PhD Candidate AI Ethics Weizenbaum-Institut e. V.
Founded in 2017, the Weizenbaum Institute researches the effects of advancing digitalisation on our society. With its recommendations for action, it helps to ensure that the digital transformation is sustainable, self-determined and responsible. The Weizenbaum Institute is supported by a network of seven partners, including Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin University of the Arts, the University of Potsdam, the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems (FOKUS) and the Social Science Research Centre Berlin (WZB). The institute is financed by the Ministry of research, technology and space travel (BMFTR) and the state of Berlin. It is located in Berlin.
For our research group "Digitalization and Opening up Science" at the Weizenbaum-Institut e.V. we are looking at the earliest possible date for a
PhD Candidate AI Ethics
with 39 hours per week. The position is initially limited until 14th October 2027. Further employment will be sought and is dependent on further funding approval.
The Team
The interdisciplinary research group "Digitalization and Opening up Science" is concerned with the scientific practices surrounding the development, evaluation and use of artificial intelligence (AI), in short "AI as a science" and "science with AI". It analyzes and evaluates the epistemic and ethical aspects of AI research and develops standards and approaches to improve its practices, in particular data practices and infrastructures.
Your tasks:
- Conceptualization and execution of a doctoral dissertation in the research group's field of study (analysis and improvement of scientific practices and data practices, as well as the use of and requirements for data infrastructures in AI research from an epistemic and ethical perspective)
- Design and implementation of methods for measuring and mitigating ethical and epistemic limitations of AI models and/or development of evaluation methods and benchmarks for AI models (especially in the field of natural language processing (NLP))
- Conducting critical analyses of the epistemic and ethical limitations of AI systems and research practices
- Regular publication and presentation of research results at international conferences and workshops
- Participation in third-party funded projects (in particular NFDI and EOSC)
- Contributing to the drafting of research proposals and the acquisition of research funding
- Assistance with teaching activities and student supervision
- Organization of events and activities for the research community and the broader public
Your profile:
- Master's degree in artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), data science, computer science, or a related field, or in an interdisciplinary program such as computational social science, cognitive science, or human-computer interaction
- Very good knowledge and practical experience in AI/ML and NLP
- Expertise in AI ethics, data ethics, or science and technology studies (STS) and experience with interdisciplinary, critical analyses of AI systems or the research and development processes surrounding AI
- Knowledge of quantitative research methods (statistics) in theory and practice
- Excellent programming skills (especially Python and AI/ML-related frameworks)
- Excellent English skills and very good communication, presentation, and writing skills
- Enjoys working in a team
- Motivated, independent, and structured way of working
Desired:
- Experience in applying qualitative methods
- Experience in publishing research results in relevant ML/AI, NLP, or AI ethics proceedings or journals
Your chance:
- Exciting tasks: Work in a committed, innovative, and scientific environment
- Optimal conditions: Compensation depending on qualifications up to EG 13 (TVöD Bund), including annual bonus, company pension plan, and subsidy for the Deutschlandticket
- Work-life balance: We offer mobile working, flexible working hours, and 30 days of vacation per year (based on a 5-day week), plus paid time off on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
- Central location: Work in the center of Berlin
- Personal development: Regular professional development opportunities
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