PhD in Social support for the real-world introduction of AI in critical infrastructure

Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS) Den Bosch, is proud to start with three large Robust AI labs together with:

1. Deloitte (Auditing for Responsible AI Software Systems) – 5 PhD’s
2. DPG Media (responsible media lab) – 5 PhD’s
3. LaNubia (Innovation Lab for Utilities on Sustainable Technology and Renewable
Energy) – 5 PhD’s

JADS is seeking enthusiastic colleagues for the position of PhD students. We operationalize the huge ambition around AI by explicitly aligning our research agenda on Robust AI with the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.
The project is funded in a public private partnership by NWO/NLAIC and the private partners. This position is part of the LaNubia project.

Short Description

The social impact of technology on its users has been vastly proved to be enormous since it might pose organizational and social obstacles. Acceptance of new technologies, especially in the energy field, has been recognized as one of the primary barriers to implementing technological innovations. In the context of the ILUSTRE project, we will investigate the impact of IT technology on the energy and water supply domains. The project will focus on two main aspects: 1) the impact on the partner industries’ managers and employees; 2) the impact on the broader society – since AI technology will affect the quality and the features of the services provided to the population. We model these social processes through social networks and predict possible social outcomes of interventions in the networks employing statistics, system dynamics modelling and ABMs.

In this position, you will be collecting data using group model building (GMB) and survey methodology. Then you will employ social network analysis (SNA) to monitor the extent to which the employees and the larger public (together called the stakeholders) receive and respond to the implementation. These techniques will be used in conjunction with system dynamics and agent-based simulation models.

• A master’s degree in Computational Social Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, Sociology, Political Science, Organizational Studies with a strong quantitative background, or related disciplines.
• Preferably experience with Social Network Analysis, Data collection techniques, System Dynamics Modelling, Agent Based Modelling.
• Strong programming skills, preferably in R.
• A research oriented attitude and interest in collaborating with the industrial partners
• Experience in dealing with stakeholders.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Being appointed at JADS provides a meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious community of 2 universities and startups. Based on the project, the candidate receives an appointment at TU/Eindhoven or Tilburg University.

As a PhD Student at JADS you will have a full-time employment for a total of four years, with an intermediate evaluation after nine months. JADS offers excellent employment conditions with attention to flexibility and (personal) development and attractive fringe benefits. The gross monthly salary is in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities. The minimum gross salary is € 2.541 per month up to a maximum of € 3.247 in the fourth year;

You are entitled to a vacation allowance of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% of your gross annual income. If you work 40 hours per week, you will receive 41 paid days of leave per year. PhD Students from outside the Netherlands may qualify for a tax-free allowance of 30% of their taxable salary if they meet the relevant conditions. The university applies for this allowance on their behalf. JADS will provide assistance in finding suitable accommodation.

Preferred starting date: January 1, 2023.

To develop your teaching skills, you will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks. To support you during your PhD and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will make a Training and Supervision plan and you will have free access to a personal development program for PhD students.

Next to that we offer all kinds of facilities and arrangements to maintain an optimal balance between work and private life. All employees of the university are covered by the so-called General Pension Fund for Public Employers (Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP).

JADS values an open and inclusive culture. We embrace diversity and encourage the mutual integration of groups of employees and students. We focus on creating equal opportunities for all our employees and students so that everyone feels at home in our university community.
All researchers working in JADS have contracts at either Tilburg University or Eindhoven University of Technology. Please visit Working at Tilburg University and Working at Eindhoven University of Technology for more information on their respective employment conditions.

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact prof. dr. Roger Leenders (r.t.a.j.leenders@jads.nl ) or dr. Claudia Zucca (c.zucca@jads.nl ).

For information about terms of employment, please contact Marielle van Gerven, HR Advisor, m.a.a.v.gerven@jads.nl or +31 40 247 3699

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the ‘apply now’-button on this page. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references.
• Brief description of your MSc thesis.

We look forward to your application and will screen it as soon as we have received it. Screening will continue until the position has been filled.

Note: CHECK OUT THE OTHER PhD vacancies at JADS!