Assistant professor in Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence

The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strong international profile in a large number of disciplines in the 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.

The Faculty of Humanities offers assistant professors the opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers at research institutes that - partly as a result of their interdisciplinary approach - are world-renowned. Moreover, you will be teaching in a dynamic context in which new teaching methods are being developed.

The Department of Literary Studies and Linguistics in the Faculty of Humanities is looking for an Assistant professor in Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, specialized in cognitive models of language, reasoning and/or music. The position will be embedded in the Linguistics section of the Department of Literary Studies & Linguistics in the faculty of Humanities. Research will be part of the Institute for Logic Language and Computation (ILLC).

Regarding teaching, the candidate is expected to play a prominent role in the new bilingual Dutch-English BSc programme Cognition, Language and Communication (CLC).

Teaching will also include tasks in other,  related programmes.

The wide range of research in the humanities at the University of Amsterdam is organized in five research schools, which together form the Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research (AIHR). Each school covers an important research area within the Faculty of Humanities. In addition, the faculty also participates in a renowned interfaculty research institute with the Faculty of Science: the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC).

The central research area of the ILLC is the study of fundamental principles of encoding, transmission and comprehension of information. Research at ILLC is interdisciplinary, and aims at bringing together insights from various disciplines concerned with information and information processing, such as (computational) linguistics, logic, mathematics, computer science, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, musicology and philosophy.

Job description

The ideal candidate has an excellent profile in both research and teaching. 

The candidate is able to demonstrate being well-informed about different formal modelling methods and tools used in the cognitive sciences, AI and the humanities, and link modelling work to other research traditions in linguistics, musicology, and/or philosophy, and the humanities at large. The candidate is expected to contribute actively to the collaboration between the ILLC and the Amsterdam Center for Language and Communication (ACLC).The candidate’s profile also includes  administrative (coordination, mentoring, etc.) tasks.  

The candidate is expected to:

• develop an independent line of research in her/his area of expertise, resulting in contributions published at leading international venues;
• build up and coordinate a research team and supervise PhD candidates;
• attract external research funding;
• contribute to research valorization and outreach activities;
• teach (in Dutch and in English) and develop teaching activities in the fields of AI and Linguistics and related cognitive disciplines. Relevant programmes include: BSc Cognition, Language and Communication, BSc Artificial Intelligence, rMSc Brain and Cognitive Science, BA and (r)MA Linguistics, MSc Logic;
• take on coordination tasks in the relevant teaching programmes (e.g. BSc Cognition, Language and Communication; MSc Logic);
•  (co-)supervise Bachelor’s and Master’s research projects, including theses;
• contribute significantly to management and administration tasks in teaching and research at the ILLC, the relevant teaching programmes and the Department of Literary Studies & Linguistics.

Requirements

• A relevant PhD degree (e.g. in Linguistics, AI, Logic, Cognitive Science, Philosophy);
• at least two years of postdoctoral research experience at the starting-date of the position;
• experience of work in at least two different institutes/universities/industry, preferably in different countries;
• experience in research and excellent research skills, evidenced by a strong track record of publications in renowned international conferences and journals (demonstrable ability to attract external research funding is a plus);
• a strong background, experience and expertise of research in the design and use of formal modelling of language and cognition and in bridging AI and Linguistics;
• a record of contributed and/or invited lectures at international conferences/workshops;
• the ability to further develop the BSc programme in Cognition, Language and Communication around this theme;
• experience with digital and audio-visual equipment; familiarity with ICT in academic teaching;
• teaching experience at university level and demonstrable pedagogical abilities, evidenced by a teaching portfolio;
• ability and interest to teach in various programmes, e.g. BSc Cognition, Language and Communication, rMA Brain & Cognitive Sciences, BSc/MSc Artificial Intelligence, BA/MA Linguistics, MSc Logic;
• ideally some experience with (co-)supervision of BA/BSc, MA/MSc and/or PhD students;
• ability to take on coordination tasks in the teaching programme BSc Cognition, Language and Communication;  
• ability to develop the management skills required for general academic administration and organization tasks;
• broad teaching skills, relevant to multiple departments in the Faculty of Humanities;
• excellent organizational experience and skills;
• a good team worker and versatile at all levels, enthusiasm, an interdisciplinary attitude, a strong team spirit, and the ability to motivate team members a strong affinity with the ILLC’s multidisciplinary environment as well as readiness to participate in interdisciplinary cooperation;
• excellent communication and social skills;
• the Dutch University Teaching Qualification (UTQ/BKO), or willingness to acquire this within the first two years;
• teaching and admin duties require native or near-native fluency in Dutch and English; appointments are subject to the candidate’s proficiency in both, or their undertaking to acquire thorough knowledge of Dutch and English as speedily as possible; non-native Dutch speakers must achieve an active and passive command of Dutch within two years. Passing the state examination for Dutch as a Second Language (NT2), programme II, is a prerequisite for a permanent employment contract.

Further information

For more information, please contact:

• Prof. Jeannette Schaeffer, Chair of the Department of Literary Studies and Linguistics

Employment contract

The contract is initially temporary for a period of two years. Subject to a positive assessment, it will be converted to a permanent contract. The start of the contract is scheduled for 1 August 2020.
The scope of the employment contract is 38 hours per week (1.0 FTE). The UFO profile of assistant professor applies to this position (salary scale 11/12, depending on relevant work experience). The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities applies.

Job application

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise 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.

The Faculty of Humanities wants to improve the diversity of its research community with respect to ethnicity, gender, sexuality and class. Applications that contribute to this are particularly encouraged.

Applications, including a motivation letter, a detailed curriculum vitae, a list of publications, and the names and email addresses of two referees who can provide letters of recommendation, should be submitted electronically no later than 1 April 2020 to the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Fred Weerman, by using the link below.

Only complete applications received via this link will be considered.

A trial class and an interview will be part of the application procedure for shortlisted candidates. Trial classes and interviews will be held on 21 April, 2020, from 8AM on. #LI-DNP