Postdoctoral Researcher in Logic, AI and Language, with Teaching Component

Faculty/Services: Faculty of Science

Educational level: PhD

Function type: Academic Staff

Closing date: 18 November 2022

Vacancy number: 10813

Postdoctoral Researcher in Logic, AI and Language, with teaching component

Are you an expert in philosophical Logic, and familiar with formal and/or probabilistic approaches to meaning and causality? Do you have a track record of publishing in leading journals in Logic, language and/or AI? Are you an inspiring teacher who is competent to teach in the area Philosophy of AI? If so, we hope you will apply for our vacancy for an at least 2.5-year postdoctoral researcher in the area of Logic and Language. This position also has a significant teaching component (research: teaching ratio is 70:30).

What are you going to do

You are expected:
• to be active in the field of logic and its application to language and artificial intelligence at the ILLC, while also reaching out to the broader research community active in formal philosophy within the Faculty of Humanities;
• to publish papers in international journals / conference venues in your field, and to give contributed or invited talks at international venues;
• to teach courses at MSc and BSc level on topics such as philosophical logic, and philosophy of AI;
• to contribute to the supervision of BSc and MSc thesis projects;
• to contribute to research valorisation, as well as to outreach activities in research and/or teaching at the ILLC.

What to require of you

• A PhD in a relevant field (e.g. Logic, AI, Linguistics);
• Excellent research skills, evidenced by publications in renowned international journals and/or conference venues in Logic and Language, as well as contributed/invited talks at international venues;
• Proven didactic abilities in Logic and Language; you should have experience in teaching at both Bachelor and Master levels, and have the Dutch BKO (UTQ) or be willing to acquire this within two years;
• Experience in teaching courses for an interdisciplinary audience would be an advantage;
• Some experience with the (co-)supervision of BSc, MSc and/or PhD students;
• Ability to contribute to research valorisation and outreach activities in teaching and/or research;
• Ability to cooperate in a multidisciplinary environment;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and an excellent command of both English and Dutch.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours a week, preferably starting on 1 January 2023 or as soon as possible after this date. The contract is for the duration of 2.5 years, with a possible extension to 4 years. The gross monthly salary, based on a fulltime contract (38 hours per week) and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 2,960 to € 4,670 (scale 10). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The UFO profile Researcher level 4 is applicable. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park we offer you multiple fringe benefits:
• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• a complete educational program for PhD students;
• multiple courses on topics such as leadership for academic staff;
• multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
• 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
• partly paid parental leave;
• the possibility to set up a workplace at home;
• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
• help with housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad.

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands' largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 30,000 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 Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) is an interdisciplinary research institute at the University of Amsterdam in which researchers from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Humanities collaborate. The ILLC embraces curiosity-driven research and serves as a rallying point for information scientists across traditional research fields, ranging from AI, computer science and mathematics to linguistics, cognitive science and philosophy. ILLC's scientific mission is to study the formal properties of information, viz. the fundamental structure and properties of processes of encoding, transmitting and comprehending information. The latter notion is to be viewed in its broadest sense, covering
not only the mathematical and algorithmic properties of formal languages, but also the flow of information in natural language processing and in human cognitive activities such as reasoning.

Want to know more about our organisation?

Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam or take a look here.

Any questions?

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

• Prof. dr. Robert van Rooij

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 button below. We accept applications until and including 18 November 2022.

Applications (in one single .pdf file, using your surname as the file name) should include:
• a cover letter, including a description of your research interests and accomplishments,as well as an explanation for why you are applying for this position (at most twopages);
• a detailed curriculum vitae (CV), including your list of publications; Please mention the months (not just years) in your CV when referring to your education and work experience;
• links to three selected publications available online, with a short motivation for the selection made (mature drafts of papers or papers currently under submission are also acceptable);
• a link to your PhD thesis available online (if available already) or an indication of the current status of your PhD thesis;
• if possible, evidence of teaching abilities, perhaps in the form of teaching evaluations;
• the names, affiliations, and email addresses of three people we can contact for letters of reference for you.

Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered. The interviews will be held in November 2022.

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.

If you encounter Error GBB451, reach out to our HR Department directly. They will gladly help you continue your application.