Online Volunteer for Legal Research on Ethical Decision-Making

Job Posting Organization:
The Action Lab For Development Association is an innovative organization that focuses on leveraging technology to improve health outcomes and empower communities. Born from a personal journey of trauma and healing, the organization integrates emotional and moral complexity with modern technology, particularly through the use of AI. Their mission is to enhance public health decision-making while respecting legal, ethical, and privacy boundaries. The organization is currently working on the MoralityCode AI project, which aims to refine AI logic and deploy applications that assist in health and medical decision-making. They are committed to ethical practices and community engagement, demonstrating how AI can be used responsibly in healthcare.

Job Overview:
The position of Online Volunteer for Legal Research on Ethical Decision-Making is part of a 12-week research initiative that explores the intersection of AI, law, and ethics in healthcare. Volunteers will contribute to the MoralityCode AI project, which focuses on how AI can support health monitoring, outbreak detection, and public health interventions while maintaining ethical standards. The role involves mapping ethical principles to real-life scenarios, synthesizing findings into actionable recommendations, and conducting comparative legal analysis between Canada and the UK. Volunteers will also engage in doctrinal legal research relevant to healthcare laws and ethical dilemmas in community health monitoring. This position offers a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in AI ethics, health law, and public health research, contributing to the responsible use of AI in healthcare.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Online Volunteer include:

• Mapping out how ethical principles such as privacy, consent, and equity apply in real-life scenarios.
• Synthesizing findings into actionable recommendations for the responsible use of MoralityCode AI in personal decision-making and public health.
• Conducting comparative legal analysis by comparing policies across Canada and the UK to suggest improvements or guidelines for ethical AI deployment.
• Performing doctrinal legal research on healthcare, public health, and data privacy laws relevant to AI health monitoring in their jurisdiction.
• Analyzing ethical principles and dilemmas in community health monitoring.
• Mapping potential applications of MoralityCode AI for outbreak detection, health trend monitoring, and public health interventions.
• Developing 2–3 hypothetical case studies that illustrate AI-assisted decision-making while respecting legal and ethical standards.
• Preparing a research paper (1500–2000 words) summarizing findings, including an introduction, analysis, case studies, and recommendations.
• Utilizing provided guidelines, templates, and example case studies to support their research efforts. 1
• Engaging in discussions and collaborations with other volunteers and stakeholders involved in the project.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for this position include a strong understanding of ethical principles related to AI, healthcare, and public health. Volunteers should possess skills in legal research, analysis, and synthesis of complex information. Familiarity with privacy laws and ethical decision-making frameworks is essential. Additionally, volunteers should demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote environment, with strong communication skills to articulate findings and recommendations effectively.

Educational Background:
Candidates for this position should ideally have a background in law, public health, ethics, or a related field. A degree or coursework in these areas will be beneficial, particularly with a focus on healthcare law, AI ethics, or public health policy. Advanced students or recent graduates are encouraged to apply, as this role provides an opportunity to apply academic knowledge in a practical setting.

Experience:
While prior experience in legal research or public health is advantageous, it is not strictly required. The organization welcomes volunteers who are eager to learn and contribute to the project. Experience in research methodologies, particularly in legal or ethical contexts, will be beneficial. Volunteers should be comfortable working with academic literature and legal documents, as well as engaging in discussions about ethical implications in healthcare.

Languages:
The mandatory language for this position is English, as all research and documentation will be conducted in English. Proficiency in additional languages, particularly French or other languages spoken in Canada or the UK, would be considered a valuable asset, enhancing the ability to conduct comparative legal analysis and engage with diverse communities.

Additional Notes:
This is a remote volunteer position, allowing individuals from various locations to participate. The role is part-time and flexible, accommodating the schedules of volunteers. Upon successful completion of the project, volunteers will receive an official Certificate of Appreciation from the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, recognizing their contributions to responsible AI research in healthcare. The initiative is designed to provide practical experience and enhance the volunteers' understanding of the ethical implications of AI in public health.