Assistant Professor of Philosophy (RISE-AI) Notice of Filing

University of Wisconsin Madison • Madison, WI

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The highly ranked Department of Philosophy is seeking excellent junior candidates for a tenure-track faculty position in Philosophy of Mind with a research and teaching focus on AI and related computing technologies. The selected candidate will mount a vigorous research program while making significant contributions to the department's teaching mission. The successful candidate will be interested in bolstering interdisciplinary research on campus, drawing on insights from relevant fields such as AI design, the brain sciences, and cognitive science to answer fundamental questions about the presence of capacities such as consciousness, agency, creativity and other cognitive abilities in AI. In addition, the candidate will promote the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science, which values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to an environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community. Successful applicants will teach graduate and undergraduate classes, mentor students, conduct scholarly research, and provide service to the department, college, university, and academic community nationally or internationally. The successful candidate, as a member of the College of L&S, will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college’s commitment to excellence among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service. This recruitment is part of a new university-wide initiative called RISE AI (Research, Innovation, and Scholarly Excellence in AI). Over a three-year period, UW–Madison will substantially increase current hiring levels, bringing 150 new RISE faculty to campus. Candidates hired through RISE will join a community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors. The community will engage regularly in venues such as seminar series and colloquia to share ongoing projects and identify opportunities to work together. The University will support the community, facilitating access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration. The Department of Philosophy at UW-Madison is highly rated and has department strengths in traditional areas of Philosophy as well as a variety of subdisciplines, including Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Education, Philosophy of Mind, and AI Ethics. Our department is multidisciplinary and has a highly collaborative environment. Madison is the state's capitol city and is well known for offering a small town feel in a medium sized city. It is a great place to raise a family and offers an ideal combination of natural beauty, stimulating cultural events, outstanding schools and outdoor recreation. In the College of Letters & Science, we provide a liberal arts education that is both broad and deep through excellent, empathic teaching. We hire faculty who are interested in pursuing difficult questions, making new discoveries, and making an impact in their field. We reward excellent teaching and classroom innovation, and we are committed to shared governance.

Requirements

• Demonstrate evidence of creativity, excellence in teaching and scholarly research
• An interest in interdisciplinary and collaborative research efforts with other colleagues and centers on campus
• Demonstrate the ability to foster a teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and a research environment where all can thrive
• PhD in Philosophy or similar is required by the start of appointment

Nice To Haves

• Research and teaching focus on AI and related computing technologies
• Interest in bolstering interdisciplinary research on campus, drawing on insights from relevant fields such as AI design, the brain sciences, and cognitive science to answer fundamental questions about the presence of capacities such as consciousness, agency, creativity and other cognitive abilities in AI
• Promote the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science, which values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring
• Contribute to an environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community
• Proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college’s commitment to excellence among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service
• Join a community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors
• Engage regularly in venues such as seminar series and colloquia to share ongoing projects and identify opportunities to work together
• Facilitate access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration
• Strengths in traditional areas of Philosophy as well as a variety of subdisciplines, including Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Education, Philosophy of Mind, and AI Ethics
• Multidisciplinary and highly collaborative environment
• Pursuing difficult questions, making new discoveries, and making an impact in their field
• Reward excellent teaching and classroom innovation
• Commitment to shared governance

Responsibilities

• Teach graduate and undergraduate classes
• Mentor students
• Conduct scholarly research
• Provide service to the department, college, university, and academic community nationally or internationally
• Proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college’s commitment to excellence among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service.

Benefits

• Tenure-track faculty position
• Competitive recruitment and selection process
• University-wide initiative called RISE AI (Research, Innovation, and Scholarly Excellence in AI)
• Community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors
• Regular engagement in venues such as seminar series and colloquia
• Support from the University, facilitating access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration
• Negotiable compensation
• 9 months / ongoing / renewable employment type

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree