Job description

Closing Date: 23:30hrs (local Irish time) on Sunday, 8th January, 2022.

The Role

Maynooth University is committed to a strategy in which the primary University goals of excellent research and scholarship and outstanding education are interlinked and equally valued. We are recruiting a Postdoctoral researcher with a background in the social sciences to work on AI Governance, Trust and Responsibility with Prof. Aphra Kerr of MUSSI at Maynooth University.

AI policies are proliferating in Europe and a range of multi-stakeholder initiatives are currently shaping a shared set of ethical principles, values and limitations on use. These policies and principles aim to guide the development and application of AI based applications and services. But how do these policies translate into practice in diverse organisations and contexts. How can we trust AI systems and those organisations and people who deploy them? These questions motivate this research position. This postdoc will focus on approaches, methods and tools for evaluating the social impacts of AI in particular contexts and help to develop strategies to support transparency and responsibility.

The postdoc will conduct original research that contributes to at least two of the following streams of work 1) conduct case studies to examine the efficacy of AI policies and frameworks in practice in particular organisations and/or on platforms, 2) audit the social impacts of an AI system in a particular domain 3) develop strategies, tools and events to support public trust, transparency and responsibility around the application of AI systems.

The primary focus of the role is on conducting excellent research and on disseminating this research through academic journal articles, international conferences, and public engagement activities. There will be opportunities to develop new research projects in collaboration with other researchers and/or external parties.

This postdoc will contribute to the research agenda of the Transparent Digital Governance (TDG) research team within the Science Foundation Ireland funded ADAPT research centre. TDG is one of three strands of research within the ADAPT research centre whose goal is to develop trustworthy and human Centric AI informed by ethical principles, fundamental rights and social values. The centre includes graduate and postgraduate researchers from across 8 Irish universities in computer science, HCI, design, social science, philosophy and law. The centre is funded by the Irish government through Science Foundation Ireland.

The postdoc will be located with other postgraduate researchers and staff working on externally funded research projects in the Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI) at Maynooth University in Ireland.

Principal Duties

Research, Administrative and other duties:

• Conducting a state-of-the-art review on current best practice in AI governance and social and ethical issues resulting from the application of AI in particular domains
• Evaluating methodological approaches for auditing AI in practice
• Applying and conducting an AI audit in a chosen domain;
• Collaborating with other postdocs to develop the centre’s knowledge and expertise of European and national policies and emerging regulations pertaining to
• Dissemination of literature reviews and research findings through academic (e.g. peer reviewed journal articles, presentations at peer reviewed international conferences) and non- academic means (e.g. blogs, podcasts, exhibitions other);
• Developing new research projects with other academics, the public sector, industry and/or civil society
• Helping to organise group meetings, workshops and
• Participating in ADAPT Education and public engagement activities with the general public (e.g. citizen think ins, talks, workshops);

The ideal candidate will have:

Essential

• A PhD in Sociology, Science and Technology Studies, Media & Communication, or related social science discipline including critical data studies and human
• To be appointed at the Grade of Senior Post Doctoral Researcher a minimum of 2 years post- doctoral research experience is required
• Knowledge of emerging academic and policy debates relating to social and ethical issues relating to Artificial Intelligence and automated decision-making systems
• Knowledge of platform governance debates in digital content technologies
• Demonstrable experience of qualitative social science research methods including primary and secondary data analysis;
• Willingness to learn new skills and to conduct an AI
• A record of high-quality publications in international journals appropriate to career stage
• A record of applying for funded research proposals appropriate to career stage
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in
• Excellent presentation skills – to both academic and non-academic audiences;
• Good research management and administration skills
• Willingness to travel in Ireland to conduct research and public outreach
• Willingness to travel to attend national and international conferences;

Desirable

• Post-doctoral research experience/ relevant other experience
• Knowledge of emerging European policies related to Digital Services and Platforms.
• Knowledge of digital policy making procedures and institutions in Ireland and Europe;
• Knowledge of living lab or similar experimental research
• Experience of public engagement and public communication activities
• Interdisciplinary research collaboration experience, especially with computer

Application Procedure

• Closing Date: 23:30hrs (local Irish time) on Sunday, 8th January, 2022.
• Please note all applications must be made via our Online Recruitment Portal at the following link: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/human-resources/vacancies
• Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified above. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system.
• Late applications will not be accepted.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term

Salary: €41,209.00-€50,189.00 per year

Benefits:

• Bike to work scheme
• Company events
• Company pension
• Employee assistance program
• Flexitime
• Free or subsidised travel
• On-site parking
• Sick pay
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Reference ID: 0000284984 Postdoctoral Researcher in Al Governance, Trust and Responsibility

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