Post Doc Research Associate in Artificial Intelligence

Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts is seeking candidates who have a PhD in Philosophy, History, Political Science, Sociology, Languages and Cultures, Informatics, Computer Science or a related field for a two-year postdoctoral research associate position. Although we encourage all candidates who have a PhD to apply, we are especially interested in candidates whose research falls under one of the following categories:

• a philosopher or humanist (e.g., historians, political scientists, sociologists, specialists in languages and cultures) with expertise in the study of artificial intelligence (AI) / computation
• someone with expertise in artificial intelligence or computational methods more generally who either already has a research agenda centered on the social, ethical and political issues surrounding AI or would be interested in developing such an agenda at Purdue.

The two-year (12-month FY) position starts on August 14, 2023 and has an annual salary of $52,000. Additional benefits, including travel and research support, are negotiable.

AOS / AOC for philosophy-specific ads

AOS: Philosophy of AI / computation, or mind or cognitive science all broadly construed; 

AOC: Open.

The two-year (12-month FY) position starts on August 14, 2023 and has an annual salary of $52,000. Additional benefits, including travel and research support, are negotiable.

Principal Duties

Purdue is a member of the American Association of Universities and seeks candidates of exceptional promise who will contribute to the excellence of our college. This position will have no teaching duties associated with it but requires strong organization skills in order to coordinate efforts among multiple faculty members across our college to pursue external funding in support of projects that will bolster the college’s AI community (e.g., helping to organize colloquia, workshops and other research endeavors around the theme of AI). Finally, the postdoctoral research associate will be expected to work on existing AI projects, as well as propose new projects as a lead author. Although we would like candidates who can contribute to the AI initiatives outlined in the next section, candidates are also welcome to work on AI-related projects outside of these efforts.

Artificial Intelligence at Purdue University

Purdue University and the College of Liberal Arts have embarked on a series of endeavors to promote the study of Artificial Intelligence on campus. Recently, the College made a six-figure investment in the Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence (VRAI) lab, which aims to employ cutting edge virtual reality technology to answer a variety of research questions. The College has also funded the creation of several social science research labs focused on issues related to AI. The Computational Social Science (CSS) Lab was established to promote the application and development of computational methods to large, typically complex, human and behavioral data. The Governance and Responsible AI Lab (GRAIL) supports research on the social, ethical, and governance implications of artificial intelligence. Each of these efforts is also supported by the newly created Joe and Maggie Kernan (JMK) Social Science lab and the Advanced Methods at Purdue (AMAP) initiative, a cross-college cluster working towards increasing methodological expertise and collaborative opportunities in behavioral, health, and social sciences.

Application Procedure 

All materials will be submitted electronically through careers.purdue.edu Requisition 26204. Initial applications only require submission of a CV and cover letter, including short description of the candidate’s research agenda and relevant experience. Those deemed competitive will be asked to submit further materials, which may include: (i) brief cover letter, (ii) curriculum vitae (including dissertation abstract and research statement), and (iii) a recent writing sample. Letters of reference should not be included in the initial application but should be prepared for quick submission if requested. If letters are requested from the candidate at a later stage, instructions for how to submit letters will be communicated directly to the candidate.

Purdue University, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Department of Philosophy are committed to free and open inquiry in all matters. Candidates are encouraged to address in their cover letter how they are prepared to contribute to a climate that values free inquiry and academic freedom.

Purdue University, the College of Liberal Arts and Department of Philosophy are committed to advancing diversity in all areas of faculty effort.  Candidates are encouraged to address in their cover letter how they are prepared to contribute to an inclusive climate.

Screening of applicants will begin on June 15, 2023 and continue until the position is filled. Incomplete applications will not be considered, and a background check will be required for employment in this position. For additional information, you may contact any member of our search committee: Bryce J. Dietrich (bjdietri@purdue.edu), Javier Gomez-Lavin, (jglavin@purdue.edu) or David Peterson (davidpeterson@purdue.edu).

Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.