Research Associate „AI Ethics Ambassador“ (LAICA-Project)

2025-09-01

As a humanistic, sustainable and action-oriented university, Leuphana University of Lüneburg stands for innovation in education and science. Methodological diversity, interdisciplinary cooperation, transdisciplinary cooperation with practice and an overall dynamic development characterise its research profile in the core topics of education, culture, management/technology, sustainability and state. Its international study model with the Leuphana College, the Leuphana Graduate School and the Leuphana Professional School is unique in Germany and has won many awards.

As part of the “Leuphana AI Campus” (LAICA) project, funded by the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education (Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre)), we are seeking for Work Package 6 “AI Literacy Hub – Educational Space (LAICA-Hub)“ (led by Prof. Dr. Dana Kristin Mah and Prof. Dr. Marcus Pietsch), in collaboration with the Ethical Review Board (Deputy Chair: Prof. Dr. Birte Siem) and the Equal Opportunities Office at Leuphana University, to start as soon as possible, a responsible, motivated, and committed person to fill the position of a

Research Associate („AI Ethics Ambassador“)
in the Work Package „AI Literacy Hub – Educational Space (LAICA-Hub)“ of the LAICA Project
(salary group EG 13 TV-L, with 50 % of the regular weekly working time of a full-time employee, fixed-term until 31.12.2029, with the possibility of extension)

With the Leuphana AI Campus (LAICA) project, Leuphana University is developing a teaching and study architecture for comprehensive AI literacy education that is unique in Germany. The aim is to anchor artificial intelligence as a learning subject and didactic tool in an interdisciplinary and interdisciplinary manner in all phases of study from bachelor's to doctoral level. Through approaches that are both research- and practice-based, interdisciplinary, and grounded in ethical reflection, the project enables students to understand AI, apply it responsibly, and act as informed architects of the digital future.

In the work package “AI Literacy Hub – Educational Space (LAICA-Hub)”, a physical and virtual space is being created for the exchange and development of AI literacy education, and for the use of AI as a tool in teaching, learning, and assessment. Four hub workshops will be established to foster collaboration among stakeholders and units, and to create spaces for creativity, discourse, and experimentation: (1) A didactics workshop for developing legally compliant teaching concepts for the use of AI in studies, teaching, and exams, needs assessments among teachers and students, and the development of support formats and training programmes; (2) An experimentation and learning workshop for working on AI projects and exploring new technologies in a “Maker Space”; (3) A transfer workshop for building a network to promote AI Literacy with regular meetings and cooperation at regional and (inter)national levels; (4) A project workshop for regular exchange within the interdisciplinary project team and to address ethical issues.

Further information about the LAICA project and its work packages can be found here: https://www.leuphana.de/lehre/lehrentwicklung/projekte/lehrarchitektur/leuphana-ai-campus.html

Your tasks:

As an AI Ethics Ambassador, you will bring ethical content and questions relevant to the teaching of AI competencies into Work Packages 1 through 7, starting from the LAICA Hub. In this role, you will promote ethical reflection on the goals, content, and measures pursued in the work packages and actively ensure that ethical aspects and content are considered in the development of the teaching and study architecture. Furthermore, you will be particularly engaged in promoting approaches to teaching research ethics competencies for AI-supported research and in addressing discrimination risks associated with the application of AI. The position is affiliated with the professorship of Prof. Dr. Birte Siem, Deputy Chair of the Ethical Review Board, and involves close collaboration with both the Ethics Advisory Board and the Equal Opportunities Office alongside the LAICA Hub.

Your sepcific tasks include:

Systematic research of relevant current studies on ethical aspects of AI use and communicating the results within the work packages and the overall project
Developing concepts and teaching materials for the curricular integration of ethical dimensions of AI competence into the planned study programs for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students from various disciplines
Integrating ethical questions and content into the planned activities of the LAICA Hub, especially the project workshop
Identifying research ethics challenges in AI-supported research projects and translating these into study programs for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students across different fields
Raising awareness of discrimination risks related to AI use (e.g., gender and diversity biases in AI, algorithmic discrimination, unequal access) within the overall project and the planned study programs
Creating guidelines (e.g., for discrimination-sensitive use of AI)
Participating in joint events of the overall project (e.g., retreats, exchange and networking formats)
Contributing to the evaluation and effectiveness assessment of the developed study programs by Work Package 7
Contributing to the publication of project results
Actively participating in the development and delivery of courses in the context of AI literacy education (including team teaching, depending on your qualifications)
Applicants interested in pursuing their own scientific qualification related to the project topic (doctoral degree, habilitation, or in the field of science management) are explicitly encouraged and invited to apply. Such further qualification takes place alongside and outside of project working hours.

Your profile:

Completed degree (Master’s or equivalent) in (Applied) Ethics, Medical Ethics, Social Ethics, or other fields relevant to the project with identifiable (research) ethical references (e.g., Psychology, Empirical Educational Research, Computer Science, Data Science, Philosophy)
A thematically relevant doctoral degree is an advantage
Prior knowledge in topics relevant to the role of AI Ethics Ambassador (ethics, research ethics, AI, discrimination, gender and diversity, biases) or willingness to acquire expertise in these areas
Didactic and methodological skills in designing study programs
Experience in conducting empirical research
Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team
Strong motivation for independent work
Excellent communication skills
professional working proficiency in English (having an at least basic command of German is an advantage)

Our offer:

an inspiring working environment as part of the university community of researchers, teachers, students and staff in technology and administration,
a workplace at one of the most beautiful university locations in Germany in a true campus university with an internationally acclaimed central building by Daniel Libeskind and the directly adjacent Wilschenbruch nature reserve,
a high level of job security as part of the public service,
an additional company pension scheme through the Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder (VBL),
flexible and family-friendly working hours within a flexitime framework from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
flexible and family-friendly opportunities to alternate between presence work and mobile work,
an extensive internal and external continuing education programme,
a wide range of sporting activities sponsored by the university, which employees can take part in for one hour per week during working hours to promote their health,
a university-sponsored catering service for lunch and dinner in the refectory,
a Germany ticket sponsored by the university as a job ticket
All positions in the LAICA project are suitable for part-time work and, upon review, can also be combined with one another. Announcements for additional project positions will be published shortly at: https://www.leuphana.de/universitaet/jobs-und-karriere/forschung-lehre.html bzw. https://www.leuphana.de/universitaet/jobs-und-karriere/technik-verwaltung.html. If applicable, please indicate in your application which other position in the LAICA project you would be interested in and submit a separate application for that position as well.

Your application:

For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Birte Siem (birte.siem@leuphana.de, Tel. 04131.677-1702).

Leuphana University of Lüneburg promotes professional gender equality and heterogeneity among its members. Applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if they have the same qualifications.

Please submit all required documents (without a photo) via our application portal using the reference code “LAICA Ethik” by 28.09.2025. We look forward to receiving your application!