1 Ph.D. Position in STS on AI & Society at the Technical University of Munich

The Professorship of Science & Technology Policy (Prof. Dr. Ruth Müller), based at the
Department for Science, Technology & Society at the Technical University of Munich, announces
one open position for a doctoral researcher in Science & Technology Studies (STS) (TV-L
E13, 65%, 3 years). For more information, please see the description below. The position is to
start on April 1st, 2022.

About us
The research group “Science & Technology Policy” (STP) explores the interactions between
science, technology, society, and policy, focusing on both emerging and transforming knowledge
cultures in academic science and their social, political, and ethical implications. Research in the
group foregrounds questions of social justice and equity in all their work. The group is based at the
Department of Science, Technology & Society at the newly founded TUM School of Social
Sciences & Technology. The department is home to about 60 researchers in STS and two
international MA programs (MA Science & Technology Studies and MA Responsibility in Science,
Engineering and Technology), as well as a hub for international guest researchers in STS.

About the research project
We are seeking a doctoral researcher to join our team for the project “Responsible Innovation
Communication in AI Research” funded by the TUM-IAS. This project is conducted in collaboration
with Prof. Dr. Maja Horst (DTU Copenhagen), who is a guest professor at the group from 2021-2023.
The project takes an STS perspective to communication and explores what it might mean to
consider communication as a key element of responsible research and innovation. We will focus
specifically on the role scientists play in generating and responding to public narratives about AI.
We will conduct interviews and host workshops with researchers and other relevant stakeholders
to discuss and elaborate how communication with and in the public sphere shapes research
agendas and what communicating responsibly about and within AI research might mean. For further information see: https://www.ias.tum.de/ias/research-areas/political-social-and-technological-change/responsible-innovation-communication/

Your tasks as a doctoral researcher
As a doctoral researcher, you will work as part of a project team. Your tasks will include empirical
research and data analysis, preparation of results for publication, presentation of results at
(international) academic meetings, contributions to the teaching portfolio of the group, and support
for organizing project-related academic events. You will develop an innovative research question
for your Ph.D. thesis as part of the project and in collaboration with the project leaders, Prof. Ruth
Müller and Prof. Maja Horst. You will regularly meet with your supervisors to discuss and support
the progress of your thesis. Beyond the project, you will be part of the Science & Technology
Policy research group and at the lively research community at the STS department more generally.
You will actively participate in the academic life of the group and the department, which both
regularly host international guest researchers and academic events. As a Ph.D. student at TU
Munich, you will be enrolled in the TUM Graduate School, which provides a structured Ph.D.
program and offers a rich program of courses in academic and transferable skills.
Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in the social sciences or the humanities. Experience with
qualitative social science research methods is required, familiarity with STS concepts desirable.
You should be interested in working across the disciplines and in engaging with other knowledge
cultures. You should further be capable of and interested in working both as part of a team and
independently. Fluency in English is essential for academic life at the center. We are looking
for inspired and inspiring new talents who want to work in and contribute to an exciting,
interdisciplinary STS research environment.

Application documents
Your complete application documents must include your CV, your Master’s degree certificates, a
letter of motivation (max. 2 pages), 1-2 writing samples (e.g., thesis chapters, articles, etc.), and
names and contact details of 2 references, including a brief statement explaining your relationship
to each of the named references.

Interested?
Please send your complete application as a single pdf document to applications.stp@mcts.tum.de.
We will accept and review all applications received up until and including Friday, January 7, 2022.
Interviews will be conducted shortly after the application deadline, in person or via a video
conferencing tool.
We are committed to raising the number of women and gender non-binary individuals in research
and teaching, who are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants with disabilities are treated with
preference given comparable qualifications.
If you have questions about the application procedure, please contact
applications.stp@mcts.tum.de. If you have content-related questions, please contact
cansu.guner@tum.de.