The project and the position

Quantum Artificial Intelligence.

Why does it matter?

This two-year postdoctoral position focusses upon why Quantum AI might matter within the context of the legal, regulatory, and governance setting. The purpose of the project is to explore, map, and structure the potential problem-space. As such, it will be a problem-finding project (in contradistinction to the more orthodox problem-solving orientation). In other words, this postdoctoral project does not seek to produce concrete answers or to advance policy proposals in the face of Quantum AI and the potential challenges that it may raise or reveal. Instead, we seek to develop a set of better questions.

As this postdoctoral project is situated within the CHANSE-funded Q-Shift consortium (https://www.quantumstateofworld.com/), which emphases the impact of Quantum AI to human decision-making processes, this postdoctoral project is envisaged to explore upstream and downstream issues to the more concrete questions around the decision-making process itself. For the upstream issues, this could include how Quantum AI shifts the sociotechnical landscape: when it comes to the designing the choice architecture; altering emotional states; activating psychological biases; structuring sensory and informational input; mediating sensation and perception; and distorting our sense of reality. For the downstream issues, potential projects might explore how the process of learning to live with Quantum AI might: alter our axiology; recalibrate our priorities and preferences, and reframe the way that risks are perceived, understood, and addressed.

That said, since this is a problem-finding project, there is wide latitude for defining both the project and its approach (as well as all other parts of the project). As such, applicants are invited to submit a synopsis of how they would apply the problem-finding approach to Quantum AI, including areas of emphasis and what the applicant would bring to both the project and the Q-Shift consortium. Due to the problem-finding nature of this postdoctoral project, there is no expectation that applicants will have familiarity with the legal, regulatory, or governance aspects of Artificial Intelligence (Quantum or not): indeed fresh perspectives and deep dives often require the insights of outsiders.

The position includes research and a teaching obligation according to the Dean’s instructions for Faculty staff.

Applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the faculty's research areas and education programmes by visiting the Faculty’s website: www.jura.ku.dk.

The position requires academic qualifications PhD, JSD or equivalent degree in law, economics or social science. All applicants are expected to be able to use English as the working language (written and spoken). Successful candidates will demonstrate a clear potential to deliver high quality peer-reviewed research publications.  

In the overall assessment, emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s research and teaching potential. Special emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s ambition to develop and implement new research ideas, which may have an international impact. Furthermore, the Faculty places emphasis on the applicant’s interest and, preferably, prior experience in working with other researchers to conduct collective research and teaching activities and welcomes the applicant’s proven ability to make a valuable contribution in this regard.

Read more about the qualification requirements for assistant professors in the ministerial order on the job structure for academic staff at universities 2019 here.

The appointment is temporary and will be made in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikernes Centralorganisation, AC). In addition to the basic salary, you will receive an annual supplement per month and a total contribution to your pension fund equal 17,1 % of your salary and annual supplement is paid. It is possible to negotiate further salary supplements. A special tax scheme is offered to researchers recruited abroad, read more at this homepage: https://ism.ku.dk/salary-tax-pension/tax/

If you consider applying from abroad, you may find useful information on how it is to work in Denmark and at UCPH. Find more information here: https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB and https://ism.ku.dk

The Faculty of Law is one of six faculties at the University of Copenhagen. The Faculty carries out research, education and knowledge dissemination within the area of law. Research is partly organized in research centres and groups with focus on thematic areas of interest. The Faculty employs about 110 full time researchers and approx. 60 PhD students as well as approx. 75 administrative staff members. In addition, approx. 400 part-time lecturers teach on the legal programmes on which approx. 4,500 students are enrolled. See the Faculty website: http://jura.ku.dk/english for more information.

Københavns Universitet giver sine knap 10.000 medarbejdere muligheder for at udnytte deres talent fuldt ud i et ambitiøst, uformelt miljø. Vi sikrer traditionsrige og moderne rammer om uddannelser og fri forskning på højt internationalt niveau. Vi søger svar og løsninger på fælles problemer og gør ny viden tilgængelig og nyttig for andre.