Research Fellowships, Philosophy / Ethics of AI, deadline: June 15, 2024

The Centre of Philosophy and AI Research {PAIR} at the Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (Germany) is offering two 100% Research Fellowships: 

(A) PAIR/COMPAIN Research Fellowship

More information here: https://philjobs.org/job/show/26342 

(B) PAIR Research Fellowship in Philosophy/Ethics of AI & Political Philosophy:

More information here: https://philjobs.org/job/show/26346

– Research Environment 

PAIR was founded in 2022 with support from a prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Professorship for Vincent C. Müller at the University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU, est. 1743). 

Our vision is to help set the agenda in the philosophy and ethics of AI, through publications, events, structures, and visible activities. This research will generate intellectual progress that can have a deep impact towards a better society. Our work involves excellent people with a background in philosophy, cognitive sciences, neurosciences, social sciences, political science, and computer sciences. We offer an international, stimulating, supportive, and pleasant research environment – situated in a lively and modern workplace in the centre of beautiful Erlangen. The working language at PAIR is English. 

PAIR currently has 13 core members: One director (Vincent C. Müller), one director of research (Sascha Benjamin Fink), 4 post-doc research fellows, 4 PhD students, 2 post-docs associated with funded projects (BMBF-PsychedELSI and DFG-PhiMiSci), 1 admin; plus visiting fellows and affiliated FAU faculty. 

For more information, please visit https://www.pair.fau.eu

– Positions, Projects, and Tasks

What matters to us is your contribution to intellectual progress in research, plus contributions to the team overall (publications, funding, visibility, cooperation, …). Academic excellence is assumed, as are teamwork, an international outlook and fluent English. The position involves co-supervision of PhD candidates at the Centre and possibly contributions to classroom teaching (jointly not more than 20% FTE). 10% FTE would concern the support of PAIR activities, in particular the diamond open access journals we edit, namely “Philosophy of AI” and “Philosophy and the Mind Sciences”. Research fellows are expected to be mostly working on-site at PAIR.

Position A

This position is funded 50% by the EU ERANET NEURON project COMPAIN, which investigates pain ontologies from the perspective of neurophilosophy and medical ethics. The PAIR-part of this project is headed by Sascha Benjamin Fink; the consortium includes a German team, headed by Claudia Bozzaro, and a Taiwanese team, headed by Ying-Tung Lin. For more, see here: https://www.neuron-eranet.eu/wp-content/uploads/Lay_COMPAIN.pdf 

Informal but targeted inquiries about position A to Sascha Benjamin Fink: sascha.fink@fau.de 

Position B:

This position is partially funded by the BMBF project K3I-cycling, which investigates the role of AI in recycling, including ethical and political issues. The PAIR-part of this project is headed by Vincent C. Müller. The colleague working on this project will have significant freedom to develop their own agenda within ethics of AI, especially sustainability, social and political issues. For the collaboration in this BMBF project, a working knowledge of German is an advantage.

Informal but targeted inquiries about position B to Vincent C. Müller: vincent.c.mueller@fau.de 

– Benefits

Starting dates: 01.10.2024 (negotiable).

The appointments are initially for 36 months. Employment beyond that point will depend on the funding situation. Part-time employment is a possibility, if needed. 

Salary at level TV-L E13, full-time (currently ca. €55.-73.000/year, before tax, depending on experience). The employment includes social security benefits, health insurance (1/2 employer, 1/2 employee), pension, sick pay, etc. There is funding for travel to conferences and for the organisation of events.

– Requirements

PhD in a relevant field, normally by the time of appointment. 

A visa & work permit for the EU/Germany is not required at the time of application. Learning or improving German language skills is supported by PAIR.

Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. In its pursuit of academic excellence, FAU is committed to equality of opportunity and to a proactive and inclusive approach, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, values diversity and promotes an inclusive culture. FAU is a family-friendly employer.

– Procedure

Applications via e-mail to pair-jobs@fau.de, with subject line 

“PAIR/COMPAIN Research Fellow“  or  “PAIR K3I-Cycling Research Fellow“. 

(If you wish to be considered for both jobs, then please apply twice.)

Send us a single PDF that includes:

(1) A motivation letter (max. 2 pages) where you sketch how you relate to the themes of the relevant position and what projects you would like to pursue on AI and philosophy.

(2) CV with list of publications (if applicable)

(3) Writing sample of what the candidate considers their best work

(4) Contact information for 2 references

Deadline is the 15th of June. 

Interviews will be held in the week of the 22nd to the 26th of July.