Postdoc in Computational Social Choice

Faculty/Services: Faculty of Science

Educational level: Promoted

Function type: Academic Staff

Closing date: 25 May 2022

Vacancy number: 8643

Have you recently completed (or are you about to complete) your PhD and are you excited about current developments at the interface of AI with Economics taking place in the Computational Social Choice and Algorithmic Game Theory research communities? Can you see yourself working in an interdisciplinary environment, in a team with smart and friendly colleagues?

Then you may want to join us. We are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Social Choice to work with us in the COMSOC Group at the ILLC in Amsterdam.

The research agenda of our group is dedicated to the design and analysis of methods for collective decision making. The research we do is both mathematical and conceptual in nature. We regularly publish in the leading conference proceedings and journals in AI, but also emphasise interdisciplinarity and often reach out to other fields, notably Economics, Political Science, and Philosophy. Relevant keywords include decision theory, game theory, social choice theory, AI, multiagent systems, and knowledge representation.

We specifically encourage women to apply for this position.

What are you going to do

This position is funded by an NWO VICI grant on "Collective Information", held by Prof. Ulle Endriss. The basic philosophy of the project is outlined in this Blue Sky Ideas paper presented at AAAI-2020. You will be expected to contribute to the broad objectives of this project.

Your specific tasks will include:

• to regularly present research results at international workshops and conferences, and to publish them in conference proceedings and journals;

• to collaborate with other members of the COMSOC Group;

• to contribute to the supervision of PhD candidates in the group;

• to participate in and to contribute to the organisation of research activities and events at the Institute, such as workshops and colloquia;

• to contribute to the dissemination of research results to non-specialist audiences and the organisation of outreach events.

While this is primarily a research position, as a postdoctoral researcher at the ILLC you will be expected to also make a modest contribution to the institute’s educational mission, e.g., by supervising MSc or BSc theses.

What do we require

You should have completed, or expect to complete before the start of your appointment, a PhD in a relevant area of research, such as Computational Social Choice, Algorithmic Game Theory, Multiagent Systems, or Knowledge Representation. You also should have experience in publishing your research at relevant international venues. Strong candidates with a somewhat different research profile who indicate a clear interest in moving into the field of Computational Social Choice will also be considered.

You also should possess:

• excellent writing and presentation skills;

• good social and organisational skills;

• willingness to reach out to audiences beyond academia;

• full professional proficiency in spoken and written English.

Please note that knowledge of the Dutch language is not required for this position, nor is it required for being able to live in Amsterdam. However, members of staff at the ILLC have the opportunity to attend Dutch language classes if they wish.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours a week, preferably starting on 1 October 2022, for a duration of 24 months. The salary, depending on relevant prior experience, will be between €2,846 and €4,490 gross per month (scale 10). These figures apply in case you opt for the default full-time contract of 38 hours per week (part-time arrangements of 0.8fte are possible as well). The annual salary will be supplemented with an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the so-called ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities applies.

Find out more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with around 40,000 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 interdisciplinary research institute at the University of Amsterdam in which researchers from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Humanities collaborate. Research at the ILLC brings together insights from various disciplines concerned with the study of fundamental principles of encoding, transmission, and comprehension of information, such as computer science, artificial intelligence, computational linguistics, mathematics, logic, philosophy, and cognitive science. The institute offers a friendly and international research environment with world-class faculty in all of its areas of specialisation. We are based in the beautiful city of Amsterdam, renowned for its historic system of canals, its laid-back cosmopolitan atmosphere, and its excellent connections to the rest of Europe and the world.

Questions

Do you have any question about this vacancy? You are very welcome to get in touch:

• Prof. Ulle Endriss

Job application

Interested? Then we would like to hear from you! Your application should include the following information (in the form of one single PDF):

• 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 two pages);

• your CV, including your list of publications and the URL of your professional homepage;

• links to two selected publications (you have made) 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;

• the names, affiliations, and email addresses of three people we can contact for letters of reference.

Interviews are tentatively planned for the week starting 27 June 2022 (either online or in person).

Please submit your application no later than 25 May 2022, using the link below. Please use the CV field to upload the PDF document specified above (and do not submit a separate document with a cover letter). We will only consider applications that are complete and that have been submitted in this manner.

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.

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