Research Assistant, Moldova, Digital Forensic Research Lab

at  Atlantic Council Of The U S Inc

The DFRLab is expanding its work in the South Caucasus and Eastern Europe and is seeking to hire an open-source researcher specializing in Moldova. This position will play an essential role in growing the DFRLabs capacity across the region, building on its established presence in Georgia. The researcher will focus on elections and other democratic institutions. They will use open-source and digital forensic techniques to identify disinformation campaigns and influence operations targeting women and vulnerable populations, as well as analyze the local impact of state-backed influence activities.
The researcher will monitor the regional information environment. They will work with the DFRLabs global research team and Atlantic Council experts and will partner with local media outlets to achieve project goals. They will also build and manage a network of international and local partners to coordinate research activities and conduct trainings on research methods to foster digital resilience throughout the region.
In order to responsibly cover harmful narratives targeting women and vulnerable populations, the DFRLab will ensure that women are included as critical stakeholders throughout this project. We commit to gender parity on the project team and in the trainings we offer in the region, and we will prioritize partnerships with local experts on the disinformation that targets these groups.
We are targeting a start date of 2 December 2024. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted until a candidate has been selected for this position. For the applications writing sample, please submit examples of relevant open-source research you have conducted.
he Atlantic Council offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience,education, and organizational equity, with offers from $25,000 USD to $30,000 USD.Applications submitted by November 15, 2024, will be prioritized for consideration.

BONUS QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience running trainings;
• Advanced reading and listening skills in Russian, Ukrainian, Gagauz and/or other regional languages;
• General familiarity with other regional languages; and
• Residence in Moldova is preferred.

• Conduct ongoing open-source investigative research into the information environment and evolving disinformation trends in Moldova, the South Caucasus, and Eastern Europe;
• Produce security reporting on malign influence activities and the spread of hostile narratives targeting political processes and vulnerable populations;
• Gather and analyze relevant open-source data;
• Build and manage a community committed to better understanding the role of online disinformation in the region;
• Act as liaison for local media and research partners;
• Adapt curricula for and conduct local trainings on open-source investigative techniques with civil society organizations and other partners;
• Conduct briefings for government, news outlets and civil society on research outcomes;
• Identify additional research avenues; and
• Assist broader reporting, as needed.
• Fluency in English and Romanian;
• Excellent research skills;
• Excellent writing skills in English and Romanian in both long (e.g., report-length) and short (e.g., newspaper article) formats;
• Strong history of journalistic or analytical research;
• Experience and passion for open-source research methodologies;
• Able to work independently on project outputs;
• Public-speaking competency;
• Professional experience interacting with civil society groups and/or government officials;
• Attention to detail and the ability to work in a dynamic environment;
• Willingness to travel internationally;
• Knowledge of the regional political landscape; and
• Proven interest in the overlap between international relations, human rights, journalism, technology trends, social media, and online information environments.