Fellowship at Stanford University - Legal Aspects of Autonomous Driving

FIXED TERM

From vehicles that detect pedestrians in the road to cars capable of navigating urban terrain without human intervention, autonomous driving is currently one of the most intensively researched and publicly followed developments in the automotive realm. This technology could dramatically improve safety, efficiency, and mobility by taking the driver out of the loop wherever computer control is more reliable. Yet it also raises important questions of law and policy that society is only now beginning to understand and address.

The Center for Automotive Research at Stanford (CARS) and the Stanford Law School Center for Internet and Society (CIS) offer a joint residential fellowship to examine the legal and policy aspects of autonomous driving. The primary responsibility of the fellow will be to research the advantages of, and challenges posed by, an increasing variety of autonomous vehicles and vehicle features and, as appropriate, to recommend legal and policy interventions. In addition, the fellow will develop scholarship, attend and plan lectures and symposia, supervise interested students, and otherwise form an active part of the CARS and CIS communities. The fellow will be co-supervised by a lawyer and an engineer and have access to a wide variety of legal and technical experts. This is a one-year opportunity with the possibility of renewal.

About CARS

The Center for Automotive Research at Stanford (CARS) is an interdisciplinary group of researchers from academia and industry with the goal of advancing research and education in the automotive realm and addressing the needs of individual mobility in the twenty-first century. The group is internationally recognized for its work on autonomous driving and pursues research in the fields of artificial intelligence, electric mobility, and inter-vehicle communication. Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Chris Gerdes is the Director of CARS.

About CIS

Located within Stanford Law School, the Center for Internet and Society (CIS) is a leading center for the study of the relationship between the public interest, law, and technology. Areas of focus include architecture and public policy, fair use in copyright, consumer privacy, and robotics. Associate Professor of Law and Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering (by Courtesy) Barbara van Schewick is the Director of CIS.

Applicant Requirements

Strong background in law (JD, JSD, LLM, or equivalent);

Solid understanding of technology. Background in automotive technology or robotics preferred;

Excellent writing and analytic skills;

Demonstrated ability to work in self-directed, entrepreneurial environment.

The position is for 12 months, with a possibility of renewal for another 12 months contingent on funding and evaluation.

Preferred submission deadline is March 4, 2011. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Applicants MUST apply online via the Stanford Jobs website at http://jobs.stanford.edu/find_a_job.html. Search by entering job number 41543 in the ‘Keyword Search’ field.

Applicants may also submit a copy of their application by email to the following address: asmith@law.stanford.edu.