Research Assistant

Job description / Role

Description

Prof. Yi Fang at the Center for Interacting Urban Networks, New York University Abu Dhabi, seeks to recruit a research assistant to support a project studying AI-powered smart assistive technologies for inclusive and accessible urban mobility.

The successful applicant will contribute to an interdisciplinary effort aimed at enhancing public safety and inclusivity in modern cities. In this role, the researcher will focus on the design, development, and field evaluation of AI-embedded systems to assist blind and low-vision individuals in navigating both outdoor and indoor urban spaces. The project's initial phase will employ machine learning models, computer vision algorithms, and real-time sensory integration to prototype tools such as SafeCross for safe street crossing and EasyPath for indoor navigation in malls, hospitals, and public institutions. This work will then generate insights into how urban infrastructures can be enhanced through technology to serve vulnerable populations. The position has many opportunities for multidisciplinary collaborations with other researchers at CITIES and beyond. Additionally, the position comes with the flexibility to independently develop research ideas related to the broader mission of inclusive urban design and human-centered AI.

The qualified candidate will have a bacheloru2019s degree in a quantitative field (e.g., computer science, engineering) with experience working on machine learning and/or robotics projects. This position requires excellent computational and data management skills and a knowledge of programming frameworks such as Python, PyTorch, or TensorFlow. Furthermore, an interest in accessibility, assistive technology, or smart cities is highly desirable.

For consideration, applicants must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement of research interests, a transcript, and the contact information for three letters of reference who may be contacted through the selection process.

About the Center for Interacting Urban Networks (CITIES)

The NYUADu2019s Center for Interacting Urban Networks (CITIES) is an interdisciplinary research center dedicated to advancing urban science and promoting cutting-edge research that is translated into practical, real-world solutions for the benefit of society. Our ultimate goal is to foster sustainable, resilient, and equitable cities. Our mission is to establish a vibrant and globally recognized knowledge hub for urban networks, bridge the gap between scientific significance and practical value, and further develop the human capital that will propel the city of Abu Dhabi and the UAE into a richer and more sustainable future. CITIES leverages the expertise of faculty members from the four divisions of NYUAD and world-renowned scientific collaborators from multiple institutions within and beyond the NYU Global Network, as well as local stakeholders and private companies across the UAE and abroad.

About NYUAD

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the arts, sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai form the backbone of NYUu2019s global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing through its academic, research, and creative activities.

Equal opportunity employer

NYU is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.

UAE nationals are encouraged to apply.