Staff Research Scientist, Culture & Systems Dynamics
Toyota Research InstituteLos Altos, California
Full Time
Posted November 6, 2025
$208k - $312k
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Job Description
A research scientist role focused on leading interdisciplinary research on culture, systems dynamics, and intervention design within complex adaptive environments, utilizing ethnography, causal reasoning, and computational modeling to improve social and organizational systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead cross-disciplinary research on culture, systems dynamics, and intervention design in complex adaptive environments
- Develop and evaluate interventions to improve system-level health factors such as trust, safety, inclusion, and resilience
- Apply ethnography, causal reasoning, and computational modeling to identify leverage points for positive change
- Quantify cultural factors that sustain high-functioning systems over time
- Translate social-scientific insights into scalable AI systems that enhance human potential
Requirements
- Lead cross-disciplinary research on culture, systems dynamics, and intervention design in complex adaptive environments.
- Develop and evaluate interventions that strengthen system-level health factors such as trust, safety, inclusion, and resilience, particularly where success is defined by the absence of breakdowns or subtle shifts in collective behavior.
- Apply ethnography, causal reasoning, and computational modeling to identify leverage points for positive change.
- Quantify the cultural factors that sustain high-functioning systems over time.
- Translate social-scientific insight into scalable AI systems that augment human potential.
- Possess a strong background in social and behavioral science, complex systems theory, AI machine learning, and Human-Computer Interaction.
- Have experience leading research initiatives that involve developing and evaluating interventions in social or organizational systems.
- Demonstrate expertise in applying ethnography, causal reasoning, and computational modeling techniques.
- Have a proven track record of identifying leverage points for positive change within complex systems.
- Possess a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) or equivalent in a relevant field such as social sciences, behavioral sciences, complex systems, AI, or related disciplines.
- Have experience in research roles with a focus on culture, systems dynamics, or intervention design, ideally in complex adaptive environments.
- Ability to work at the intersection of culture and computation, integrating social science insights with AI systems.
- Experience in developing interventions aimed at improving trust, safety, inclusion, and resilience in social or organizational systems.
- Excellent analytical skills to evaluate system health and cultural factors over time.
- Strong communication skills to translate research findings into scalable AI solutions.
Benefits & Perks
Salary range between 208,000 and 312,000 USD per year
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k) eligibility
Paid time off including vacation, sick leave, and parental leave
Annual cash bonus
Ready to Apply?
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