General Setting (AI-MAPS):

The PhD-candidate will be employed at the Delft University of Technology and closely collaborate with the partners and PhDs of the interdisciplinary AI-MAPS-lab (AI for Multi-Agency Public Safety), one of the so-called ELSA-Labs (Ethical, Legal and Societal Aspects). The AI-MAPS research shall support the development of AI-included innovations that safeguard public values and constitutional rights, respect human rights – and strengthen these where possible – and that can count on public support. The research will therefore apply a co-creation and value-driven approach that involves the experiences, values, and concerns of citizens and societal stakeholders from the very outset. Four PhD-projects will jointly work towards societal sustainable AI-solutions in a variety of use cases in which trustworthy AI helps to understand and mitigate social unrest (“maatschappelijk ongenoegen”). In addition to the Delft University of Technology, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Leiden University, also the Hague University of Applied Sciences, TNO, The Hague Security Delta, the Impact Coalition Safety and Security and the Dutch Police will collaborate with leading companies in the field of applied AI.

Specific PhD-Position (Co-creating AI-agents for Public Safety):

This PhD-vacancy is one of the four PhD-places available in AI-MAPS, which all have a strong interdisciplinary orientation and reflect AI-MAPS mission to become a hub for research and practice of trustworthy AI. It will work-out and apply methods and tools for the inclusive, iterative and deliberative AI design and evaluation in which ELSA-experts and stakeholders can engage in transdisciplinary innovation.  Current research on design pattern creation and application provides a promising starting point for this work. For a main part, this PhD-research focuses on the development of a conversational agent to facilitate deliberative processes in ELSA-workshops, e.g., by helping participants to identify, monitor, balance and verbalize their different values and concerns. Of course, the ethical, legal and societal aspects (ELSA) that apply to this agent and workshop setting, will be systematically addressed in its development as a kind of “best practice”. The empirical work and concrete use cases on AI-driven solutions relate to safety risk taxation (among other things in close collaboration with the police). These use cases will address the need for inclusion of public and societal knowledge. The conversational agent should help to capture and harmonize the experiences and knowledge of citizens, professionals and societal organizations in order to address challenges such as public nuisance, high impact crimes and crowd management.

We are looking for a candidate who:

• holds a master’s degree in artificial intelligence, computer science, cognitive science, human-computer interaction, or a related field,
• has affinity with human-centered design, value-sensitive design, moral decision making, and empirical studies,
• has excellent social skills and interests to learn and think across disciplines,
• preferably has some experience with cognitive modeling and conversational agents,
• has excellent oral and written skills in English and in Dutch (because this PhD-project entails close interaction with Dutch stakeholders, the command of Dutch is required).

A description of the project is available upon request.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2541 per month in the first year to € 3247 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

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 Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three disciplines - electrical engineering, mathematics and computer science. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make future-proof. We are also working on a world in which humans and computers reinforce each other. We are mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. There is plenty of room here for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1,100 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.