The Stanford Digital Economy Lab seeks a Postdoctoral Fellow:

The position will have a priority project led by Professor Erik Brynjolfsson and the opportunity to work with other faculty and PIs at Stanford. This position’s priority project will drive cutting-edge research at the intersection of economics and transformative AI, contributing to an ambitious initiative to reimagine economic theory and metrics for an AI-powered future.

The Stanford Digital Economy Lab (DEL) is exploring and developing the economic theories, metrics, and policies needed to guide a world powered by transformative AI (TAI). TAI, which is expected to reshape productivity, scientific progress, labor markets, and wealth distribution, presents unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Our goal is to ensure TAI-driven economic growth results in widely shared prosperity and human flourishing.

This effort will draw upon DEL’s existing research on AI, digital transformation, and economic measurement to pioneer a forward-looking economic model for the TAI-powered future. We are assembling a world-class team to investigate critical questions around productivity, labor, value creation, and governance in the age of TAI.

The ideal candidate will work closely with DEL faculty, researchers, and staff to develop insights, theories, metrics, and quantitative tools that address key economic questions in a TAI-enabled world. They may also work with other groups on campus, such as the GSB, Computer Science, and others. Here are some of the research topics this postdoctoral fellow might pursue at the Lab:

Economic Growth and Productivity:

• Analyzing whether TAI will lead to explosive economic growth or automation stagnation
• Examining the economic impacts of ultra-rapid productivity improvements
• Investigating how TAI could transform the rate and direction of invention, discovery, and innovation

Labor Markets and Income Distribution:

• Studying how TAI will affect wages, employment, and the role of human capital
• Assessing whether TAI will exacerbate income and wealth inequality
• Analyzing the interaction between TAI and social safety nets

Concentration of Power and Decision-Making:

• Examining risks of AI-driven economic power concentrating in few companies or countries
• Investigating how AI might shift political power dynamics
• Analyzing governance structures needed for broad distribution of TAI benefits

New Economic Metrics and Measurement:

• Developing novel economic indicators appropriate for a TAI-enabled economy
• Creating welfare metrics that account for AI’s impact on human flourishing
• Designing task-level assessments to track AI capabilities and economic substitution

AI Safety and Alignment:

• Contributing economic perspectives to help align TAI with social preferences and welfare
• Balancing economic benefits against risks, including existential risks
• Analyzing market mechanisms and policy interventions for safe AI development

Geopolitics and International Economics:

• Studying how AI could redefine international trade, global security, and economic power
• Examining implications for global inequality and political stability

Information Flows and Knowledge:

• Analyzing how TAI affects the spread of information, truth versus misinformation
• Studying the distinction between real and synthetic data in economic decision-making

We’re seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow with extensive experience in economic theory, quantitative modeling, and technology-driven economic analysis. The ideal candidate will bring:

1. Strong Foundation in Economic Theory: Ability to apply economic models to analyze the impacts of Transformative AI and advanced technologies on productivity, labor markets, and economic structures.
2. Quantitative and Computational Skills: Proficiency in computational tools and data analysis (e.g., Python, R, agent-based modeling) for developing economic simulations and analyzing large datasets.
3. Research and Publication Record: Demonstrated success in conducting independent research, with a record of peer-reviewed publications or working papers in relevant fields.
4. Communication and Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written English language skills to facilitate engagement with a multidisciplinary team and high-level stakeholders, including academics and industry executives. Experience in organizing and participating in workshops and conferences is a plus.
5. PhD: A PhD in Economics, Computer Science, or a related field, with the Doctorate conferred before the start date.

Position

Full-time Postdoctoral Fellow, available Fall 2026 for two years

Employer

Stanford University Institute for Human-Centered AI
Stanford Digital Economy Lab

Location

Stanford University

Salary

85-90K

Application deadline

Rolling, with a closing date of January 31, 2026. Strong preference will be given to early applicants.

Application Instructions

To apply, please complete the application form, which includes a CV, cover letter, the names and email addresses of three references (optional), and key papers demonstrating your research agenda.