The CITEC (Center for Cognitive Interaction Technology) has the following job opening in the SFB TRR 318 [subproject A01]: 
Employment is conducive to academic qualification (doctorate) and is supported by the activities of an interdisciplinary graduate school at the TRR. Participation in teaching is expressly desired.
Research Position in the SFB TRR 318
ID: Wiss25313
- starting: 01.01.2026
- Vollzeit
- salary according to Remuneration level 13 TV-L
- befristet
The transregional collaborative research center (TRR) “Constructing Explainability” funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) at the Universities of Paderborn and Bielefeld, deals with explainable and explanatory artificial intelligence. The central hypothesis of the TRR is that explanations should be co-constructed by dialogue partners so that humans can make confident and informed decisions when interacting with intelligent systems.
To this end, both universities aim to contribute basic research in the areas of co-constructive explanation processes and their mechanisms, explanation as a socio-technical phenomenon, and computational representations of the dynamics of co-constructive explanation. They bring together different disciplinary perspectives both at the level of individual projects and the TRR as a whole. The goal of the second funding phase is to develop more flexible, personalized, proactive explanation systems (sXAI) that take social and situational context into account when adapting their explanatory behavior
The project A01 “Adaptive Explanation Generation” researches the cognitive and interactive mechanisms of adaptivity in the explanation process in cooperation with the fields of computer science, psychology and linguistics. The position is located in the computer science part of the project, more precisely in the “Social Cognitive Systems” working group of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Kopp, and pursues the goal of developing a dynamic, computer-aided model of representations and decision-making processes with the help of which “rational explainers” can adapt their explanations to the addressees of the explanation. To this end, model-based machine learning methods motivated by cognitive science are to be developed, implemented and tested.
The position will be filled subject to project approval.
To this end, both universities aim to contribute basic research in the areas of co-constructive explanation processes and their mechanisms, explanation as a socio-technical phenomenon, and computational representations of the dynamics of co-constructive explanation. They bring together different disciplinary perspectives both at the level of individual projects and the TRR as a whole. The goal of the second funding phase is to develop more flexible, personalized, proactive explanation systems (sXAI) that take social and situational context into account when adapting their explanatory behavior
The project A01 “Adaptive Explanation Generation” researches the cognitive and interactive mechanisms of adaptivity in the explanation process in cooperation with the fields of computer science, psychology and linguistics. The position is located in the computer science part of the project, more precisely in the “Social Cognitive Systems” working group of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Kopp, and pursues the goal of developing a dynamic, computer-aided model of representations and decision-making processes with the help of which “rational explainers” can adapt their explanations to the addressees of the explanation. To this end, model-based machine learning methods motivated by cognitive science are to be developed, implemented and tested.
The position will be filled subject to project approval.
Your Tasks
- research activities (90 %):
- interdisciplinary research in the subject area of the above-mentioned project
- collaboration in the activities of the Collaborative Research Center
- publication and presentation of results
- teaching of 1 LVS (5 %)
- collaboration in administration (5 %)
Employment is conducive to academic qualification (doctorate) and is supported by the activities of an interdisciplinary graduate school at the TRR. Participation in teaching is expressly desired.
We offer
- salary according to Remuneration level 13 TV-L
- befristet (limited until 30.06.2029 - end of project) (§ 2 (1) sentence 1 of the WissZeitVG; in accordance with the provisions of the WissZeitVG and the Agreement on Satisfactory Conditions of Employment, the length of contract may differ in individual cases)
- Vollzeit
- internal and external training opportunities
- variety of health, consulting and prevention services
- reconcilability of family and work
- flexible working hours
- good transport connection
- supplementary company pension
- collegial working environment
- open and pleasant working atmosphere
- exciting, varied tasks
- modern work environment with digital processes
- various offers (canteen, cafeteria, restaurants, Uni-Shop, ATM, etc.)
Your Profile
We expect
- completed scientific university degree (e. g. Master's or equivalent) in computer science, cognitive science, (computer) linguistics or related fields
- very good analytical and conceptual skills
- communicative and team-oriented way of working
- strong organizational and coordination skills
- independent, self-reliant and committed way of working
- interest in interdisciplinary scientific cooperation
- very good command of English (written and spoken)
Preferred experience and skills
- good programming experience, e. g. Python
- knowledge of methods of artificial intelligence or data science (especially probabilistic models)
- interest in modeling cognitive processes of language and communication
Application Procedure
We are looking forward to receiving your application. To apply, please preferably use our online form via the application button below.
application deadline: 13.10.2025
Contact
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Kopp
+49 521 106-12144
skopp@techfak.uni-bielefeld.de
Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Technische Fakultät
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Kopp
Postfach 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Kopp
+49 521 106-12144
skopp@techfak.uni-bielefeld.de
Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Technische Fakultät
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Kopp
Postfach 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
Bielefeld University has received a number of awards for its achievements as an equal-opportunity employer and has been
recognized as a family-friendly university. The university welcomes applications from women. This is particularly true with regard
both to academic and technical posts as well as positions in information technology as well as the skilled crafts and trades.
Applications are handled according to the provisions of the state statutes on equal opportunity. Applications from suitably qualified
handicapped and severely handicapped persons are explicitly encouraged.
At Bielefeld University on request positions can be carried out with reduced working hours as long as this does not conflict with official needs.
