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STATUS: EXPIRED
4 Oct 2024

Job Information

Organisation/Company
Technical University Munich
Department
School of Social Sciences and Technology
Research Field
Psychological sciences » Psychology
Psychological sciences » Cognitive science
Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions
PhD Positions
Country
Germany
Application Deadline
Type of Contract
Temporary
Job Status
Full-time
Offer Starting Date
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Horizon Europe - MSCA
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No

Offer Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Doctoral Candidate (DC) to join the iSearch research team as part of a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network (DN) project: AlignAI. The AlignAI Doctoral Network aims to train doctoral candidates in the interdisciplinary Large Language Model (LLM) research field. It focuses on aligning these models with human values to ensure their development and deployment are ethically sound and socially beneficial. By integrating expertise from social sciences, humanities, and technical disciplines, the project will address critical issues such as explainability and fairness, ensuring LLMs contribute positively to education, mental health, and news consumption. 

The doctoral candidate will focus on working with children and adolescents to address LLMs in the context of use in 3 use cases: education, positive mental health, and online news consumption. The doctoral candidate will develop and apply a behavioural, experimental cognitive approach to explore the stated and revealed preferences of users regarding LLMs.In addition to the primary focus of this doctoral project, we are open to exploring other relevant projects that align with our broader research interests, particularly in the areas of ecological active learning. This encompasses investigating how individuals, especially children and adolescents, actively engage with their environment, learn from it, and adapt their cognitive strategies to real-world challenges. These interests could open up further interdisciplinary opportunities to study human-technology interaction, cognitive development, and behavioral responses in various contexts. 
 

Key Responsibilities 

  • Conduct research as outlined in the project’s objectives under the supervision of Prof. Azzurra Ruggeri, Associate Professor at the TUM School of Education of the Technical University of Munich. The candidate will be co-supervised by Prof. Andrea Cavallaro (Computer Sciences, Idiap – Fondation de l’Institut de Recherche Idiap, Switzerland). 
  • Engage in secondments as part of the project’s training activities. The Secondments planned for the Doctoral Candidate will take place at Idiap, Switzerland, and at TU/e (Eindhoven University of Technology), The Netherlands. 
  • Contribute to academic publications, project reports, and other dissemination activities. 
  • Participate in structured training programs and network-wide events organised by the consortium. 
  • Collaborate with international partners and other Doctoral Candidates within the network. 

Where to apply

E-mail
lab.isearch@sot.tum.de

Requirements

Research Field
Psychological sciences » Psychology
Education Level
Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field
Psychological sciences » Cognitive science
Education Level
Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications

The ideal candidate needs to hold (or expect by December 2024) a diploma/master's degree in Psychology, Cognitive Science or related disciplines. Experience in using behavioral, observational and experimental methods both in the field and in the lab setting with children and/or adolescents is essential. Experience in studying children’s information search and active learning is desirable, as well as knowledge of behavioral coding programs (e.g., Datavyu) and mastering of statistical methods and programming languages (e.g., R, Python). The ability to work independently and fluency in English are required.

Languages
ENGLISH
Level
Excellent
Research Field
Psychological sciences » Psychology
Years of Research Experience
1 - 4

Additional Information

Benefits
  • Competitive Salary: The gross monthly salary is €3.342, + €600 (mobility allowance), subject to tax and social security deductions. An additional monthly family allowance of €660 can be granted if the candidate is married or has dependent children. 
  • Social Security & Pension: Full coverage under Germany’s social security and pension schemes. 
  • Mobility Allowance: Additional monthly allowance for living costs related to relocation. 
  • Other Allowances: Family allowance, long-term leave allowance, and special needs allowance will be available if needed.  
  • Professional Development: Access to high-quality training, networking opportunities, and career development support. 
Eligibility criteria
  • Doctoral Status: Applicants must not own a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment. 
  • Mobility Rule: Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. 
  • Nationality: Open to all nationalities. 
  • Doctoral Programme Enrollment: You must be willing to enrol in a doctoral programme at the Technical University of Munich. 
  • Full-Time Commitment: The position requires full-time commitment with a physical presence at the recruiting institution. Teleworking is not permitted. 
Selection process
  • Application Submission: Applications must be submitted by 4 November 2024. 
  • Selection Criteria: Candidates will be evaluated based on their academic background, research experience, and alignment with the project’s objectives. The selection process will be open, transparent, merit-based, impartial, and equitable. 
  • Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a structured interview with predefined questions and a scoring system. 
  • Reserve List: A reserve list of top candidates may be created for future opportunities. 
  • Selection Committee: The selection committee will comprise diverse experts ensuring gender balance, nationality diversity, and relevant experience. 
Additional comments
  • How to Apply: Submit your certificates, CV, cover letter (e.g., why are you interested in this project and/or what will you bring to this project. Max two pages), and two reference letters to lab.isearch@sot.tum.de. 
  • Documentation: Candidates may be required to provide proof of residency history and eligibility criteria. 
  • Timeline: The successful candidates will be invited for interviews by mid-November, and the final decision will be made by early December. 

For more information about the project and the application process, please contact Georgina Török at georgina.torok@tum.de or Paula Fischer at paula.fischer@tum.de

Equal Opportunity: We are committed to diversity and inclusion in our recruitment process, and we encourage applications from underrepresented groups and all qualified individuals, regardless of nationality, gender, or background.  

Note: The recruitment process will adhere strictly to the European Charter for Researchers principles and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. 

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
Chair of Cognitive and Developmental Psychology, School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University Munich
Country
Germany
City
Munich
Geofield

Contact

City
Munich
Website
Street
Arcistrasse 21
E-Mail
georgina.torok@tum.de
paula.fischer@tum.de

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