Calling all public interest tech researchers!

Are you passionate about privacy, security, or digital rights? Do you work on consumer protection research or new methods to study the digital world? If so, keep reading!

At CR’s (Consumer Reports) Digital Lab, we are now accepting applications for paid, non-resident fellows to uncover and solve for consumer harms in the digital world. This ten month fellowship provides a generous stipend, the ability to leverage CR’s physical labs and testing architecture, and an opportunity to work with our reporters, advocates, and growing contributor community.

Why CR?

CR is an independent nonprofit organization that brings many capabilities under one roof: lab research, investigative journalism, legislative advocacy, grassroots mobilization and more. CR’s success in the 20th century was anchored in our ability to take apart and understand the inner workings of products and services. Today, we investigate and report on the connected world – from privacy practices of IoT appliances, to the safety of self-driving cars, to bias in machine decision making.

Last year we launched our inaugural Digital Lab Fellowship program, thanks to the generous support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Craig Newmark Philanthropies. We awarded five talented public interest tech researchers – all devising novel testing frameworks and tools to evaluate values such as privacy, security and fairness.

How to apply

The application is quick and easy. We invite prospective fellows to share a bit of information about themselves and their interest in the fellowship.

The Fellowship can support research and innovation projects you’ve already got underway, or kickstart new projects. For interested applicants who don’t have a specific project proposal, we can help scope a research collaboration based on the applicant’s interests and experience.

The deadline to apply is Friday, May 7th. Finalists will meet with CR leaders and appointments will be made no later than June 15th, 2021. In the meantime, let us know what you think or drop us a note here.

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