Are you a scientist with a PhD degree in the social, behavioural, or brain sciences or in artificial intelligence? And are you interested in further developing research on the human factor in new technologies? Then you have a part to play as a postdoc. You will work on this interdisciplinary topic on our modern, sustainable campus where you can put your ideas to the test and push your boundaries.
Your research will contribute to the topic “the human factor in new technologies” for a period of two years. This topic connects with the research programmes of the Behavioural Science Institute and the Donders Center for Cognition within our Faculty. In addition to research, you will spend 20% of your time teaching on one of our teaching programmes: psychology, communication science, or artificial intelligence.
Under the topic “the human factor in new technologies” we will invest in research on brain-inspired and human-centric AI. What are the computational mechanisms of natural intelligence and how can we use them to develop more intelligent machines? The resulting models and algorithms are of great economic importance as they can lead to more efficient and smarter scientific, industrial, and societal applications. A better understanding of the computational mechanisms of the brain may also provide pathways to better treatment of neurodegenerative and acquired disorders such as dementia and aphasia. Research in human-centric AI will also aim to address other societal problems, for example neurotechnology to restore brain function, the development of more empathic robots, the use of AI to improve education, and automatic recognition of behaviour to support people with disabilities. Research in the human factor in new technologies will also concern the societal impact of AI. We will gain a better understanding of the various effects of the use of technology, such as the effects on productivity and wellbeing of employees (time pressure, feelings of freedom, etc.), the effects of cyber parenting in relation to vulnerable families, and the social effects of the use of algorithms. By mapping out the social impact of new technology and exploring possibilities for adjustment, we can develop a more balanced policy that is not only guided by technical possibilities and limitations, but also, and above all, by the social implications.