Assistant Professor in AI and Digital Culture

Faculty/Services: Faculty of Humanities

Educational level: PhD

Function type: Academic Staff

Closing date: 5 March 2023

Vacancy number: 11174

In the context of the sector plan for the Humanities titled ‘Tradition in transition’, the faculty currently has a vacant Assistant Professor position as part of the research theme Humane AI. Within this research theme the focus is on data and platforms for social, cultural and economic innovation.

What are you going to do?

You will provide education in a dynamic context with ample opportunities for the development of innovative teaching methods. Your research will be part of the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation, one of the five research schools of the Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research.

You would join the New Media & Digital Culture team in the Department of Media Studies. New Media & Digital Culture specialises in research strategies for developing critical media theory as well as digital research methods. Its emphasis is on internet studies.

The position has a focus on AI and digital culture. Artificial intelligence (AI) is behind much of digital life, residing rather invisibly in the back-end that recommends books, music, video, friends and partners and also in the text boxes that complete sentences and queries as well as prompt novel writing and imagery (generative AI). A research agenda into AI and digital culture has emerged, characterised by critique concerning how AI systems are trained and how they learn, not to mention what they output. Methods and techniques for examining the pipelines as well as the algorithmic output (such as algorithmic auditing) are under development, together with prompting and other probing approaches that seek to examine the potential for AI-driven systems to be creative, but also offensive and discriminatory. The position seeks researchers who undertake critical inquiries into the contemporary epistemologies behind systems and devices driving digital culture.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• designing and conducting independent research on new media & digital culture resulting in academic publications in peer-reviewed international journals and/or books;
• actively pursuing external funding for research, notably funding from research councils, national as well as European;
• actively contributing to and developing national and international research networks and other forms of cooperation;
• actively contributing to the research activities of the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation;
• developing, coordinating and teaching courses in English, in the Bachelor and Master programmes;
• supervising Bachelor and Master theses and tutoring students; co-supervising PhD theses;
• actively contributing to the development and improvement of the broader teaching programmes in the department;
• taking part in committees and working groups, and carrying out departmental administrative tasks as directed;
• actively contributing to the interdisciplinary collaboration of the sector plan research theme Humane AI.

What do you have to offer?

You are a dynamic and ambitious researcher with a strong profile, demonstrable by international publications and an international academic network. Your publications show broad knowledge of new media & digital culture, familiarity with digital research methods, and a strong affinity with internet studies. Your research matches the profile of the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation.

You are able to develop and provide modules on new media & digital culture. Important is proven flexibility in teaching on topics beyond your own research focus, a willingness to work in interdisciplinary teams of teachers and the ability to offer inspiring lectures and tutorials in the BA, MA and minor programmes that aspire to a wide range of students.

Your experience and profile:

• a PhD in the humanities or social sciences with a research focus on internet studies;
• provides research output commensurate with the level of the position;
• active and ambitious researcher with a strong publication record;
• demonstrable ability and ambition to obtain external research grants;
• broad and relevant teaching experience at BA and MA level;
• good command of Dutch and English. If you do not speak Dutch, an active and passive command must be acquired within the first two years of the employment contract and the state examination for Dutch as a Second Language programme II must be passed;
• experience with digital and audiovisual teaching facilities and affinity with IT in university teaching;
• experienced in valorisation and practice-based education and/or research;
• good team player and versatile at all levels, capable of multidisciplinary co-operation;
• excellent organisational experience and skills;
• a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), or willing to acquire this within the first two years of the employment contract.

What can we offer you?

We offer permanent employment upon a satisfactory evaluation following a temporary employment contract of a maximum of 18 months with a probationary period of two months. If you already have an employment contract with the UvA, we offer permanent employment upon a satisfactory evaluation following a temporary employment contract of a maximum of 12 months. The employment is for 38 hours per week. Preferred starting date is 01 September 2023.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week, ranges between € 3,974,- to € 5439,- (scale 11) dependent on relevant experience. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8,3% year-end allowance. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

We additionally offer:

• the opportunity to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams;
• excellent opportunities for study and personal development;
• an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands' largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 42,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity.

The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strong international profile in a large number of disciplines in de field of language and culture. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the faculty maintains close ties with many cultural institutes in the capital city. Research and teaching staff focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and are active in several teaching programmes.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Any questions?

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• Prof. Misha Kavka, department chair

Job Application

If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the link below. The deadline for applying for this vacancy is 05 March 2023.

Applications should include the following information (submitted in one .pdf):

• a letter of motivation;
• a detailed CV;
• a list of publications;

Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.

The interviews will be held in the second half of March or the beginning of April. A trial lecture may be part of the application procedure.

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.