Tenure-Track Professor for Philosophy of Machine Learning for Science

The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Tübingen invites applications for the position at the Department of Philosophy of a:

Tenure-Track Professor for Philosophy of Machine Learning for Science,

to commence as soon as possible.

The tenure-track position is embedded in the Cluster of Excellence “Machine Learning: New Perspectives for Science”. The successful candidate has both a strong research profile in a central area of philosophy and strong connections to machine learning and artificial intelligence. Possible research fields in philosophy include practical philosophy (e.g. normative ethics, action theory or political philosophy) or theoretical philosophy (e.g. theory of science, epistemology or philosophy of mind). Examples of typical combinations of philosophy and machine learning may include practical philosophy and ethics of machine learning or artificial intelligence; theoretical philosophy and theory of science for machine learning or artificial intelligence (e.g. explanation of and trust in algorithms).

The aim of this professorship is to establish solid connections and collaborations between the Department of Philosophy and the Machine Learning community in Tübingen. It is expected that the successful candidate actively participates in the Cluster of Excellence. This includes, on the one hand, the readiness to pursue joint projects at the intersection of machine learning and philosophy and, on the other hand, to be involved in organizational tasks and the implementation of the Cluster of Excellence. Further information about the Cluster can be found here: https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/133840

In teaching, it is expected that the successful candidate offers seminars and courses at the Department of Philosophy and possibly also in the international MSc programme “Machine Learning” at the Department of Computer Science.

Prerequisites for this position comprise an excellent dissertation and a strong publication record in the research areas mentioned above. Experience in acquiring third-party research funding and in academic teaching is advantageous. The appointment prerequisites of § 51 LHG apply. Candidates who have already completed a habilitation will be excluded. Applicants for a tenure-track professorship with a PhD from Tübingen must have changed universities after completing their doctorates or have worked in academia and/or research for at least two years somewhere other than the University of Tübingen.

This position is initially limited to four years, with the possibility of an extension by a further two years in case of a positive interim evaluation. During this time, the position comes with a teaching load of four hours per week prior to the interim evaluation, and six hours thereafter. After the initial six years and a successful final evaluation, this tenure-track professorship can be upgraded to a full (W3) professorship, with no re-advertising of the position.

Detailed information on the criteria underlying the interim evaluation and promotion to the tenured position can be found in our guidelines for tenure review under the following link: https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/12131. 

The University of Tübingen is committed to equity and diversity and actively promotes equal opportunities. Female academics, in particular, are explicitly invited to apply, as are applicants from outside Germany.

Applications from equally qualified candidates with disabilities will be given preference.

General information on professorships, hiring processes, and the German academic system can be found here: https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/213700 

Applications including all required documents (cover letter, curriculum vitae, copies of degree documents/ diplomas/ certificates, list of publications and teaching experience, teaching evaluations, research and teaching statement) as well as a selection of relevant publications (possibly a self-authored monograph and up to five essays) must be submitted exclusively through the university’s Appointment Portal (via the ‘Apply’ button above) by September 30, 2026. Enquiries may be directed to the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Dr. Angelika Zirker (berufungen@philosophie.uni-tuebingen.de).