Description
PhD position in Argumentative Explainable Artificial Intelligence (1.0
FTE)
Job description
If we want to apply artificial intelligence (AI) in high-risk domains, such
as health care and the legal system, the applications need to be transparent
and trustworthy. Additionally, they need to comply with an increasing range of
ethical and legal guidelines. The fast-growing research area of eXplainable
Artificial Intelligence (XAI) is aimed at increasing transparency and trust
by providing explanations for AI systems and the decisions they make. Research
in XAI has mainly been focused on making learning-based approaches to AI more
transparent. However, these approaches do not account for the use of prior
knowledge and reasoning in human cognition. Furthermore, they do not take the
important aspect of contestability of explanations into account. In this
project, you will study knowledge-based approaches to XAI, specifically
approaches to XAI based on computational argumentation (Dung, 1995).
investigate how the benefits of explicit knowledge and argumentation can
be implemented for XAI;
determine what makes good argumentation-based explanations;
and apply argumentation-based approaches to provide explanations for
outcomes of other AI approaches, such as (deep) machine learning.
Besides conducting research, you will spend 30% of your time on teaching
activities.You will join the Intelligent Systems Group at the Department of
Information and Computing Sciences at Utrecht University. This group has a
strong tradition in logic and AI, including computational argumentation.
Together with the Hybrid Intelligence Centre and the National Police-lab AI,
they constitute a vibrant community of researchers on the subjects of XAI and
hybrid knowledge-based/machine learning AI. (Borg and Bex, 2021) A. Borg, F.
Bex (2021). A Basic Framework for Explanations in Argumentation. IEEE
Intelligent Systems.(Cyras et al., 2021) K. Cyras, A. Rago, E. Albini, P.
Baroni and F. Toni (2021). Argumentative XAI: A Survey. In: Proceedings of
IJCAI'21.(Dung, 1995) P.M. Dung (1995). On the acceptability of arguments
and its fundamental role in nonmonotonic reasoning, logic programming and
n-person games. Artificial Intelligence Journal.
Qualifications
We are looking for a candidate with:
a Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence or a related field (e.g.,
computer science, logic, mathematics or philosophy);
a strong background in logic and/or knowledge-based approaches to (X)AI;
excellent English communication skills (written and spoken);
a background and/or an interest in machine learning or ethical/legal
aspects of XAI is a plus.
Offer
a position for five years;
a full-time gross salary that starts at €2,443 and increases to €3,122 per
month (scale P of the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities
(cao));
8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment
conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.
About the organization
The interdisciplinary research of this position fits well within the
Department of Information and Computing Sciences. In our constantly changing
(digital) society, the Department of Information and Computing Sciences is
constantly looking for new, realistic ways to push the boundaries of both
science and social application. We contribute to innovative information
technologies through the development and application of new concepts,
theories, algorithms, and software methods.
Utrecht University is a friendly and ambitious university at the heart of an
ancient city. We love to welcome new scientists to our city – a thriving
cultural hub that is consistently rated as one of the world's happiest cities.
We are renowned for our innovative interdisciplinary research and our emphasis
on inspirational research and excellent education. We are equally well-known
for our familiar atmosphere and the can-do attitude of our people. This lively
and inspiring academic environment attracts researchers, professors and PhD
candidates from all over the globe, making both the university and the Faculty
of Science a vibrant international and wonderfully diverse community.
Additional information
If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact AnneMarie
Borg (a.borg@uu.nl)
Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. We welcome employees with
a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. If you have the expertise and
the experience to excel in this role, then simply respond via the “Apply now”
button! Please enclose:
your letter of motivation;
your curriculum vitae (including your MSc course list and a list of your
publications, if applicable);
the contact details of at least two references.
The application deadline is
31/05/2022
