Two positions in Ethics&Politics of AI
ISHPSS
From: Gianni, Robert \(Philosophy\
Dear colleagues,
PhD vacancy with a focus on ethical aspects in addressing societal challenges with AI
This is a unique 4-year PhD position for a student who is looking to make a difference. A student who wants to do research, but only with a clear societal goal. A student with an interest in ethics and politics of AI, to ensure we use new technologies in a responsible way.
Fighting poverty is now more relevant than ever, and we are looking for someone who is excited to pick up this societal challenge, together with us. The PhD-project is embedded in the Brightlands ELSA-lab Poverty and Debt, a consortium of regional partners searching for ways to use AI and data-driven technologies to help mitigate poverty and problematic debt and improve access to public services. The goal of the PhD project is to develop and test an approach to ensure that AI applications in the domain of poverty and debt are ethically sound and societally responsible. It is crucial that in developing and testing the approach, relevant societal organizations and citizens are involved.
We offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally oriented organization. You will develop and carry out your PhD project at the Brightlands Institute for Smart Society, an interfaculty institute of Maastricht University that focuses on the societally beneficial development and application of digital and data driven technology. You will collaborate closely with the researchers at BISS.
In addition, you will also be affiliated the world renowned Maastricht University Science and Technology Studies Research Programme, and the graduate school of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
REQUIREMENTS
What we require
We are looking for a candidate who shares our passion and motivation, with:
- A finished relevant Master’s Degree. Of specific interest are candidates with a background in ethics and philosophy of technology, science and technology studies, or other relevant fields in the social sciences and humanities.
- Experience of or the willingness to develop expertise doing research that addresses the interrelationships between digital technologies (specifically AI in any of its manifestations) and their use in society.
- Experience with or the willingness to develop expertise in qualitative methods, such as interviews or focus groups.
- Written and spoken command of English and Dutch. In order to connect to stakeholders and set up participatory processes, understanding and speaking Dutch is crucial.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Fixed-term contract: 1 + 3 years.
What we offer
- Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels for PhD students starting with a salary of €2.541- with a yearly growth to € 3.247- gross a month (based on a full-time appointment.
- In addition to the salary, we offer an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
- 232 vacation hours per year for full-time employment and the possibility of expanding this slightly and additional holidays;
- ABP pension;
- Work life balance. For example, we offer a corporate fitness plan, a bicycle scheme, flexible working hours and partially paid parental leave.
The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the Collective Bargaining Agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, consult the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.
Postdoctoral Researcher with a focus on Ethics and Politics of Artificial Intelligence
We are looking for someone who cares about doing research with a clear societal goal and real impact on people’s lives. Someone with an interest in novel technology and its potential for innovation, but only when it is done in a socially responsible manner; someone who wants to turn relevant theory into practical applicability in real life. Someone who is as excited as we are to pick up this relevant work, together with us, at BISS.
BISS is an interdisciplinary team in which all faculties of Maastricht University work together, focused on the use of Artificial Intelligence and data science to address societal and business challenges. All BISS projects pay attention to the ethical, societal and legal aspects of applying new technology in order to solve these challenges.
As postdoc at BISS:
- You will work, in close collaboration with other researchers and partners, on the implementation of trustworthy AI for the analysis and tackling of various societal challenges (e.g., poverty, just transition);
- You will become part of the national Human-Centric Artificial Intelligence Group of the Dutch AI coalition. You will work alongside government organisations, industry partners, and other knowledge institutes. In addition, we consider it crucial to involve those who will be impacted by the technology. Therefore, setting up, conducting, and evaluating experimental participatory processes will be a major focus of your day-to-day work.
- You will contribute to the acquisition of external funding for your own project ideas, and to the strengthening of external relations. We operate in a network of businesses, government organisations, and other knowledge institutes, and actively participating in this network is crucial to BISS’ success. This provides you with a unique possibility to steer the projects you work on and the direction you would like your career to take.
REQUIREMENTS
We are looking for a researcher willingness to contribute proactively to the development of BISS. You are interested in responsible innovation, governance of AI, and in working at the crossroads between sociology, ethics and politics of research and innovation. You are highly motivated to work in an interdisciplinary setting, but you are also able to work independently. By doing so you will take ownership for ethical work packages in BISS projects.
Furthermore you have:
- A completed PhD in ethics of technology; philosophy of technology; sociology; science and technology studies (STS); critical AI/data studies; or another relevant humanities or social science discipline.
- Experience of doing research that addresses the interrelationships between digital technologies (specifically AI in any of its manifestations) and their use in society.
- Experience with or the willingness to develop expertise in qualitative methods, such as interviews or focus groups.
- Written and spoken command of English and Dutch. In order to connect to stakeholders and set up participatory processes, understanding and speaking Dutch is crucial.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Fixed-term contract: 4 years.
- We offer a 4 year contract for 1.0 FTE (38 hours). The salary is between € 3.974,- and € 5.439,- gross per month (based on a full-time appointment).
- In addition to the salary, we offer an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
- 232 vacation hours per year for full-time employment and the possibility of expanding this slightly and additional holidays;
- ABP pension;
- Work life balance. For example, we offer a corporate fitness plan, a bicycle scheme, flexible working hours and partially paid parental leave.
The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the Collective Bargaining Agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, consult the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.
Dr Robert Gianni
