Research Advocate

Summary

Join Earth Species Project (ESP), a non-profit using AI to understand animal communication, as a Research Advocate. This mid-to-senior level role, based remotely with occasional travel, focuses on fostering external understanding of ESP's technology and research. You will translate complex technical information into accessible formats, manage a cohort of end-users, and build community engagement. The ideal candidate possesses strong technical expertise, exceptional communication skills, and a passion for science communication. A competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and flexible work arrangements are offered.

Requirements

• Strong technical expertise in machine learning, data science, NLP or a related field, with the ability to understand and explain foundational AI and bioacoustics concepts
• A demonstrated ability to think outside the box and design creative solutions that make complex technologies accessible and engaging
• Strong track record of effective scientific communication across multiple written and visual formats (demonstrated via portfolio) for technical and non-technical audiences
• Proficiency with tools for documentation and technical content creation (e.g., GitHub Pages, Markdown, Figma, or similar)
• Demonstrated ability to manage and engage technical communities, including beta testers or contributors
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, prioritization and project planning skills, and the ability to work both collaboratively and independently
• Impeccable attention to detail and an eye for written style and visual design
• Demonstrated ability to write, review, and edit for grammar, style, voice, technical accuracy, and coherency
• Proficiency with software tools (including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), as well as with publishing content via standard social media platforms, including LinkedIn, X, and BlueSky
• Experience developing highly polished deliverables with visual design elements, such as illustrations for slide decks, posters, and social media posts, either independently or supported by a designer
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

• Work with research and communication teams to develop strategy and execution plan to increase adoption of ESP models and tools with end-users (ethologists, conservation biologists)
• Embed with the AI team to translate complex research outputs into accessible formats, including high-quality written and visual assets. Examples include: blog posts, GitHub documentation, grant reports and other research updates, compelling data visualizations, demos and presentations, abstracts, posters, donor materials, website content, social media posts, FAQs, and more
• Collaborate closely with the communications team to align research insights with broader outreach strategies
• Collaborate across departments to improve the speed and clarity of internal communication regarding recent technical milestones
• Serve as the technical liaison between ESP’s research team and its end users, particularly ethologists studying animal communication
• Identify and engage beta testers for ESP’s models, managing the testing process and integrating feedback to improve usability and functionality
• Discover and highlight new and valuable use cases for ESP’s tools and models
• Build and manage ESP’s community of technical contributors and collaborators
• Track and report on user adoption of our models and provide recommendations on new ways to encourage and support adoption
• Develop approachable and compelling content that showcases ESP’s research, including technical blog posts, user guides, and whitepapers
• Create simple, beautiful technical illustrations to accompany research papers, presentations, and public-facing materials
• Design and implement (or work with front-end developers to design and develop) intuitive, responsive front-end interfaces that make complex AI outputs accessible to non-technical users
• Develop and maintain web-based applications that showcase ESP’s research, ensuring usability and accessibility for a diverse audience
• Work closely with the research and engineering teams to align front-end development with project goals and scientific needs
• Represent ESP at conferences, webinars, and workshops, sharing insights into our work and advocating for its adoption within the broader research community
• Work closely with the impact team to support in the development of relationships with key partners, collaborators, and stakeholders to strengthen ESP’s network and impact

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD/Master's) in a computer science field or communications
• Strong proficiency in front-end development technologies, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js
• Experience creating interactive visualizations or dashboards to represent complex datasets
• Familiarity with UI/UX design principles and best practices
• Experience in ethology, bioacoustics, sociobiology or a related scientific domain
• An interest in and passion for the natural world
• Proficient with visual design tools like Adobe, Keynote, Canva, Figma
• Familiarity with the open-source community and related tools

Benefits

• $100,000-$120,000 USD depending on the level of seniority
• Medical insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance - ESP covers 100% of the premium
• 401k plan with match (if based in the United States)
• 2,000 USD home office stipend
• Unlimited paid time off, with a recommended minimum of three weeks per year
• Flexible working hours
• Regular team retreats around the world