AFRL Cognitive Vulnerabilities/Biases Research Opportunity - Post-Doctoral level

Organization U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Reference Code AFRL-711HPW-2026-0013 How To Apply Click on Apply at the bottom of the opportunity to start your application. Description The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) 711th Human Performance Wing (711 HPW) is offering a postdoctoral fellowship. What will I be doing? As an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) participant, you will join a community of scientists and researchers in an effort to understand how, when, and why cognitive vulnerabilities/biases could be exploited using misinformation to degrade decision-making. This includes exploring the interaction between cognitive, social and emotional factors, the qualities of misinformation that increase/decrease impact, the extent that individual and cultural differences affect misinformation effects, the mitigation strategies that are most likely to be successful in various contexts, and the spread of misinformation in groups. Why should I apply? Under the guidance of a mentor, you will engage in a variety of research activities, including: Evaluating emotion and information dynamics, social influence factors within individual cognition, computational cognitive model design (ACT-R), and how to integrate these features with group dynamicsExploring and developing a model pipeline to take in information as text and parse into meaningful units compatible with ACT-R declarative memoryDefining and determining how to implement emotion mechanisms and social influence mechanisms within individual cognitionDeveloping cognitive model(s) with a focus on emotion and social influence mechanisms based on theory and expertise to provide predictions prior to experiments, refine models, fit data from experiments, and demonstrate the scientific contributions for foundational and applied researchAnalyzing and developing models of human behavior in new and applied settings to achieve professional growth and broaden your knowledge in the field Where will I be located? Fairborn, Ohio. The appointment may be onsite or remote as approved. What is the anticipated start date? Exact start dates will be determined at the time of selection and in coordination with the selected candidate. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis and fellowships will be filled as qualified candidates are identified What is the appointment length? This appointment is a twelve-month research appointment, with the possibility to be renewed for additional research periods. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant. What are the provisions? You will receive a stipend to be determined by AFRL. Stipends are typically based on a participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other provisions may include the following: Health Insurance Supplement (Participants are eligible to purchase health insurance through ORISE)Relocation AllowanceTraining and Travel Allowance About AFRL-711HPW The 711th Human Performance Wing (711 HPW), headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, is the first human-centric warfare wing to consolidate human performance research, education, and consultation under a single organization. Established under the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the 711 HPW is comprised of the Airman Systems Directorate (RH) and the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM). For more information about the Air Force Research Laboratory, please visit https://afresearchlab.com/. About ORISE This program, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and DoD. Participants do not enter an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DoD or any other office or agency. Instead, you will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE. For more information, visit the ORISE Research Participation Program at the U.S. Department of Defense. Qualifications The qualified candidate has earned a PhD in Psychology (General), Social Psychology, Experimental Psychology, or Cognitive Science. Preferred Skills Experience with misinformation-related phenomena, cognition, social psychology, emotion, and sentiment analyses. Experience designing and coding using ACT-R cognitive architecture including the valuation module, emotion modeling, and LLM integrationExperience with scalable modeling using agent-based modelingExperience in techniques used gather media data that is time-locked with misinformation exposures Application Requirements A complete application consists of: Zintellect ProfileEducational and Employment HistoryEssay Questions (goals, experiences, and skills relevant to the opportunity)Resume (PDF)One Recommendation. We encourage you to contact your recommender(s) as soon as you start your application to ensure they are able to complete the recommendation form and to let them know to expect a message from Zintellect. Recommenders will be asked to rate your scientific capabilities, personal characteristics, and describe how they know you. You can always log back in to your Zintellect account and check the status of your application. If you have questions, send an email to AIRFORCE@orise.orau.gov. Please list the reference code of this opportunity [AFRL-711HPW-2026-0013] in the subject line of the email. Please understand that ORISE does not review applications or select applicants; selections are made by the sponsoring agency identified on this opportunity. All application materials should be submitted via the “Apply” button at the bottom of this opportunity listing. Please do not send application materials to the email address above. Connect with ORISE...on the GO! Download the new ORISE GO mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to help you stay engaged, connected, and informed during your ORISE experience and beyond! Stipend $3,800.00 – $4,200.00 Monthly Point of Contact Leslie Eligibility Requirements">4 ) Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only Degree: Doctoral Degree. Discipline(s): Social and Behavioral Sciences (<a href="#" data-bs-toggle="popover" tabindex="0" role="button" data-bs-title="Social and Behavioral Sciences" data-bs-content="Cognitive Science Experimental PsychologyPsychology (General)Social Psychology