We are looking for a new team member for the HCC research group. The contract is limited to 3 years (13 TV-L FU).

Identifier: HCC-WM24-1
Application deadline: September 9, 2024

We, the Human-Centered Computing Research Group (HCC) at Freie Universität Berlin, aim to contribute to society by addressing emerging technological challenges from a human-centered perspective and exploring meaningful interaction concepts, particularly in the area of Human-AI Collaboration.

In our interdisciplinary research, we apply empirical approaches from Human-Centered Design to examine the assumptions and impacts of technologies on people. We are committed to actively involving people and their perspectives in our research to promote participatory and value-based technology design. We strive to make our research results reproducible and openly accessible to enable all interested parties to develop solutions for scientific, societal, and individual challenges.

Field of Activity

Are you interested in exploring the human-centered use of Large Language Models (LLMs) in healthcare, particularly concerning privacy, transparency, and explainability?

As a research associate in the HCC research group, you can address these questions as part of a research project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). This project is conducted in collaboration with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin in the context of emergency care. The research project aims to develop interaction concepts for LLMs that promote transparency and understanding in the use of LLMs. This involves explicitly providing interactive explanations of privacy measures for different user groups (patients, technicians, medical professionals), conveying existing trade-offs between privacy, computational effort, usability, and prediction quality, and enabling the individual customization of privacy settings for patients. The project's overarching goal is to empower users to make informed and autonomous decisions in their interactions with LLMs.

Do you have a strong research interest and are motivated to engage in scientific work actively? Then we look forward to receiving your application.

Our work environment

• We support you in pursuing your doctoral project in Human-AI Collaboration with a focus on LLMs.
• We promote your scientific development (e.g., through conference participation, summer schools, and research seminars), help you strengthen your analytical skills and knowledge, and expand your network.
• We are committed to open-source software, open science, and free access to knowledge.
• We offer an open, interdisciplinary, and dynamic working environment where all people with diverse backgrounds and experiences are welcome.
• We provide regular team exchanges to foster your skills.

Recruitment requirements

A completed academic degree in computer science or data science (Master’s or equivalent degree) or in a related field.

Desirable

Knowledge in or interest in one or more of the following areas:

• Natural Language Processing (NLP), machine learning theories and practices, as well as knowledge of developments in LLMs (e.g., Transformer models, Huggingface)
• Python programming, with experience in libraries (e.g., NumPy, Pandas) and NLP/ML libraries and toolkits (e.g., Scikit-Learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, NLTK)
• Basics of empirical research (qualitative and quantitative methods)
• Basics of UI/UX design and familiarity with prototyping tools (Python’s Streamlit, Figma)
• Basics of modern web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), experience with common server technologies like Node.js (Django, Flask), as well as web frameworks like Vue.js or React
• Ability to work well in a team, both within the HCC team and in collaboration with project partners
• Ability to independently address scientific topics (particularly in the areas of privacy and LLMs)
• Excellent German and English language skills, both written and spoken

Further information

Official job announcement (in German)

Applications should be sent electronically by e-mail to Prof. Dr. Claudia Müller-Birn in PDF format (preferably as one document), stating the ID (HCC-WM24-1): hcc@mi.fu-berlin.de or by post to

Freie Universität Berlin
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Institute for Computer Science
Human-Centered Computing Research Group
Prof. Dr. Claudia Müller-Birn
Königin-Luise-Str. 24/26
14195 Berlin

By submitting an online application, you, as an applicant, consent to your data being electronically processed and stored.

We want to point out that Freie Universität Berlin cannot guarantee the security of transmitted personal data if your application is sent electronically without protection.

PLEASE NOTE

• Disabled persons will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications.
• Freie Universität Berlin expressly encourages women to apply.
• Applications from people with a migration background are expressly welcome.
• Unfortunately, Freie Universität Berlin cannot cover the costs of interviews.
• Application documents will not be returned. Please submit copies of your documents only.