The overall aim of the RPA is to strengthen and fuse the expertise of the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences about the interplay between AI and politics, and its societal consequences. This RPA embraces a broad definition of politics, spanning both formal and informal dynamics through which societal challenges and conflicts are processed in a variety of contexts. As a postdoctoral researcher you will play a key role in reaching these aims by conducting a research project on AI & Politics that focuses on at least one of the four dimensions in which AI challenges traditional political dynamics:

1. Investigating the impact of AI on politics
2. The politics of AI governance
3. How does (largely private) AI do traditional administrative “political” jobs
4. When, how and why is the use of AI politicized? 

More extensive descriptions of these themes and potential topics and research questions can be found here: Artificial Intelligence & Politics - University of Amsterdam (uva.nl) This position gives you the possibility to shape your own research project within one of the four dimensions within the theme of AI & Politics.

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Developing, conducting, and publishing empirical research on AI & Politics, and its societal consequences
• Presenting your work at (inter)national conferences
• Writing white papers and blog posts aiming to disseminate academic knowledge among relevant stakeholders outside academia;
• Contributing to the overall RPA AI & Politics program in terms of community building, events, research meetings, and activities;
• Helping to write grant-proposals;

You have:

• A(n) (almost completed) PhD in one of the Social Sciences, such as Communication Science, Sociology, or Human Geography;
• A clear and demonstrable research interest in the topic of the project;
• Scientific creativity and productivity, as demonstrated in recent publications in international peer-reviewed journals and peer-reviewed conferences;
• Excellent (empirical) research skills using social scientific methods;
• The ability, willingness, and commitment to do autonomous work in a multidisciplinary team that includes researchers from ASCoR and AISSR;
• Experience with organizing workshops, lecture series, or similar events;
• An excellent written and spoken command of English;

You are:

• Intellectually curious and eager to learn;
• Passionate about contributing through your research to the RPA and knowledge on the interplay between AI and politics, and its societal consequences.
• Willing to learn and think across disciplines and integrate knowledge from different academic disciplines;
• A team player with strong interpersonal skills for building contact with colleagues and (external) stakeholders
• Proactive.

If the vacancy appeals to you, but you are doubting whether you might be THE person we are looking for, please do apply. We encourage all qualified applicants, particularly including minorities, women, people with disabilities, and members of other groups underrepresented in academia to apply. We wish to create a team in which members can contribute in their own, unique ways. Complementarity, not homogeneity, is what we are looking for.

• access to research funds to conduct studies and attend international conferences
• possibilities for further professional development and education.
• a position in which initiative and input are highly valued
• an enthusiastic and warm team that is open to new colleagues
• a favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants
• an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.

Depending on your interest and the needs of the educational institutes of the department in which the candidate will be placed, it may be possible to extend the duration of the contract by adding up to 0.2 FTE of teaching in the appointment depending on approval from the teaching institutes. The duration of the contract will then be extended. This is determined after the interview process.