The Emmy Noether Group “UDNN: Scientific Understanding and Deep Neural Networks”, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), invites applications for a doctoral position at the Institute for Philosophy and Political Science (IfPP) at TU Dortmund University (TUDo). Together with group leader J’Prof. Dr. Florian J. Boge, postdoctoral researcher Dr. Annika Schuster and PhD candidate Frauke Stoll, you will conduct research on the impact of Machine Learning on scientific understanding and explanation.
Website: https://udnn.tu-dortmund.de/
The TUDo is a flourishing environment for research on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its philosophy, featuring multiple opportunities for inter- and intradisciplinary cooperation. Three professorships at IfPP are closely focused on topics surrounding AI. With the Dortmund Data Science and Simulation Center and the Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, TUDo features numerous opportunities to directly engage with AI researchers and participate in interdisciplinary activities. Through the University Alliance Ruhr, TUDo also has close ties with Ruhr University Bochum and the University of Duisburg-Essen, with their various researchers in- and outside of philosophy who work on aspects of AI in science and society.
The position is advertised for up to three years.
Requirements
Suitable candidates (f/m/d) have completed (or are presently close to completing) an excellent Master’s degree in philosophy and can claim additional experience in either a natural science, mathematics, or computer science. They have a very good command of the English language (command of German is not required) and, ideally, can claim some international experience, through studies abroad or an international study environment. They are willing to engage with researchers in- and outside of philosophy (specifically: physics and theoretical biology). They have outstanding social skills and are willing to participate in, and contribute to, the project’s activities, such as: workshops, public events, regular project meetings, and online seminars. They are able to produce an internationally visible, high-quality PhD dissertation and present their work in international conferences and workshops.
· Salary Scale: TV-L E13, 65%.
· Total duration: Up to three years.
· Given equal qualification, preference will be given to individuals from underrepresented groups, such as female researchers or researchers with disabilities.
· Further reduction of the part-time employment is possible in principle.
· For the official advertisement, see https://service.tu-dortmund.de/wissenschaftlich-beschaftigte
· For further questions, please contact florian-johannes.boge@udo.edu
To apply, please send (i) a letter of motivation, (ii) your CV (incl. a list of publications, if any), (iii) copies of your diplomas and (iv) a short summary (2 pages) of your Master’s thesis to udnn.fk14@tu-dortmund.de, using as subject line the reference number w03-26. Closing date: 01.03.2026.
