edge of AI research 

🍽 Weekly lunch stipend, in-office lunches & snacks

🦷 Full health and dental benefits, including a separate budget to take care of your mental health 

🐣 100% Parental Leave top-up for up to 6 months

🎨 Personal enrichment benefits towards arts and culture, fitness and well-being, quality time, and workspace improvement

🏙 Remote-flexible, offices in Toronto, New York, San Francisco, London and Paris, as well as a co-working stipend

✈️ 6 weeks of vacation (30 working days!)