Join the Cyborg Psychology at MIT Media Lab
We are recruiting exceptional Master's and PhD candidates as well as postdoctoral researchers to pioneer the next frontier of "Cyborg Intelligence" and human flourishing with AI at the MIT Media Lab.
MIT offers multiple pathways to join our research group. We welcome applications for our 2-year Master of Science (MAS) program at the MIT Media Lab. Exceptional Master's students demonstrating outstanding research potential may be recommended for continuation into our PhD program. We also have openings for postdoctoral researchers who bring deep expertise and fresh perspectives, as well as research staff positions for those seeking to contribute to long-term research initiatives.
Our work demands researchers who can navigate complexity, embrace uncertainty, and maintain optimism about technology's potential while remaining critical of its risks. If you're excited to help define what it means to be human in an age of AI, to ensure that as we become cyborgs, we become more rather than less human, we invite you to join us at MIT.
Requirements for All Candidates
Essential Qualities:
- Original thinker who prototypes with both imagination and impact in mind
- Deep commitment to human flourishing, not just technological advancement
- Ability to prototype quickly and iterate based on feedback
- Excellence in presenting work through talks and demos
- Fearless in moving fast and learning new domains (learning to learn)
- Strong capacity for self-directed learning and adaptation
- Ethical and philosophical mindset about technology's impact
- Genuine curiosity about cyborgs and human-AI futures
- Collaborative team player who elevates others
- Absolutely NO toxic behavior - we maintain a supportive, collaborative, constructive, and inclusive environment
Learn about applying through the Program in Media Arts & Sciences.
Research Areas We Are Excited About!
Large Human Models: Building upon our Future You project, which enabled simulated conversations with one's prospective future self, we are developing sophisticated models that authentically simulate human behavior and cognition. These "digital twin" systems represent a shift toward understanding the complex dynamics of human wellbeing and the nuanced ways humans interact with AI across diverse contexts.
Augmentation Interfaces: Extending our foundational work in AI-enhanced human learning, reasoning, and decision-making, we are designing next-generation interaction paradigms that amplify human capabilities while preserving individual autonomy. Our research examines how AI interfaces and modalities can enhance cognitive performance without compromising human agency or self-determination.
Interpretable Interactions: Leveraging advances in mechanistic interpretability, where researchers explore the relationships between neural activations and emergent model behaviors, we are exploring transparent human-AI interaction frameworks. This research explores how radical transparency in AI systems can simultaneously demystify model operations and empower users to develop sophisticated mental models of AI behavior, fostering more informed and effective human-AI collaboration.
Psychology of Human-AI Interactions: Building on our extensive investigations into the psychological dynamics of human-AI interactions, including how individuals process and respond to false AI explanations, how AI systems can systematically distort personal memories through the implantation of false recollections, and how intimate human-AI relationships profoundly affect emotional dependency and psychological wellbeing, we are mapping the emerging psychological phenomena that surface as AI becomes deeply embedded within human social and cognitive environments.
All of our research aims to develop systems and interventions that enable individuals to flourish with AI, while simultaneously informing policy development that promotes beneficial AI applications and safeguards against potential psychological harms in human-AI ecosystems.
Research Tracks
Application Note: Candidates should specify two research tracks that align with their interests and expertise (please specify this in your research statement): a primary track that best matches your background and a secondary track you're excited to explore. This reflects our commitment to interdisciplinary work and helps us understand your unique perspective.
Cyborg Scientist
Interdisciplinary researcher advancing the science of human-AI Interaction
Must Have:
- Original thinker who prototypes with both imagination and impact in mind
- Published in premier venues (ACM CHI, IUI, UIST, DIS, Augmented Humans, Nature, Sciences, or equivalent)
- Strong HCI research background with empirical study design experience
- Demonstrated ability to conduct rigorous interdisciplinary research
- Experience with both qualitative and quantitative methodologies
Good to Have:
- Background in multiple fields (CS, psychology, neuroscience, design)
- Experience with novel experimental paradigms for studying human-AI interaction
- Track record of bridging technical and behavioral research
Cyborg Psychologist
Clinical researcher investigating cognitive and behavioral dimensions of human-AI interaction
Must Have:
- Experience designing Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and human experiments
- Proficiency in advanced statistics and experimental psychology methods
- Strong foundation in psychology, cognitive science, or related fields
- Experience running both online and in-person experiments
Good to Have:
- Clinical psychology background or training
- Experience with neuroimaging or psychophysiological measures
- Published research on technology's psychological impacts
- IRB protocol development experience
Cyborg Engineer
Technical architect building next-generation human-AI systems
Must Have:
- Experience training and fine-tuning advanced AI models (LLMs, multimodal models)
- Proficiency in end-to-end system development and cloud deployment
- Strong software engineering skills with rapid prototyping ability
- Up-to-date knowledge of modern development frameworks and environments
Good to Have:
- Industry experience or strong academic engineering portfolio
- Experience with large-scale web systems and distributed computing
- Skills in reverse engineering and interpretability of AI models
- Hardware prototyping and embedded systems experience
Cyborg Interface Designer
Visionary designer creating bold human-AI interaction paradigms
Must Have:
- Portfolio demonstrating strong aesthetics and innovative interaction design
- Ability to prototype both physical and digital interactive systems
- Experience with design tools and creative coding environments
- Bold vision for reimagining human-AI interfaces
Good to Have:
- Background in speculative or critical design
- Knowledge of accessibility and inclusive design principles
- Published work in design venues (DIS, TEI, etc.)
Cyborg Anthropologist
Social scientist examining the societal, ethical, and cultural transformation of human-AI societies
Must Have:
- Strong qualitative research skills (ethnography, interviews, observation)
- Quantitative research capabilities for mixed-methods approaches
- Ability to ask bold, critical questions about technology and society
- Deep understanding of social science theories and methods
Good to Have:
- Fieldwork experience studying technology adoption and use
- Published work on sociotechnical systems or digital anthropology
- Experience with participatory research methods
Cyborg Artist
Creative provocateur imagining radically different technological futures
Must Have:
- Portfolio of highly visible, provocative work
- Demonstrated ability to integrate art and science meaningfully
- Radically imaginative vision for alternative futures
- Experience with public exhibitions or performances
Good to Have:
- Collaborations with scientists or technologists
- Experience with new media art, bioart, or interactive installations
- Published critical or theoretical writing about art and technology
- International exhibition record
Organic Cyborg (Postdoc positions only)
Pioneer in biological-computational hybrid systems
Must Have:
- Experience with brain-on-chip or organoid intelligence research
- Strong wet lab skills and biological engineering background
- Published work in bioengineering or synthetic biology
- Understanding of both biological and computational systems
Good to Have:
- Experience with bioelectronics or neural interfaces
- Microfluidics and tissue engineering expertise
- Computational modeling of biological systems