Urban Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Associate
University of Michigan
How to Apply
Applicants should submit one PDF containing the following:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Cover Letter (1 page max): Outlines your specific interest in the position, related skills/experiences, and near term goals
- Links to GitHub, personal website, or portfolio if any
- Answer to the following question (1 page max): One challenge of the task is to extract topic-specific information from zoning documents with high validity. The goal is to answer questions such as where and how communities regulate data centers and renewable energy sitting at scale. What problems would you anticipate in the process and how may you approach those challenges?
Formal evaluation of applications will begin on July 21, 2025, and applications will be reviewed every week until the position is filled. Selected candidates may be contacted for an interview. The anticipated start date is September 1, with flexibility for negotiation. If you have any questions about this position, email Professor Xiaofan Liang at [email protected].
Job Summary
The Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning is looking for a full-time, temporary research associate. Reporting to Xiaofan Liang, assistant professor of urban and regional planning, you will work on a funded project to develop and evaluate a human-AI collaboration pipeline for extracting high-validity zoning information, with a focus on regulations for data centers and renewable energy facilities. In addition to this core responsibility, you may support other research or administrative tasks for the team's work. This position is well-suited for candidates with strong technical skills who are interested in applying AI methods to urban challenges and are considering pursuing a PhD in the near future.
Note: The job is situated in Ann Arbor and daily on-campus work is required. The anticipated schedule for this position is 40 hours per week (exact schedule to be determined with your supervisor) and the employment is expected to last nine months and end in July 2026. There is a possibility of extension based on available funding. This position is also eligible for OPT.
Responsibilities*
- Develop computational and AI-driven methods to analyze text
- Acquire and apply contextual knowledge of zoning, data centers, and renewable energy siting
- Collaborate with human coders to fine-tune and evaluate computational approaches
- Conduct literature reviews and help write research manuscripts
- Create a public-facing tool or platform (e.g., website) to share research data and promote public engagement with project outcomes
- Navigate research challenges with a learning mindset
- Communicate with the supervisor and deliver high-quality work
- Commit full-time to working on-site at the University of Michigan campus for the duration or majority of the project
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed and are not an exhaustive list of all associated responsibilities.
Required Qualifications*
- A bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience in related disciplines such as Urban Planning, Geography, Computer Science, Statistics, Public Policy, etc.
- Programming skills in Python
- Research interest in the intersection of urban planning and artificial intelligence in topics related to data centers, zoning, and renewable energy siting
- Experience with natural language processing (NLP) or large language models (LLMs) applied to text data
- Experience working with a diverse range of technical tasks, such as data analysis, geospatial visualization, database management, web development, and mixed research methods, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
The salary range for this position is $25 - $30/hr. Factors used to determine salary include experience, knowledge and skills for the position. You are encouraged to discuss salary questions to honor transparency throughout the recruiting process.
Please note:
- Relocation assistance is not provided for this position.
- Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. Applicants will not be sponsored for work visas.
Our Shared Values
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U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.