What does it take to build systems in which artificial intelligence function and human interact and complement each other in ways that are safe and account for emergent impacts? How do we make sure a system really delivers on its promises and safeguards crucial values?

For too long, the AI development has addressed issues of safety, fairness or accountability at the level of the algorithm or AI model, hoping to resolve these in technosolutionist ways. Rather than hoping to 'align' an AI technology to public values, the history of system safety however, shows us that these values are emergent system properties, which can only be understood, addressed and designed for across both the technical, social and institutional aspects of a broader sociotechnical system.

In this postdoc position, we will firmly establish such an approach to values as emergent system properties, by synthesizing the work done both in systems engineering, system safety, and adjacent fields. As well as by embracing recent insights from theoretical computer science on the social foundations of computing, such as performative prediction. This will contribute to novel conceptual and empirical breakthroughs, and a paradigm shift in how public values are to be treated in the practices involved in designing and governing AI systems.

The aim is to build concrete bridges between the more technically oriented fields that aspire to do a better job of safeguarding values in the design and maintenance of their systems (mostly gathered in the Fairness, Accountability and Transparency (FAccT) community), and the disciplines responsible for the institutional mechanisms to safeguard AI systems, including in policy-making, advocacy, oversight and management (mostly gathered in digital/AI policy and governance communities).

The postdoc will have a leading role in translating the synthesis and new frameworks to colleagues in the Centre for Hybrid Intelligence (https://www.hybrid-intelligence-centre.nl/), the largest AI research initiative in the history of The Netherlands. In addition, there are opportunities to work with colleagues in the interdisciplinary Algosoc consortium (https://algosoc.org/programme). Furthermore, the postdoc will co-lead efforts to develop and validate research with societal stakeholders, as a co-lead for the Delft Algorithms, Systems & Safety (DASS) Lab, which offers a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills and realize societal impact.

The primary supervisors are: Roel Dobbe (TU Delft, AI systems and control and policy expert), Maarten de Rijke (University of Amsterdam, AI expert), Martijn Warnier (TU Delft, designing for emergence expert).

The candidate for this position has a PhD degree with a combination of engineering and computer science, and a clear track record working on artificial intelligence, algorithmic systems, human-computer interaction or systems and control. The ideal candidate will likely not have a formal background in all the above topics but ideally has a strong affinity and willingness to work in a team of people from diverse disciplines and to quickly learn and attain new research skills outside of their current training.

You need to have affinity with the design of engineering systems or data science, and have intrinsic motivation to build bridges between those building systems, those using it, those managing or supervising it, and those being affected by it.

What you are going to do?

Tasks:

• Develop, conduct, and publish research on System Design and Governance for Safe Hybrid Intelligence Systems.
• Contribute to the public debate and organise outreach activitites for the DASS lab.
• Take a leading role to the overall program in terms of events, research meetings, activities.
• Collaborate with other researchers within the Hybrid Intelligence and Algosoc consortia.
• Give guest-lectures in the area of your expertise at BSc or MSc level at the Delft University of Technology.
• Help co-supervising research projects of PhD and MSc students working on related topics.

Furthermore you:

• Have a strong interest and a clear vision for the position.
• An excellent written and spoken command of English, as demonstrated by publications in English-language journals.
• The ability, willingness, and commitment to do autonomous work in a multidisciplinary team that includes engineerings, computer scientists, domain experts, and relevant social sciences and humanities.
• Experience with organising workshops, lecture series, and similar events.

If the vacancy appeals to you, but you are doubting whether you might be THE person we are looking for, please do apply. We encourage all qualified applicants, and we especially encourage minorities, women, people with disabilities, and members of other groups underrepresented in academia to apply. We wish to create a research lab and consortium that consists of persons who each contribute in their unique way to the team.

Developing a societal vision on automated decision making concerns us all. We believe that a diversity of perspectives in our consortium will be important in developing an inclusive societal vision and strive therefore also in our hiring policy for encouraging applicants from diverse backgrounds. We are committed to creating an environment of mutual respect, inclusiveness, equal opportunities with room for situated experiences, diverse perspectives, and ideas to flourish. This commitment applies to our research, organisation, room for flexibility, training, and community activities as well as our hiring strategy.

Fixed-term contract: 3 years.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

This is a 3-year postdoc position. The first 1,5 years are funded, the second 1,5 years are very likely to be funded but subject to a formal 5-year review of the consortium.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

 Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Technology, Policy and Management

The Faculty of TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.