Researcher in Residence

Every computing era has a dominant interface. PCs made computing personal, smartphones made it mobile, and AI agents will make it ambient. Era is building the intelligence layer underneath it all, but we also want to see around the corner. What new device forms, interaction paradigms, and manufacturing methods will define the next decade? That's what this residency is for.

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The Role

Era's Researcher in Residence program is a 2–3 month, part-time residency for deeply curious humans who want to go into full lab mode on ideas about the future of computing. You'll explore a research question of your choosing, aligned with Era's vision, and produce work that tells a story about what the world can be.

This isn't a traditional research role buried in a lab. Your work will directly inform Era's product roadmap. The best residency projects become the features, device categories, and interaction paradigms that Era later ships.

What You Might Explore

• Novel interfaces. What does interaction look like when AI lives in a more expressive form factor? How do you communicate with intelligence without a screen or voice?
• Manufacturing futures. How do new fabrication methods (3D printing, programmable matter, soft robotics) change what's possible for AI-powered devices?
• New paradigms. What happens when non-invasive brain interfaces actually work? When ambient sensors can read emotion? When scent becomes an output modality?
• Cross-device intelligence. How should shared context and memory behave across a constellation of personal devices?
• Speculative form factors. What device categories will exist in 5 years that don't exist today?
• Privacy & Humanity. What does it mean to stay human in the age of AI? How do we handle memory with care?

What You'll Produce

The output format is flexible: working prototypes, research papers, design frameworks, speculative design artifacts, technical feasibility studies, or public-facing pieces. The goal: research that makes people say "I want to live in that world."

What We're Looking For

• You're obsessively curious about the future of computing, interaction, or physical technology
• A background in HCI, interaction design, industrial design, creative technology, materials science, or a related field
• Ability to work independently and self-direct a research agenda
• You make things, not just write about them
• Strong communication skills. You can turn abstract research into a narrative that excites engineers, designers, and brand partners

Nice to Have

• Graduate work in HCI, design, robotics, materials science, or related fields
• Published research or exhibited work in relevant domains
• Experience with physical computing, fabrication, or hardware prototyping
• Background in speculative or critical design
• Existing connection to research labs, universities, or the broader HCI community

This is a part-time, 2–3 month residency. NYC, SF, or remote. Stipend + potential to convert to a longer-term role.