CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN ETHICS OF AI
Western University’s Department of Philosophy and Rotman Institute of Philosophy invite applications for a Postdoctoral Associate in the area of ethics and artificial intelligence (AI). The successful applicant will be required to conduct original research in the ethics of AI and contribute to some teaching in this area. The Associate will join a burgeoning community of scholars at Western who are interested in interdisciplinary work on the ethical and societal dimensions of AI.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
Western’s Department of Philosophy is one of the leading philosophy departments in Canada, with a strong reputation in a range of areas including feminist philosophy, applied ethics, philosophy of mind and cognitive science, and general philosophy of science. The department has close working ties with many other units on campus, such as Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, Health Sciences, Political Science, and Computer Science. We are also home to the Centre for Digital Philosophy (http://cdp.uwo.ca), which develops and maintains PhilPapers, PhilJobs, and other services.
The Rotman Institute of Philosophy was founded in 2008 as part of the Department of Philosophy and is now one of Western’s four interdisciplinary research Institutes. It supports philosophers engaging with scientists in collaborative research teams to address deep and wicked problems, including those posed by AI.
Both the department and the Rotman Institute are committed to the inclusion of underrepresented voices in philosophy. We are dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and decolonization in our research and teaching.
ABOUT THE POSITION:
There is a one-year term for this position, although it is subject to renewal for a second year, conditional on the availability of funding and performance during the first year. Exact start date is flexible but should be during September 2023. Teaching duties will commence in January 2024. Candidates must, at the time of appointment, have a PhD in Philosophy, or a related field, with an area of specialization in ethics. They also must have demonstrated ability to conduct interdisciplinary research regarding AI. This position will include teaching responsibilities at the graduate and/or undergraduate level. The stipend is $45,000.
Review of applications will begin on April 30, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR ETHICS OF AI POSTDOC:
To be considered for this position, applicants must submit the following documents, combined into a single pdf file:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Research Statement (1 page)
- Teaching Statement (1 page)
- Writing Sample (6000 – 8000 words)
- Application form (see link below)
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
All applicants must complete our online application form. Please have your supporting documents prepared in advance and ready to upload within the application form.
After an initial review of application materials, candidates who are short-listed for the position will need to arrange to have three letters of reference sent directly by their referees. At least one letter should comment on the applicant’s teaching abilities. Please be prepared to provide these letters upon request.
Applicants should have fluent oral and written communication skills in English. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. Western University is committed to employment equity and welcomes applications from all qualified people, including (but not limited to) women, visible minorities, Indigenous people, and people with disabilities.
If you have any questions regarding the application process, please send an email to Professor and Chair of Philosophy, Carolyn McLeod, at cmcleod2@uwo.ca.