Key Summary
The Network Research team at Protocol Labs is looking for a researcher to work on problems in the areas of incentive and mechanism design relevant to open and decentralized science
Research at Protocol Labs
Protocol Labs is a research, development, and deployment organization that builds tools to move science forward faster
From our experience researching and building core protocols for the decentralized web, we’ve learned that breakthrough research is an important public good, and we’ve created the Network Research lab to identify, guide, and support high-impact research across a broad spectrum of domains
As part of our Network Research team, you’ll be contributing directly to our mission of developing and guiding high-impact initiatives to build research public goods, with a particular focus on modeling current scientific incentive systems and using Web3 tools and mechanisms to better align researchers and funders and shift the incentive field toward open and decentralized modes of scientific knowledge production and dissemination
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Our team is granted both the freedom to develop knowledge by working on novel research directions and a responsibility to contribute those skills toward advancing the mission of Protocol Labs
 You’ll feel at home working with us if your knowledge and optimism enable you to craft creative solutions working around evolving needs
As a Research Scientist at Protocol Labs you willÂ
- Conduct research into how mechanism design and regenerative cryptoeconomics can be applied to scientific research systems to accelerate the discovery/invention cycle
- Conduct internal and external research to better understand various incentive systems affecting modern research and identify potential leverage points
- Design incentive mechanisms appropriate for research
- Design, plan and implement of metaresearch and research funding experiments, and disseminate the results
- Advise the Network Research and Research Funding Teams on the use of mechanisms to drive coordination and alignment around scientific problems
- Remain curious, flexible, and open to updates about the state of the art in cryptoeconomics, game theory, and mechanism design
- Engage in intellectual outreach activities (conference presentations, workshops, whitepapers, blogposts, etc
) relevant to your research projects - Work in a fully asynchronous and remote team
You may be a fit for this role if you have…
- BS/MS in Economics, Network Science, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a field with relevant research experience
- Excellent written communication and presentation skills
- Experience in contributing to research communities and/or efforts, including publications in relevant journals or conferences
- Research experience in incentive or mechanism design, game theory, or behavioral economics
Highly-valued bonus points
- PhD degree in a quantitative field with relevant research experience
- Experience building simulations and/or models
- Demonstrated ability to design and execute on a research agenda
- Familiarity with distributed systems, Web3, and cryptoeconomics
- Experience in setting up and managing research collaborations or contractorsÂ
- Demonstrated ability to design and execute on research agenda
About Network Goods
The Network Goods teams (Network Research, Network Funding, and Research Acceleration) works largely asynchronously and remotely via Discord, Slack, Notion, github, and video conference, although we take advantage of regular opportunities to meet in person for work sprints, colloquia, and conferences
Attendance and participation in relevant research meetings, hackathons, workshops, and conferences is also encouraged
We strive to document our decision-making processes in text and default to open and transparent communication and record-keeping wherever possible
We currently use a very flexible github-based Agile process to organize and share our work-in-progress, priorities, and roadmaps
We think in public on the Protocol Labs Research blog and host a lively Research Seminar, Research Saloon, Discord server, and Journal Club, as well as occasional larger research events
We believe intentional development of technology can lead to a better, more empowering world for all of humanity