PAIR Visiting Fellowships (1–3 months)
The Centre for Philosophy of AI Research {PAIR} is advertising visiting fellowships for the years 2024/2025/2026 (up to 8 per year).
– Research Environment
PAIR was founded in 2022 with support from a prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Professorship for Vincent C. Müller at the University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU, est. 1743).
Our vision is to help set the agenda in the philosophy and ethics of AI, through publications, events, structures, and visible activities. Our research aims to generate intellectual progress that can have a deep impact towards a better society. Our centre encourages interdisciplinary work and involves excellent people with a background in philosophy, cognitive sciences, neurosciences, social sciences, political science, and computer sciences.
PAIR currently has 14 core members: The director (Vincent C. Müller), the director of research (Sascha B. Fink), 7 research fellows, 4 PhD students, 1 admin. Beyond the core members, PAIR involves several associated members, visiting fellows and affiliated FAU faculty. We offer an international, stimulating, supportive, and pleasant research environment – situated in a lively and modern workplace in the centre of beautiful Erlangen. The working language at PAIR is English.
– Fellowship
Each person can apply for a period between 1 to 3 months. Applicants who want to stay longer would need to apply for two consecutive fellowships or provide funding of their own.
Visiting Fellowships are open to senior and junior researchers (where “junior” means roughly up to 4 years after the PhD). We require a submitted PhD and an association with a university or research facility. Applicants should show how their line of research fits the goals of PAIR (broadly construed), a project located at PAIR, or the lines of research of a PAIR member.
There are two different kinds of fellowships:
– Junior Fellowship: Stipend of 1.500-2.500 € per month + 500 € lump sum for travel support.
– Senior Fellowship: Stipend of 2.500-3000 € per month + 500 € lump sum for travel support.
The lower bound applies if you also have a salary or similar income from a position elsewhere; the higher bound applies if the fellowship will be your only source of income. When you apply for a fellowship, please mention your likely income for the period of your planned stay with us. The fellowship is not liable to taxation in Germany and does not include health insurance or social benefits.
We provide a working space and access to university resources (e.g. library). The Welcome Centre of the FAU can help with visa arrangements (also for partners or family) and may be able to arrange short-term faculty housing. PAIR has arrangements with several suitable hotels within walking distance (between 600€ to 800€ per month) to which we can connect you. However, finding accommodation is the responsibility of the individual Academic Visitor.
All visitors are welcome to participate fully in the life of the centre, including attending reading groups, departmental seminars, workshops and conferences, and other events. We expect visiting fellows to give one presentation while they are PAIR and to join the weekly research seminar.
– Application
For the application, please provide (in one single PDF)
1. a CV with a list of publications, and
2. a sample of writing that the applicant considers their best work, and
3. a short motivation letter (2 pages max), which indicates:
3a. what you intend to work on while at PAIR;
3b. how your research relates to the aims of PAIR or who you intend to interact with at PAIR;
3c. how long and when do you intend to stay at PAIR.
Applications can be sent in at any time to pair-jobs@fau.de.
The committee will select proposals three times a year (15th of January; 15th of March, and 15th of September). Applicants will be informed shortly after.
The earliest possible starting date is 3 months after the committee deadline. The times between the 15th of July and the 31st of August are not suited due to holidays; March and September will allow for less interaction because they are outside the lecture time, but can be incorporated into a longer stay. If you need a visa, please allow enough time for these arrangements.
Informal but targeted inquiries can be sent to the Director of Research (sascha.fink@fau.de) or the Head Director of PAIR (vincent.c.mueller@fau.de). We are looking forward to your applications.