PhD-position "Trustworthiness of AI Systems in Healthcare"

12 Apr 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Maastricht University (UM)

Research Field

Medical sciences

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

24 Apr 2024 - 21:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Permanent

Job Status

Not Applicable

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Job Description

Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds immense potential in revolutionizing various sectors, notably healthcare. However, distrust surrounding AI, particularly in healthcare settings, poses significant challenges for all stakeholders involved, including doctors and patients. The lack of trust likely stems from uncertainties around AI's competence, honesty, and reliability, especially in epistemically and politically opaque AI models like deep learning.

The AI-TRUST project aims to investigate the trustworthiness of AI systems in healthcare. This empirical interdisciplinary project combines insights from sociology of science, philosophy of technology, and AI research to understand how primary stakeholders, such as healthcare professionals and patients, evaluate the trustworthiness of AI systems. The research will also explore the redistributions of expertise and power associated with the adoption and adaption of AI in healthcare.

To accomplish these goals, you will identify and engage with stakeholders, collect data in the clinical and research practices in which AI features and conduct experiments with these actors. The project embodies innovative and participative approaches, rooted in sociological and philosophical perspectives on trustworthiness and credibility.

Your responsibility is to fulfill all the requirements to obtain a PhD degree at Maastricht University, including but not limited to:

• Write and co-write academic publications which will form the basis of your PhD thesis, together with the members of your supervision team and others,
• Collect data according to a well-considered research design,
• Further build your qualitative and mixed-methods data analysis skills,
• Participate in required and jointly decided elements of your PhD education

You will be working in and with two interdisciplinary groups: Clinical Data Science (CDS) and Health, Ethics & Society (HES), both in the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML). You will be expected to actively participate in the colloquia and meeting of both groups and will benefit from peers with expertises in quantitative and qualitative methodology, descriptive and normative studies and experimental and theoretical foci. At any given moment, your reliance on one of these groups and their expertise may take priority, but for the whole duration of the work we expect this to be balanced.

Requirements
Specific Requirements

Requirements
We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

• A master's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field, such as computer science, sociology, philosophy, or Science, Technology and Society (STS).
• Strong analytical and research skills, with experience in qualitative and/or mixed-methods research methodologies and a willingness to engage in innovative research approaches.
• Familiarity with AI technologies and their applications, particularly in healthcare contexts
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams.
• A keen interest in understanding societal implications of AI technologies and a commitment to responsible research practices.
• Epistemic flexibility and social tact, allowing constructive interactions with various social and clinical stakeholders.
• Able to manage your time and your research activities well.
• Capable of autonomously conducting original research as well as working in a team.
• Flexible, open-minded, growth-oriented, and eager to learn.
• English proficiency (Cambridge English Proficiency, level C1, orally and written), knowledge of Dutch is requested, but not required
• Willing to relocate to (the vicinity of) Maastricht and/or to be present at FHML three days per week.

Additional Information
Benefits

What we offer
As PhD-position "Trustworthiness of AI Systems in Healthcare"at Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale P according to UFO profile Promovendus, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €2770,00 and €3539,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here .

Selection process

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD-position "Trustworthiness of AI Systems in Healthcare"? Apply now, no later than April 24, 2024, for this position.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.

Additional comments

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Rianne Fijten via [email protected] for more information.

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/340123/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Maastricht University

Country

Netherlands

City

Maastricht

Postal Code

6229HX

Street

P. Debyelaan 25

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/340123/phd-position-trustworthiness-of-ai-s…

Contact

City

Maastricht

Website

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

Street

Minderbroedersberg 4

Postal Code

6211 LK

STATUS: EXPIRED