Assistant Professor in Experimental Methods for AI in Logic and Language

Faculteit/Dienst: Faculteit der Natuurw., Wiskunde & Informatica

Opleidingsniveau: Gepromoveerd

Functie type: Wetenschappelijk Personeel

Sluitingsdatum: 1 Januari 2022

Vacaturenummer: 7584

Do you combine a knowledge of natural language semantics with that of experimental methods and their statistical analysis? Are you an expert in the use of causality and/or bias in Artificial Intelligence? Do you have a track record of publishing in leading journals in Logic, Language and/or Artificial Intelligence? Are you an inspiring teacher who is competent to teach a wide variety of courses in the areas of logic and natural language analysis, as well as Human(e) AI? Do you have an excellent command of both English and Dutch?

If so, we hope you will apply for our vacancy for an assistant professor in the area of Logic and Language with a focus on experimental methods in Artificial Intelligence. This position has a significant teaching component (research to teaching ratio is 50:50).

What are you going to do

• Develop and teach courses at Bachelor and Master levels on topics such as Logic and Computation, Experimental Methods for AI Causality and Common Sense Reasoning, and Human(e) AI.
• Contribute significantly to the creation and supervision of BSc and MSc thesis projects on AI.
• Be active in research in the field of natural language analysis at the ILLC, while also reaching out to the broader research community active in language and cognition within the Faculty of Humanities.
• Contribute to the research on experimental methods in AI, focusing especially on the semantics and pragmatics of natural language.
• (Help to) setup and carry out (online) experiments on these topics, statistically analys the results, and provide cognitive models to explain them.
• Publish papers in international journals / conference venues in your field, and to give contributed or invited talks at international venues.
• Contribute to research valorisation, as well as to outreach activities in research and/or teaching.

What do we require of you

• A PhD in a relevant field, e.g., in probabilistic modelling, experimental semantics, Logic, AI.
• Competence to teach a wide variety of courses in the areas of logic, natural language processing and Human(e) AI.
• Experience with the (co-)supervision of BSc, MSc and/or PhD students.
• Excellent research skills, evidenced by a track record of publications in renowned international journals or conference venues in any of the above-mentioned fields, and contributed and/or invited talks at international conferences / workshops.
• Experience with research using (online) experiments including the statistical analysis of the data.
• Research experience on bias and/or the use of causal models in Artificial Intelligence such that you can contribute to our 'Language Technology for People' program.
• The Dutch Basic Teaching Qualification (UTQ/BKO) or willingness to acquire this within the first two years.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• The ability to teach courses and engage in an academic setting in both Dutch and English (both orally and in writing).

Candidates who are willing and able to contribute to knowledge valorisation, to outreach activities, and to contribute to multidisciplinary cooperation are preferred.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours a week, starting on 1 March 2022 or before, for the duration of 24 months with the possibility of a permanent contract, if the performance is positively assessed. Your salary, depending on your relevant experience on commencement of the employment contract, ranges between €3.807 to €5.211 gross per month on the basis of a full working week of 38 hours. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8.3% year-end allowance. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) is applicable.

About us

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds. The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) is an ambitious research instituted, focused on the interdisciplinary study of information. It is home to researchers with many different backgrounds, including computer science, logic, linguistics, musicology, philosophy and mathematics. In the area of Artificial Intelligence, we have research groups focusing on Natural Language processing, Multi-agent systems, Digital Humanities, Cognitive Modelling, Philosophy of AI, and Computational Logic. ILLC is a founding partner in UvA’s Artificial Intelligence BSc and MSc programmes and the Master of Logic, and the institute is part of both the Faculty of Science (FNWI) and the Faculty of Humanities (FGw). Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Question

If you have any questions about the position, please contact (during office hours):

• Professor Sonja Smets
• T. (+31 (0)20 5256508

Or

T:

Job application

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application by 1 January 2022. You can apply online by using the link below.

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.