Research Assistant or Doctoral Candidate (EXPIRED)

The teaching and research area of Applied Ethics at the RWTH Aachen under the direction of Prof. Dr. Saskia Nagel helps to realize an integrated interdisciplinary technical university and performs a bridging function at the RWTH Aachen University. The group addresses questions about the ethical and social challenges of scientific and technological progress. Key topics are the philosophy and ethics of human-technology relations. This includes ethical and social issues in Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, studying the Internet of Things, new developments and applications in Data Science just as Emerging Medical Technologies, e.g. e-health, new biotechnologies - and the impact on individual and social well-being.

- Requirement for this position is a University degree (Master or equivalent) and/or dissertation in Philosophy and/or Applied Ethics

and/or Interdisciplinary Studies, with a specialization in Philosophy/Ethics

- Pronounced knowledge in Applied Ethics and/or Practical Philosophy

- Experience in interdisciplinary work

- Good analytical and organisational skills

- Good IT-skills

- Previous work has already been presented at conferences (and accepted in international, competitive journals - for Postdocs)

- Very good proficiency in English (oral and written)

- Ability to do independent scientific work

- Responsibility, creativity, flexibility, team orientation

- Willingness to teach in various degree programs on issues of applied ethics

Desired

- Competence in ethical theory

- Experiences with reflection on current developments in the field of AI, data science, human-technology interaction, or autonomous systems

- Knowledge and practical experience in methods of empirical social research or empirical philosophy

These jobs include ambitious project work, e.g. on sustainability, responsibility and moral progress, in a highly motivated team working on new AI hardware and its societal impact, in cooperation with engineers, computer scientists, economists, and social scientists.

You will be entrusted with tasks in research, teaching and some tasks in science and research management in the Cluster for Future on neuromorphic hardware (“NeuroSys”) and in the Human Technology Center, working on ethical questions of the development of new AI hardware for a variety of fields.

We expect you to publish research results in international, competitive journals.

These jobs include assistance in management of the field “Ethics and Responsibility” at the Human Technology Center.

The following application documents are required: Letter of motivation, CV, research project proposal up to 750 words, certificates, publication list, either a summary and table of contents of your dissertation or the entire dissertation, and the names of two references.

The successful candidate will be employed under a regular employment contract.
The position is to be filled at the earliest possible date and offered for a fixed term of 2 years.
To the doctorate further employment of one year is provided. Depending on the qualification sought and to be agreed, the fixed-term contract is individually between 2 and 3 years.
The fixed-term employment is possible as it constitutes one of the fixed-term options of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (German Act on Fixed-term Scientific Contracts).
This is a part-time position (50 % of the standard weekly hours for full-time employees).
For postdoctoral employment full-time employment can be made possible.
The successful candidate has the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree in this position.
The salary is based on the German public service salary scale (TV-L).
The position corresponds to a pay grade of EG 13 TV-L.