Call for Applications | Research Associate | Free Software Project! at NLSIU! Apply Now!
National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, invites applications for the position of a Research Associate for a new research project in the area of free/libre software. This is a full-time contractual assignment for a period of 6 months, based in Bengaluru.
About NLSIU
NLSIU is the first national law university established in India. It is established under the National Law School of India Act (Karnataka Act 22 of 1986). NLSIU was set up with a mission to pioneer legal education reforms, and to anchor the transformation of the Indian legal system through research and policy interventions. Since its inception, the University has irrefutably remained a leader in the field of legal education in the country.
About the Project
The term free/libre software generally refers to software that gives users the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. The focus of free software is clearly on the ‘freedom’ of developers, and not on price. Many firms and governmental/non-governmental organisations have been using free software for diverse kinds of purposes, including commercial purposes, over the last many years. Though most scholars appreciate the value of such software, not many have attempted to study in detail the value generated by free software, particularly for gaining independence and autonomy in innovation. This project focuses on the economic value of free software and the different legal/ policy measures to augment the adoption of free software, particularly in terms of realising the vision of making India atmanirbhar in innovation and economic development.
Some of the specific objectives of the project include –
- Identifying the value and economic significance of free software for firms in India.
- Identifying the role free software can play in more independent innovation by firms in India.
- Identifying the key legal and policy measures required to protect and augment the value of free software in the emerging AI context.
Role Description
The Research Associate will assist in diverse dimensions of the project, including:
- Conducting literature reviews.
- Preparation of case studies.
- Conducting interviews and/or surveys.
- Preparation of the research outputs, including academic publications.
- Organising workshops.
The Research Associate will work under the supervision of Dr Arul George Scaria and Dr Suryaprakash Mishra.
Qualifications
Essential:
- Post-graduate degree in law, economics, statistics, management, or engineering OR undergraduate degree in one of those areas with relevant work experience.
- Demonstrable academic/research interest in the area of intellectual property/open source software.
- Interest in empirical investigations.
- Excellent writing and communication skills.
Desirable:
- Academic/ research/ industry experience in the field of technology/software.
- Policy related research experience.
- Fieldwork experience.
- Quantitative data analysis skills.
Salary
The salary shall be commensurate with the experience of the candidate.
How to apply
Please use the Google form available here, and include the following documents:
- An updated CV.
- A short statement of purpose (not more than 800 words).
- Writing sample (published/unpublished).
- Details of two referees with contact details.
Deadline
The last date for submission of applications is 5:00 pm, May 20th (Monday), 2024.
For more details, click here
