PostDoc in Hybrid Intelligence: to-align-or-not-to-align.

Did you ever wonder how agents perceive the world? Is their world view the same as yours? Before humans and agents can collaborate, they need to agree on their world view. They need to align their world models. Do you accept this challenge?

PostDoc in Hybrid Intelligence: to-align-or-not-to-align.

Your function

In this PD position, you investigate what alignment is required between the world models of agents and humans that collaborate. You also develop communicative strategies for the agent to detect misalignments and take actions to resolve these. Are we talking about the same things, in the same place at the same time and how can we reach consensus? You will develop experiments in which world views are created from observations and communications and different approaches can be tested to align the human and agent variants. The PD will experiment with symbolic techniques using Knowledge Graph representations of the world, Large Language Model encodings of the world and hybrid approaches. For the alignment, a Theory-of-Mind model is needed to deal with variants of the world.

Your duties

• Create AI agents that can create world representations from observations and communication and represent alternative world views in a Theory-of-Mind model.
• Detect misalignments across these world views and develop communicative strategies to resolve these.
• Create experiments and data to test different approaches.
• Carry out your research according to international standards.
• At least one publication per year in an A or B ranked journal or conference proceedings.
• Make your research and experiments publicly available and reproducible.
• Teach Natural Language Processing courses in the bachelor and master programmes.

Your profile

• PhD in Computational Linguistics, Computer Science or Artificial Intelligence.
• At least two of the following:

• Knowledge of and experience with Large Language Models.
• Knowledge of and experience with Knowledge Graphs.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer?

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable.

About the department, institute, project

This project is part of a national gravity project on Hybrid Intelligence. Hybrid Intelligence is the combination of human and machine intelligence, expanding human intellect instead of replacing it. Our goal is to design Hybrid Intelligent systems, an approach to Artificial Intelligence that puts humans at the centre, changing the course of the ongoing AI revolution. You will collaborate with many researchers on key notions such as collaborative, explainable, adaptable and responsible AI and you will have access to lab facilities with technical support.

The research is further embedded in the Computational Lexicology and Terminology Lab (CLTL), which is one of the world’s leading research groups in Human Language technology. Prof. dr. Piek Vossen, recipient of the NWO Spinoza Prize, heads the group of international researchers that are working on ground-breaking projects, among which the Spinoza project ‘Understanding Language by Machines’. Within that framework several researchers are working on the Leolani project, with which the PD will also collaborate.

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities

Are you interested in joining Social Sciences and Humanities? You become part of a dynamic academic community with approximately 900 staff members, over 5,000 regular students and more than 5,000 course participants. In an inspiring and collegial environment, we work together on education and research with impact.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research.