Postdoctoral Scholarship (2 years) in Digital Humanities with a focus on AI and Queer theory
Humlab at Umeå University offers a postdoctoral scholarship within the project AI Drag: Binary Systems versus Fluid Identities. The scholarship covers full-time studies for two years, starting on January 1, 2025, or as agreed upon.
The 2-year tax-free scholarship is funded by the Kempe Foundations and amounts to 375 000 SEK per year for 2 years and is typically paid out in four separate installments during the scholarship period. The last day to apply is October 31, 2024.
Project Description
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is intertwined with both the most mundane and the most critical aspects of human life, and image detection and classification represents a pertinent domain where we can see a tight coupling of human identity and computation. While the design of AI has moved to larger and larger datasets that could potentially include representation of more individuals and identities, comprehensive studies of the most used facial analysis datasets show that their use leads to substantial disparities in the accuracy of classification depending on gender and skin-color and excluding those who do not fit the binary algorithms. In this project, we will empower contributors to explore how, so called fluid identities and performances can be expressed and represented in data. The research question addressed more specifically in this postdoctoral project is how a bottom-up participatory approach to generate data impacts designers’ perspectives both on data creation and data ownership.
Qualifications
To qualify as a postdoctoral scholarship holder, you must hold a completed doctoral degree (or a foreign degree deemed equivalent) in one of the subjects represented at the Faculty of Humanities. Applicants with a PhD in Interaction Design or equivalent are also eligible to apply. This qualification must be met by the time the decision on the scholarship recipient is made. Ideally, the applicant should have obtained their degree no later than three years prior the deadline for applications. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree prior to that may also be eligible. Special reasons include illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organizations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.
The position requires strong motivation, the ability to collaborate in teams, the ability to independently structure one's own research, as well as a genuine commitment to developing conference/seminar level presentations in an accessible way for a wide range of disciplines.
Proficiency in English, both written and spoken, is required.
Desirable qualifications
Previous research experience in queer theory, co-creative design, and/or AI from an arts and humanities or social sciences perspective is beneficial. Documented experience in using motion capture equipment is also beneficial.
Application
A complete application must include:
A cover letter that summarizes your qualifications and how you meet the qualification requirements (max 2 pages),
Curriculum vitae (CV) with publication list,
Copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the doctoral degree is expected to be obtained,
Copies of other diplomas, list of completed academic courses and grades,
Copy of doctoral thesis and up to 4 additional research publications, (indicate the most significant one/s for the application),
Other documents that you wish to claim,
Contact information to two reference persons willing to provide substantial information on your research merits.
Submit your application as a PDF file, labelled with reference number FS 2.1.6-1273-24 both in the document and in the email subject line, to medel@diarie.umu.se. The application can be written and submitted either in Swedish or English. The application deadline is October 31, 2024.
Further details can be provided by Associate Professor Karin Danielsson, karin.danielsson@umu.se.
Welcome with your application!
About us
Humlab, a part of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, is a unit with more than 20 staff members dedicated to Digital Humanities. We provide infrastructure and support services that strengthens excellence in research and education. We are engaged in pioneering research and interdisciplinary projects spanning art, media, ethnology, history, linguistics, and archaeology, among others. Our facilities, spread across two campus buildings, include a lab environment where we organize lectures, workshops, and events for teachers, researchers and students, as well as the public. Find out more at: www.umu.se/humlab
