Post-Doctoral Researcher Position: Exploring AI in Consensus-Building and Conflict Resolution at Wageningen University

Your job

The Information Technology Group within the Social Science Department at Wageningen University is seeking a talented post-doctoral researcher for a one-year position to work on a cutting-edge research project exploring the role of AI agents in facilitating consensus-building in hybrid groups composed of both humans and AI agents.

The position  focuses on understanding how AI can help diverse groups reach high-quality and efficient decisions, especially when conflicting interests arise. The research will investigate the dynamics of value-based, emotional, and social identity conflicts within these groups. The AI agent developed will not only detect and address conflicts but will also employ advanced techniques such as sentiment analysis, bias detection, and natural language processing to influence group dynamics and support decision-making processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Phase 1: Design and develop an AI agent that can prioritize group interactions and offer conflict resolution strategies based on various consensus strategies (e.g., majority rule or hierarchical weighting).
• Phase 2: Implement and evaluate the AI in controlled experiments with hybrid groups. The AI will dynamically adjust its mediation efforts, facilitating quicker and more effective conflict resolution.
• Phase 3: Analyze experimental data to assess the AI’s impact on group dynamics, including decision quality, time to consensus, and participant satisfaction.

Your qualities

You have:

• experience with AI techniques such as natural language processing, agent-based modeling, and machine learning;
• strong programming skills and familiarity with experimental design;
• a track record of scientific publications is highly desirable;
• excellent communication and teamwork skills.

You also possess:

• A PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Social Science, or a related field.

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1 .

You will work here
This position is based at the Information Technology Group, Social Science Department, which is led by prof.dr.ir. Bedir Tekinerdogan . You will be supervised by dr. Yara Khaluf.

We offer you

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.345,- and € 5.278,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). We offer you a temporary contract for the duration of one year. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. If you come with a partner, we offer a Dual Career group program organized by our Welcome Center. This program helps your partner to get familiar with the Dutch culture, labour market and assists your partner to find a job.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact Dr Yara Khaluf, Assistant Professor,  yara.khaluf@wur.nl

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter, recruitment.ssg@wur.nl 

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.

Please submit your CV, a cover letter outlining your research experience and motivation, and contact details for two academic references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 19 December 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews in the second week of January 2025.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!


We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.