VACANCY – Postdoc for project on responsible entrepreneurship in AI and synthetic biology – 3 years full-time
What is responsible tech entrepreneurship? What does it mean to talk about virtuous scientists and engineers in AI and synthetic biology? What constitutes ethical behavior in the context of startups? How can we translate ethical frameworks into exciting technical projects, and what ideas about ‘good technology’ do developers and scientists already have themselves? What do role-model entrepreneurs that have an eye for tech and ethics look like? What does this mean for emerging policy in this area? Shortly, what kind of world do we want to create?
The University of Vienna, in cooperation with Rolf Mathies, Roland Manger and Ciarán O’Leary – who have a history of investing in founders building technologies (AI, synbio, crypto) with far reaching ethical questions – are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to address these and related questions concerning responsible entrepreneurship in artificial intelligence and synthetic biology. Our ideal candidate has a multidisciplinary background in philosophy (philosophy of technology, applied ethics, or similar fields) and a technical/scientific discipline as well as experience in a business environment. We are, however, open to applications from exceptional candidates that do not fit these boxes perfectly.
The researcher will have the opportunity to work, not only with Professor Mark Coeckelbergh, an international expert in the ethics of emerging technologies and global leader in AI Ethics, but also with senior entrepreneurs/scientists and leading figures from the world of startups and venture capital. The candidate should have an open mind, outstanding intellectual capacities, and the ability to collaborate with people outside academia, in particular with people in entrepreneurial contexts. Candidates will be expected to deliver academic results as well as contribute to the collaborative development of a vision and framework for the future of responsible tech entrepreneurship.
The successful candidate will receive a salary at postdoctoral level according to the collective bargaining agreement of the University of Vienna and will have the opportunity to benefit from interesting international networks in academia, industry, and the startup and venture capital scene. The position is for 3 years, full-time. The researcher will be based in Vienna and will be expected to contribute to project-related academic research activities in the philosophy of technology team of Professor Coeckelbergh. Location is, however, less important than the motivation and enthusiasm to embark on this experimental project and to help open up new exciting avenues for responsible technological entrepreneurship.
Applications (CV + cover letter) for the position should be sent to zachary.storms[at]univie.ac.at before 1 July 2021. Expressions of interest and questions regarding the position can be sent to mark.coeckelbergh[at]univie.ac.at (academic aspects) or rolf@earlybird.com (entrepreneurial aspects).
Mark Coeckelbergh 