PhD position “AI Competence” (f/m/d)

The RHET AI Center is one of four newly established centers for science communication research funded by the Volkswagen Foundation in the program “Science Communication squared”. The goal of the center is to investigate how an informed social debate about artificial intelligence (AI) can succeed. At the RHET AI Center in Tübingen, the Seminar for Rhetorics cooperates with the Institute of Media Science, the Department of Science Communication of KIT, AI researchers from the Cluster of Excellence Machine Learning and Cyber Valley, Europe’s largest AI research consortium, and the practice partner Wissenschaft im Dialog, Berlin. Information about Tübingen as a location for excellent research can be found in the university’s annual report.

The advertised positions are part of the “Future Strategies Unit” of the RHET AI Center and are thus at the intersection of science communication research, machine learning and rhetorics. The Unit aims to look into the future of science communication: How will technology advance? What debates will the public have to face? What societal issues and problems need to be discussed and considered? While the methodological approach is deliberately open-ended, the candidate is expected to address the meaning and understanding of scientific literacy as well as societal competence development in the field of AI. As part of the RHET AI Center, the “Event Unit” also is dedicated to a transparent communication of its events and research results.

Responsibilities:

• Capturing the connection between the research fields of AI or Machine Learning and science communication
• Writing a dissertation in the field of competence development in the context of science communication and AI
• Networking and presenting findings within the Unit and the RHET AI Center as well as in science and science communication communities

Requirements:

• Above average graduate degree (M.A. or equivalent) in Computer Science/Informatics, Philosophy, Rhetoric, Science Communication Studies, or related disciplines
• Strong interest in the topics of artificial intelligence, machine learning, science communication, and argumentation
• Willingness to participate in the advanced training program on science communication at the RHET AI Center
• High level of initiative and ability to work in a team
• Very good knowledge of German and English
• The place of work is Tübingen

The University of Tübingen is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We seek to increase diversity and the number of women in areas where they are under-represented and therefore explicitly encourage women to apply. People living with disabilities will be given preferential consideration in case of equal qualification. The employment will be carried out by the central administration of the University of Tübingen.

Further information about the RHET AI Center can be found here. If you have any questions about the job profile and research tasks, please contact Prof. Dr. Olaf Kramer (olaf.kramer@uni-tuebingen.de) and Dr. Markus Gottschling (markus.gottschling@uni-tuebingen.de). Please send your electronic application with the usual documents in German or English in a PDF file under the keyword “AI Competence” by 1.11.2021 (date of receipt) to Dr. Markus Gottschling.