Staff scientist position with a focus on democratic and power-equitable AI

The AI Policy Lab at Umeå University is committed to advancing research and developing actionable policy insights to support the ethical and responsible governance of AI. We collaborate with key stakeholders in academia, industry, and government to tackle pressing challenges in AI policy, ethics, and regulation. Our mission is to foster a fair and sustainable approach to AI development that aligns with societal values and promotes equitable outcomes across sectors.

The AI Policy Lab is hosted at the Department of Computing Science, which is characterized by world-leading research in a multitude of scientific fields and is ranked highly in international comparisons. The department has been growing rapidly in recent years, with a focus on creating an inclusive and bottom-up driven research environment. Our department consists of a diverse set of people from different nationalities, background and fields. If you work as a staff scientist with us, you receive the benefits of support in career development, networking, administrative and technical support functions, along with good employment conditions.

More information about the department is available at: https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-computing-science/

Project description and working tasks 

The AI Policy Lab seeks a Staff Scientist to pursue research into democratic and power-distributive artificial intelligence (AI), leading studies into and analyses of new and existing AI architectures and their social and political implications. In this role, you will participate in and lead investigations of how to structure AI architectures, development, and deployment in order to achieve a greater degree of participation, power, and influence for users, workers, and data subjects.

The employment is 80% starting the 10th February 2025 or as agreed upon. 

Key Responsibilities  

• Technology Research and Analysis
  • Continuously monitor, analyze, and interpret developments in AI, methods, models and architectures and concrete implementations
  • Produce timely, evidence-based analyses on the interactions between AI deployments and their surrounding societal contexts
  • Identify emerging trends, risks, and opportunities in AI technologies to support decision-making for both proactive and reactive engagement.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
  • Evaluate the relevance of technological and social developments and determine strategic responses for the AI Policy Lab and its stakeholders.
  • Synthesize research findings into actionable recommendations and communicate insights on technological and sociotechnical implications to senior leadership and Lab partners.
  • Provide thought leadership in defining the AI Policy Lab’s positions on key issues.
• Research and Technical Publications
  • Lead and contribute to the Lab’s research outputs, including international standards, research articles, and white papers on topics such as AI politics, safety, ethics, accountability, and societal impact.
  • Present research findings and policy perspectives in relevant forums, journals, and conferences to broaden the Lab’s influence and visibility in the global AI landscape.
• Project Development and Management
  • Oversee and support the development of interdisciplinary projects involving the politics of AI, as well as its ethics, socioeconomics, and governance.
  • Coordinate project timelines, manage deliverables, and ensure adherence to high-quality standards in research and reporting.

Qualifications

• A PhD in Computing Science or Artificial Intelligence or equivalent.
• Familiarity and experience with interdisciplinary studies around Artificial Intelligence, including critical AI studies and analyses of power relations
• Fluency in English.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality reports, policy briefs, and presentations tailored to diverse audiences, including technical and policy stakeholders, in English.

Desirable qualifications 

• Experience with global AI policy trends and key players in policy, research, and industry.
• Demonstrated skills in organizing and managing research projects
• Proficiency in Swedish.
  
  

Application process
We expect many applicants. It is therefore of utmost importance that your application follows all guidelines and is complete. A complete application must contain the following documents:

• A mandatory letter of intent including a statement of research describing how you understand the requirements and expectations for this specific position and how you propose to realize its objectives (maximum 2 pages).
• CV, including a complete list of scientific publications.
• A Verified copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained,
• Copies of other degree certificates, including documentation of completed academic courses and obtained grades.
• Links to your PhD thesis and a list of (max 5) original research publications relevant to the position topics, annotated with a brief description of their relevance for the position.
• Names and contact information for three persons willing to act as references.

The application and other documents must be written in English or Swedish. Documents must be in Word or pdf format. Applications must be submitted electronically using the e-recruitment system of Umeå University and be received no later than the 7th of February 2025. Log in to the system and apply via the button at the end of the page.

For additional information, please contact Prof. Dr. Virginia Dignum virginia@cs.umu.se. 

We look forward to receiving your application!