The University of Amsterdam’s interdisciplinary Research Priority Area Humane AI is looking for 3 postdoctoral researchers in the areas of law, social sciences and humanities. The overarching goal of these positions is to develop insights and principles for responsible and human-centric AI from a Social Science-Humanities (SSH) perspective: How can SSH research contribute to responsible AI, e.g. in sectors like media, culture/language or justice; what are the contextual socio-economic circumstances that need to be fulfilled for really responsible AI?; what is irresponsible AI? What is the role of human behaviour, law and ethics in creating the framework conditions for responsible AI?

What will you be doing?

You will conduct research on Responsible AI within the broader approach of the Humane AI Research Priority Area . The research will be embedded in the University of Amsterdam and is cofounded by the faculties of law, humanities and social sciences.

The postdoctoral researcher will:

• develop, conduct, and publish research on responsible AI in one of the following areas: justice, media, or culture/language;
• contribute to the overall RPA in terms of events, research meetings, activities;
• collaborate with other postdocs and faculty members within and between the faculties;
• contribute to new grant applications;
• give guest-lectures in the area of your expertise within Human(e) AI at BA or MA level at the University of Amsterdam;
• help co-supervising research projects of students working on Human(e) AI;
• engage in educational activities, e.g. in the interdisciplinary, cross-faculty Human(e)AI course.

What do we require of you?

• A clear research interest in the topic of the project (documented by publications and/or grant applications);
• a relevant background in either Law, Humanities or Social Sciences. For the latter, strong empirical methods training. Scholars in the Humanities are required to have training in using formal-analytic and/or computational methods. Scholars in Law have to have some affinity with, and ideally experience with research in legal aspects related to digitisation and AI;
• strong research interest in Human(e) AI as witnessed by research papers in relevant top venues and several lectures given at important conferences in your field;
• the ability, willingness, and commitment to do autonomous work in a multidisciplinary team;
• experience with organising workshops, lecture series, or other events that facilitate knowledge dissemination and valorisation;
• strong communication skills and experience with working with partners within and outside academia;
• excellent written and spoken command of English, as demonstrated by publications in English-language journals (written and spoken command of Dutch is a plus);
• a relevant PhD degree.

What can we offer you?

A challenging work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organisation. Humanities, law and social sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

To work at the University of Amsterdam is to work in a discerning, independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Our offer

The position concerns a temporary employment contract of 38 hours per week for a term of two years. The second year is pending a positive evaluation at the end of the first year. Salary depends on past education and relevant work experience, with a minimum salary of €3,746 and a maximum of €5,127 gross per month based on a full-time employment contract for a 38-hour working week (in keeping with scale 11, as per the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.).

We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary employee benefits, including a generous holiday scheme and year-end bonus. Because we value your continued personal development and professionalisation, we also offer excellent opportunities for study and development.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Research Priority Area Humane AI

The Research Priority Area Human(e) AI stimulates and connects research to the legal, ethical and social consequences of AI and automated decision-making (ADM). How can we stimulate the development of AI that pays attention to cultural and socio-economic equality and fundamental civil rights?

The Research Priority Area (RPA) Human(e) AI at the University of Amsterdam synthesises ongoing work and stimulates new research at the UvA on the societal consequences of the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making (ADM) in a wide variety of societal areas.