Perspectives in deliberation is about developing Artificial Intelligence techniques to find the underlying structures of debates and group deliberations with the idea that we can help participants to a debate / deliberation to understand why others have a different opinion in this debate. To this end we want to use computational linguistics to extract what we call micro-propositions from text: proposition mining. Secondly, we want to model the implications for stakeholders of these propositions: implication mining. Strategic issues may arise. Thirdly, we want to extract and understand the perspectives of the stakeholders on these implications: perspective mining.

In addition to understanding the debate and the perspectives, the AI you develop will seek to interact with stakeholders about the interpretations of what they brought in as statements and arguments. 

Key responsibilities
Who wants to build AI that understands people so well that it can help resolve debates and conflicts? Do you want to build a new type of AI that we call Hybrid Intelligence, in which AI and people can deliberate on societal changes and their impact? Your work will consist of:

• Participating in the HI project, its meetings and its training;
• We seek an energetic PhD candidate, to carry out this research project at the forefront of the interdisciplinary combination of artificial intelligence and computational linguistics;
• During the project, you are expected to write the research articles that together will form the basis of a thesis to attain a PhD degree (dr.) at Leiden University;
• Candidates will participate in the education and supervision program of the Leiden Graduate School of Science as well as in the Hybrid Intelligence project graduate school;
• Teaching duties of max 10% of the time are foreseen.

• A MSc or equivalent degree in Artificial Intelligence or computational linguistics;
• Good knowledge of and/or interest in decision support systems, computational linguistics, combinatorial games, reinforcement learning and high performance computing;
• Creative thinking and highly motivated;
• Excellent proficiency in English.

We offer a full-time temporary position for initially one year. After a positive evaluation of the progress of the thesis, personal capabilities and compatibility the appointment will be extended by a further three years. Salary range from € 2.325,- to € 2.975,-  gross per month (pay scale P in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break.

All our PhD students are embedded in the Leiden University Graduate School of Science. Our graduate school offers several PhD training courses at three levels: professional courses, skills training and personal effectiveness. In addition, advanced courses to deepen scientific knowledge are offered by the research school.

Diversity
Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Leiden University

This PhD position is part of the NWO Hybrid Intelligence project that aims to develop AI to will work together with humans. Why build AI systems that replace people if we can build AI systems that collaborate with people? Hybrid Intelligence is the combination of human and machine intelligence, expanding human intellect instead of replacing it.  Our goal is to design Hybrid Intelligent systems, an approach to Artificial Intelligence that puts humans at the centre, changing the course of the ongoing AI revolution. The project will be recruiting 27 PhD or postdoc positions in total; for more information on these projects see our website.

Leiden University in The Netherlands is one of the 6 participating universities in the Hybrid Intelligence project. The PhD research described in this advertisement will be carried out at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science, Leiden University. Your supervisory team will consist of three professors. Prof. dr. Catholijn Jonker from Leiden University and Delft University of Technology will be your project leader. Jonker is expert in decision support systems, in particular, in negotiation and deliberation. Prof. dr. Aske Plaat (Leiden University) is an expert in combinatorial games, reinforcement learning and high performance computing. Prof. dr. Piek Vossen (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) is an expert in computational linguistics. Together they will guide you during your research.