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.
Research Position in the SFB TRR 318 in the field of machine learning
ID: Wiss25321
- 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 sub-project C03 "Explaining Change" focuses on ex-ante explanations for the adaptation of complex, composite AI systems to a new context or a new task. Prominent examples are fine-tuning, transfer learning or prompting of complex AI systems that are grouped around a basic model, but also the adaptation of more classical hybrid systems. A special challenge in the project is the suitable representation of the different parameterizations of context, system and, if necessary, multi-criteria objective function as well as the handling of uncertainty in the XAI technologies to be developed. In addition to mathematical modeling and algorithmic implementation, evaluation is also part of the task.
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 sub-project C03 "Explaining Change" focuses on ex-ante explanations for the adaptation of complex, composite AI systems to a new context or a new task. Prominent examples are fine-tuning, transfer learning or prompting of complex AI systems that are grouped around a basic model, but also the adaptation of more classical hybrid systems. A special challenge in the project is the suitable representation of the different parameterizations of context, system and, if necessary, multi-criteria objective function as well as the handling of uncertainty in the XAI technologies to be developed. In addition to mathematical modeling and algorithmic implementation, evaluation is also part of the task.
The position will be filled subject to project approval.
Your Tasks
- research activities (95 %):
- mathematical modeling of XAI technologies for AI systems
- algorithmic implementation of machine learning approaches
- evaluation of approaches (crowd-sourcing platform)
- evaluation, publication and presentation of scientific results
- cooperation with network partners and participation in TRR activities (5%)
Employment is conducive to academic qualification.
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 comparable) in computer science, mathematics or in related fields
- strong knowledge of machine learning (theory and practice)
- very good knowledge of mathematics (modeling, optimization, statistics)
- interest and passion for interdisciplinary research at the interface of machine learning and cognitive science
- very good programming skills (Python)
- good knowledge of German and English (oral and written)
- analytical skills and scientific mindset
- independent, self-reliant and committed way of working
Preferred experience and skills
- practical experience in research on large language models, in particular open weight LLMs
- knowledge of XAI
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. Barbara Hammer
+49 521 106-12115
bhammer@techfak.uni-bielefeld.de
Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Technische Fakultät
Prof. Dr. Barbara Hammer
Postfach 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
Prof. Dr. Barbara Hammer
+49 521 106-12115
bhammer@techfak.uni-bielefeld.de
Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Technische Fakultät
Prof. Dr. Barbara Hammer
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.
