Job Title: Doctoral Candidate (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Project)

Location: Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany

Contract Type: Full-time Employment Contract

Duration: 36 months

Gross Salary: 3.342 € brutto per month

Application Deadline: 8th of November 2024

About the Project

We are seeking a highly motivated Doctoral Candidate (DC) to join our 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 incorporating high ethical and legal standards in the development of LLM-based tools for mental health purposes. This includes identifying legal and ethical shortcomings in existing AI mental health applications, such as AI Companions and chatbots, and developing standards to foster resilience rather than emotional dependence. The candidate will work under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Christoph Lütge (TUM), and closely with Associate Professor Nicole Lønfeldt (RegionH) and advisors from Fujitsu

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.
• Educational Background/Training: Candidates would preferably have a background in psychology, social sciences, healthcare, or a related discipline, with knowledge of AI applications in mental health or legal/ethical aspects of technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research on legal and ethical standards for AI mental health applications under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Christoph Lütge
• Collaborate with researchers and experts to develop guidelines for the ethical development of LLM-based tools in mental health. 
• Engage in secondments  at RegionH (Denmark) and Fujitsu (Germany) for research and training purposes.
• 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.

Selection Process

• Application Submission: Applications must be submitted by 8th of 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.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary: The gross monthly salary is  3.342 €, subject to tax and social security deductions.
• 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.

Application Procedure

• How to Apply: Submit in one pdf your certificate, 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 contact information for two references at info@alignai.eu.
• Documentation: Candidates may be required to provide proof of residency history and eligibility criteria.
• Timeline: The successful candidates will be invited for interviews by the 30th of November, and the final decision will be made by the 15th of December.

Additional Information

• VISA Support: Where applicable, assistance with VISA and relocation procedures will be provided.

For more information about the project and the application process, please contact the team at info@alignai.eu.

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.