Location: Remote or hybrid, depending on your location.
Commitment: Part-time 
Duration: September 2025 – March 2026 
Compensation: Negotiable. 

About the Role
The Portulans Institute is seeking a highly motivated Research Fellow to support the development of a global report on digital transformation, technology governance, and competitiveness. The report will focus on how governments around the world are responding to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) as a defining policy and regulatory challenge.
The Fellow will work closely with the editorial and data teams behind the report. This is a unique opportunity for a policy-oriented researcher interested in AI governance, international regulatory trends, and digital economy.
 
Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research on national and regional approaches to AI policy, digital governance, and regulatory innovation.
• Track developments in international AI governance frameworks, including national strategies, cross-border cooperation, and institutional models.
• Analyze case studies of AI policies in various economies and/or regions. 
• Support the identification and synthesis of key trends that illustrate how regulatory choices are shaping competitiveness in the digital age.
• Contribute to writing analytical sections of the report, including insights, country spotlights, and thematic briefs.

 
Desired Qualifications and Experience 

• Master’s degree or advanced graduate studies in public policy, international relations, law, economics, or a related field, with a focus on technology or digital governance.
• Demonstrated interest in AI policy, emerging technologies, and global digital transformation.
• Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills, including the ability to present complex policy issues for a global audience.
• Experience contributing to research publications, policy briefs, or analytical reports.
• Familiarity with global institutions and regulatory models (e.g. EU AI Act, US innovation frameworks), and trends in tech governance.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, remote team environment.

 
Preferred Qualifications 

• Understanding of global digital indicators, indices, or benchmarking frameworks.
• Proficiency with data visualization tools or qualitative research methods.

 
How to Apply
Please send your resume and a brief cover letter to info@portulansinstitute.org, including:

• CV or resume
• Brief cover letter outlining your availability, compensation expectations, and relevant experience
• (Optional but encouraged) A writing sample or brief portfolio of past research on AI regulation or related topics

 
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early submissions are encouraged. 
 
Compensation
This position falls under the Portulans Institute Fellowship Program, which supports emerging researchers through competitive short-term appointments. For this role, compensation will follow the Institute’s standard fellowship framework, with an enhanced level of support in recognition of the project’s analytical complexity and the Fellow’s expected contributions.
 
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