Associate senior lecturer in Cognitive Science or Theoretical Philosophy - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Duties

The position is part of the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program on Humanities and Society (WASP-HS) with the aim of developing competence on the consequences and challenges of AI and autonomous systems for the individual person and society. The holder is expected to participate in the activities of WASP-HS across disciplines and universities such as workshops and the graduate school.

The associate senior lecturer will be affiliated with the Cognitive Robotics Laboratory at Lund University and the CogComLab, which systematically studies social interaction from a multidisciplinary perspective combining expertise in philosophy, cognitive modelling and simulation, robotics, developmental psychology, ethics, phenomenology, ethics, technology and ethnography. With the assistance of the Robot Lab’s own humanoid robot, Epi, the research groups are developing unique research into human-machine interaction and technology that is specifically adapted to how humans function together. The research enables the design of autonomous systems that can operate in changing environments without having been trained in advance, using new types of learning algorithms and control systems. A philosophical psychology approach to humans and artefacts as situated, changing and essentially social, forms the basis of the collaboration.

The successful candidate is expected to contribute to the department’s research environment as a whole and will supervise at least one doctoral student who will be recruited within the framework of the project. The research should primarily be focused on investigating social artefacts’ functions and consequences for the individual and society at large and on explaining this in philosophical and cognitive terms using the Robot lab’s technology. The aim is to produce multidisciplinary research of a high quality. The associate senior lecturer also is expected to participate in the development of a unique, crossfaculty study programme on social artefacts in collaboration with other subjects at Lund University and throughout Sweden. They should thus contribute to combining closely related interests and skills in different areas within the study programme, with the aim of promoting interdisciplinary skills with a strong social relevance on the theme of social interaction with autonomous artefacts.

The associate senior lecturer will be able to aquire teaching and research qualifications during the period of employment. The main focus of interest is, however, on research activities.

Qualifications and assessment criteria

A person qualified for appointment as an associate senior lecturer is a person who has been awarded a PhD or has the corresponding research expertise. Primary consideration should be given to a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise within five years of the deadline for application for employment as an associate senior lecturer. However, a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances are sick leave, parental leave or other similar circumstances.

For appointments to associate senior lecturer, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• a good ability to develop and carry out high-quality research or artistic research, and
• teaching skill

Equal attention will be given to the applicants’ teaching and research expertise.

The following are requirements for the position in question:

• experience of course development in higher education
• experience of research and/or studies in philosophy of mind/cognitive philosophy/philosophy of psychology or a similar philosophical specialisation
• experience of research and/or study in cognitive science or robotics
• PhD in one of the areas listed above with a specialisation relevant to the position

Importance will also be attached to the applicant’s ability to achieve sufficient qualifications for promotion to senior lecturer within the timeframe of the associate senior lecturer appointment.

The holder of the position is expected to be able to teach in Swedish, Norwegian or Danish within two years. Excellent and documented proficiency in English is required.

Additional desirable qualifications

Most desirable qualication

• a background in multidisciplinary research combining philosophy of mind/cognitive philosophy/philosophy of psychology or a similar philosophical specialisation and cognitive science or robotics

Very desirable qualications

• experience in multidisciplinary research that complement the above areas
• extensive experience of multidisciplinary course development

Desirable qualifications

• broad experience of different methodologies
• broad experience of study in or research into human interaction

Application instructions

The application should be submitted in accordance with the Instructions that can be found at https://www.ht.lu.se/en/the-faculties/academic-vacancies/instructions-for-applicants/. The applicant is responsible for ensuring the application is complete in accordance with the vacancy announcement and instructions as well as uploading all documents and ensuring the University receives it before the application deadline through the recruitment portal.

The Academic Appointments Board usually makes a selection from the applications received. This selection can be conducted in one or several steps and if needed with the help of external experts. Those applicants who are shortlisted for external assesment may be requested to submit physical copies of the papers being submitted for assessment within 14 days.

Conditions

Fixed-term employment, four years, in accordance with Chapter 4, Section 12 of the Higher Education Ordinance with the opportunity for promotion to senior lecturer. An opportunity for five weeks’ training in teaching and learning in higher education is to be offered in connection with the appointment.

Promotion

An associate senior lecturer can apply during their period of employment to be promoted to an indefinite-term position as senior lecturer if she or he is qualified for such a position and is also considered suitable when assessed in line with the qualification requirements and assessment criteria below. Applications can only be made once and should be submitted to the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology six months before the position ends at the latest.

For appointment as a senior lecturer, the individual must have:

• been awarded a PhD or have the corresponding research expertise or some other professional expertise that is of value in view of the subject matter of the post and the duties that it will involve,
• demonstrated teaching expertise, and
• completed at least five weeks of training in teaching and learning in higher education or acquired equivalent knowledge by other means

General assessment criteria: the degree of research, teaching, administrative and other expertise that is of value in view of the work duties and subject matter of the post as well as other personal skills of relevance to perform the duties well.

For employment as senior lecturer the following is specifically required:

•  a good national and international standing as a researcher,
• good teaching ability, including a good ability to conduct, develop and lead teaching and other educational activities at different levels and using a variety of teaching methods,
• an ability to participate in supervising doctoral students to achieve a PhD,
• an ability to cooperate with wider society and to communicate his or her activities as well as otherwise leading and developing activities.