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Postdoc in Computational Social Choice for Digital Democracy

  • Faculty of Science
  • 14010
  • PhD
  • €3.378 - €5.331
  • 38 hours
  • Closes on
    22-05-2025
Apply

Postdoc in Computational Social Choice for Digital Democracy

  • Faculty of Science
  • 14010
  • PhD
  • €3.378 - €5.331
  • 38 hours
  • Closes on
    22-05-2025
Apply

Working at the UvA

Join Us!

The position is part of the ADDI project on Advancing Digital Democratic Innovation, an ERC Synergy Project funded by the European Union, with partners in Toulouse, Turku, and Amsterdam. Our goal is to study digitally augmented forms of civic participation through three core objectives: designing technologies and procedures for citizen deliberation and participation; experimentally testing the impact of technology in deliberative and participatory forums; and understanding the preferences expressed in digitally augmented forms of civic participation. At the end of the project, we hope to have a better understanding of how digital technologies can improve democratic practices while providing a robust suite of scientifically validated open-source tools.

The team in Amsterdam will specifically focus on theoretical foundations, such as the principled analysis of preference data using methods from social choice theory and the design of algorithms to support digital democracy. But we will collaborate closely with other teams focusing on empirics and technology.

Working at the UvA

Join Us!

The position is part of the ADDI project on Advancing Digital Democratic Innovation, an ERC Synergy Project funded by the European Union, with partners in Toulouse, Turku, and Amsterdam. Our goal is to study digitally augmented forms of civic participation through three core objectives: designing technologies and procedures for citizen deliberation and participation; experimentally testing the impact of technology in deliberative and participatory forums; and understanding the preferences expressed in digitally augmented forms of civic participation. At the end of the project, we hope to have a better understanding of how digital technologies can improve democratic practices while providing a robust suite of scientifically validated open-source tools.

The team in Amsterdam will specifically focus on theoretical foundations, such as the principled analysis of preference data using methods from social choice theory and the design of algorithms to support digital democracy. But we will collaborate closely with other teams focusing on empirics and technology.

All about this vacancy

This is what you will do

As a postdoctoral researcher in the ADDI project at the ILLC, your 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 ADDI Consortium in Amsterdam, Toulouse, and Turku;
  • to contribute to the supervision of PhD candidates;
  • to participate in and to contribute to the organisation of research activities and events at the Institute and within the Consortium, 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 we look for

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, or Multiagent Systems. 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:

  • experience with publishing your research at strong international venues (conferences and/or journals);

  • excellent writing and presentation skills;

  • good social and organisational skills;

  • interest in conducting multidisciplinary research with people from other fields;

  • 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.

This is what we offer you

We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week for a period of 24 months. The earliest possible starting date is 1 September 2025. The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 3,378 to € 5,331 (scale 10). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile Researcher 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. Curious about our extensive secondary benefits package? You can read more about it here.

All about this vacancy

This is what you will do

As a postdoctoral researcher in the ADDI project at the ILLC, your 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 ADDI Consortium in Amsterdam, Toulouse, and Turku;
  • to contribute to the supervision of PhD candidates;
  • to participate in and to contribute to the organisation of research activities and events at the Institute and within the Consortium, 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 we look for

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, or Multiagent Systems. 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:

  • experience with publishing your research at strong international venues (conferences and/or journals);

  • excellent writing and presentation skills;

  • good social and organisational skills;

  • interest in conducting multidisciplinary research with people from other fields;

  • 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.

This is what we offer you

We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week for a period of 24 months. The earliest possible starting date is 1 September 2025. The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 3,378 to € 5,331 (scale 10). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile Researcher 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. Curious about our extensive secondary benefits package? You can read more about it here.

Your place at the UvA

You will work in this team

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 is home to a thriving community of scholars, including philosophers, logicians, mathematicians, computer scientists, linguists, musicologists, and cognitive scientists, who share a fascination with the interdisciplinary study of information. At the ILLC we combine the problem solving skills from the sciences with the holistic and reflective view of the humanities to discover the principles that regulate information processing and find answers to some of the hardest challenges of our time.

Organisational unit

The University of Amsterdam is ambitious, creative and committed. An inspiration to students since 1632, a vanguard player in international science and a partner in innovation.
The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest range of courses on offer. An intellectual hub with 42,000 students, 6,000 staff and 3,000 PhD students. Connected by a culture of curiosity.

Your place at the UvA

This is where you will be working

You will work in this team

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 is home to a thriving community of scholars, including philosophers, logicians, mathematicians, computer scientists, linguists, musicologists, and cognitive scientists, who share a fascination with the interdisciplinary study of information. At the ILLC we combine the problem solving skills from the sciences with the holistic and reflective view of the humanities to discover the principles that regulate information processing and find answers to some of the hardest challenges of our time.

Organisational unit

The University of Amsterdam is ambitious, creative and committed. An inspiration to students since 1632, a vanguard player in international science and a partner in innovation.
The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest range of courses on offer. An intellectual hub with 42,000 students, 6,000 staff and 3,000 PhD students. Connected by a culture of curiosity.

Important to know

Your application & contact

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 red button. We accept applications until and including Thursday, 22 May 2025 (Amsterdam time). Applications must include the following information (please use one PDF for the CV and one single PDF for everything else):

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

  • a letter of motivation, 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);

  • links to two selected publications or draft papers available online (e.g., on the publisher’s website, on arXiv, or on your homepage), with a short motivation for the selection made (please do not include the papers themselves);

  • a link to your PhD thesis available online (if available already) or an indication of the current status of your PhD thesis (please do not include the thesis itself);

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

Interviews will be held in June (online). The earliest possible starting date is 1 September 2025. Starting a few months later is possible.  A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure (for details: national knowledge security guidelines). Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.

If you have questions regarding the position, please feel free to contact Prof. Ulle Endriss ([email protected]).

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

As an employer, the UvA maintains an equal opportunities policy. We value diversity and are fully committed to being a place where everyone feels at home. We nurture inquisitive minds and perseverance and allow room for persistent questioning. With us, curiosity and creativity are the prevailing culture.
Read more

Important to know

Your application & contact

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 red button. We accept applications until and including Thursday, 22 May 2025 (Amsterdam time). Applications must include the following information (please use one PDF for the CV and one single PDF for everything else):

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

  • a letter of motivation, 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);

  • links to two selected publications or draft papers available online (e.g., on the publisher’s website, on arXiv, or on your homepage), with a short motivation for the selection made (please do not include the papers themselves);

  • a link to your PhD thesis available online (if available already) or an indication of the current status of your PhD thesis (please do not include the thesis itself);

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

Interviews will be held in June (online). The earliest possible starting date is 1 September 2025. Starting a few months later is possible.  A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure (for details: national knowledge security guidelines). Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.

If you have questions regarding the position, please feel free to contact Prof. Ulle Endriss ([email protected]).

As an employer, the UvA maintains an equal opportunities policy. We value diversity and are fully committed to being a place where everyone feels at home. We nurture inquisitive minds and perseverance and allow room for persistent questioning. With us, curiosity and creativity are the prevailing culture.

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