Project Overview

Effective teamwork and collaboration are essential for societal success throughout history. As technology continues to advance, the relationship between humans and machines becomes increasingly critical. Rapid shifts in work dynamics, such as automation, gig economies, and remote work, necessitate a deeper understanding of how humans can thrive in this evolving landscape. Now is the time for the research community to invest its energy to ensure that technology is embedded with work in a way that contributes to the wellbeing of humans.

The "Mens, Manus and Machina—How AI Empowers People, Institutions and Cities in Singapore (M3S)" project is driven by the goal of investigating the nature of work, redefining our relationship with technology, and exploring how institutions can adapt to foster livability, sustainability, innovation, and social welfare. With a primary focus on the evolving human-machine relationship and the associated institutional dynamics, the project aims to deepen our understanding of effective collaboration between humans and technology. As part of the M3S initiative, specific objectives include the development of interfaces between humans and machines, the exploration of AI techniques for human and social capital growth, and the creation of innovative human-machine systems for optimizing resource scheduling and allocation. Through these endeavors, the M3S project aims to drive meaningful progress in the way we work, interact with technology, and shape the future of Singapore.

The program brings together interdisciplinary researchers from leading institutions such as MIT and Singaporean universities. Through close collaboration with Singaporean partners, including knowledge exchange and mentorship, the project aims to inform forward-looking policies and enhance Singapore's economic leadership. Strong partnerships with local institutions will facilitate a holistic approach to designing successful technologies that align with the unique Singaporean context, ensuring positive societal impacts.

Job Description

The Chief Technology Officer / Scientific Director (CTO / SD) will provide the day-to-day scientific oversight to the interdisciplinary research group (IRG) and assist with the development and integration of the IRG’s vision, goals and objectives with respect to research and innovation. The CTO / SD is responsible for the daily scientific direction and operation of the IRG. The CTO / SD is also responsible for supporting the application of IRG-developed technologies through partnerships with Singapore-based institutions and IRG spin-off companies. The CTO / SD reports to the Lead Principal Investigator, MIT Professor Jinhua Zhao. The CTO / SD provides overall leadership for a diverse workforce that includes research scientists, post-doctoral students, graduate students, and technical staff. The position is based in Singapore.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the Lead Principal Investigators of the M3S program to support a team of  investigators in executing technical scope and milestones of the program;
• Participate in a Council of investigators who will set scientific operation milestones and internal operation policies of an interdisciplinary research team and programme;
• Foster innovation and entrepreneurship within the M3S program;
• Manage internal (within M3S Interdisciplinary Research Group) and external  communications;
• Support external partnerships and collaborations with industrial and regulatory stakeholders;
• Act as a subject matter expert and provide consistent co-mentorship to postdoctoral and graduate student researchers in the M3S program;
• Represent the research programme at meetings with governmental agencies, industry sponsors, or visitors;
• Oversee financial administration of the program; and
• Perform other related duties as required.

Job Requirements

• Ph.D. and industrial or academic experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Transportation Engineering, Operation Research, Civil Engineering, Economics, Statistics, Urban Planning, Industrial Engineering, or a related field;
• Proven track record of conducting interdisciplinary research and managing scientific projects;
• Strong knowledge and deep understanding of the latest advancements in the field of human-machine collaboration, AI technologies, and their implications for work and society;
• At least 3 years of research management in a large-scale research center or academic laboratory;
• Demonstrated ability to build strategic collaborations to strengthen and enhance the research projects;
• Direct or advisory experience with early-stage start-ups, incubators or venture capital, ideally within Singapore;
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder programs;
• Excellent written / verbal communication skills; and
• MIT alumnus/alumna or previous MIT or SMART research appointment preferred.

Interested applicants are invited to send in their full CV/resume, cover letter and list of three references (to include reference names and contact information). We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.