Research project

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is considered to be one of the most transformative forces of our time. A digital transition enabling the use of AI is rapidly taking place, especially within image-based medicine (pathology and radiology). While the technical opportunities offered by digitalization and AI in medicine have been at the forefront of academic debate, understanding and guidance for the responsible development and use of such technologies is urgently required.

The overall aim of the RAIDIO project is twofold: 1) to investigate the digital transition in image-based medicine; and 2) to evaluate the role of AI in clinical decision-making. The outcomes of these investigations will form the basis for a theoretically profound and empirically informed framework for the responsible development and use of AI in image-based medicine. The project team will also prepare materials to stimulate public debate about the use of AI in medicine.

This project is located in the Research Institute for Arts and Social Sciences, notably the interdisciplinary research programme Maastricht University Science, Technology and Society Studies (MUSTS). The project is conducted jointly with colleagues at the University Medical Centre Utrecht, but this position is located at Maastricht University.

Job description
This is an exciting opportunity to join a research team working on the use of digital technologies in medicine and healthcare.

You will:

• Prepare detailed conceptual analyses of central concepts and earlier empirical work in AI-augmented medicine, that will inform empirical work to be conducted by other project members. Such concepts include: professional expertise, clinical decision making, image-based medicine, AI and its variants.
• Analyse the historical development of these concepts and associated practices.
• Play a crucial role in the conceptual and methodological innovations required by the project, in collaboration with the other researchers on team.
• At a later stage, take the lead in preparing reflections and guidelines for interdisciplinary collaboration
• Contribute to the development of an ethnographic film to inform patients and the public about the project findings to stimulate debate and reflection about the use of AI in medicine.
• Write and co-author academic publications together with other members of the team, in Maastricht and Utrecht.
• Plan and participate in team meetings, in Maastricht and Utrecht.
• Dedicate 30% of your time to teaching and supervision in the Faculty’s BA and/or MA programmes, especially the BA Digital Society.

Requirements
You have:

• A completed PhD in Science and Technology Studies (STS); history and/or philosophy of science and technology; medical humanities, anthropology or sociology; bioethics; ethics of technology; critical AI studies; or another relevant humanities or social science discipline.
• Experience of doing research that addresses the interrelationships between digital technologies (specifically AI in any of its manifestations) and their use in medical and healthcare settings. You are interested in responsible innovation in biomedicine and in working at the crossroads between STS, ethics and medicine.
• The capacity to conduct both historical and conceptual analyses, and to describe and reflect on the way digital technologies change the roles and responsibilities of clinicians. Experience with historical methods and/or conceptual analysis is essential. Experience with one or more qualitative methods is also an advantage.
• Excellent written and spoken command of English (Cambridge English Proficiency, level C2, oral and written), as demonstrated by academic publications and presentations at international conferences.
• A willingness to contribute proactively to the development of the RAIDIO project. You are highly self-motivated and willing to work in an interdisciplinary, multi-sited team, but you are also able to work independently.
• Good organizational skills, plus an open and effective working style.
• Experience in teaching at the BA and/or MA level. You are an enthusiastic teacher with some experience of thesis supervision and teaching roles. You are able to stimulate student learning and to maximize student participation in the Maastricht system of small-scale problem-based learning (PBL). Experience with teaching in international classrooms is preferable, given the linguistic and cultural diversity of the student body. Holding a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), or equivalent, is a plus.

We offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally-oriented organisation where young people receive an advanced education and scholars conduct exciting research. You will have the unique opportunity to carry out research within one or more of the four themes within the research programme. You will be part of an international network of top universities and renowned scholars within the field.

We offer a 4-year 0.8fte appointment as Post-Doctoral Researcher (Onderzoeker 3). The first year will be a probation period. After a positive assessment the position will be extended for the remaining three years.

Of the 0.8fte appointment, you will dedicate 0.5fte to research and 0.3fte to teaching.

Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels, depending on education and relevant work experience. This implies a gross monthly salary of about € 3.255,00 per month, scale level 10 (based on a full-time appointment).
After a positive assessment a promotion to scale 11 is possible in the 2nd year.
Each year the standard salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

You have to be willing to move to (the vicinity of) Maastricht. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings) you will be eligible for an allowance for moving costs. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings) you might be eligible for an allowance for alternative housing.

Other secondary conditions include e.g. a pension scheme and partially paid parental leave.

You will be provided with shared office space and a PC. 

Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

Starting date: no later than September 1, 2020

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 18,000 students and 4,400 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Faculty of Arts and Social Science

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) has about 250 staff members, and about 1,600 students. More than 76% of the students are non-Dutch (64 different nationalities). All programmes are offered in English and some are also offered in Dutch. FASoS offers three 3-year bachelor’s programmes: Arts and Culture, European Studies and Digital Society. It also offers eight different 1-year master’s programmes and two 2-year research master’s programmes. Research is organised around four programmes: Politics and Culture in Europe; Science, Technology and Society Studies; Arts, Media and Culture; and Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is housed in the historic city centre of Maastricht.