PhD-position “Trustworthiness of AI Systems in Healthcare”

PhD student “Trustworthiness of AI Systems in Healthcare”: Delve into AI’s impact on healthcare trust. Interdisciplinary study on stakeholder perspectives reshaping AI credibility.

Job Description

Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds immense potential in revolutionizing various sectors, notably healthcare. However, distrust surrounding AI, particularly in healthcare settings, poses significant challenges for all stakeholders involved, including doctors and patients. The lack of trust likely stems from uncertainties around AI’s competence, honesty, and reliability, especially in epistemically and politically opaque AI models like deep learning.

The AI-TRUST project aims to investigate the trustworthiness of AI systems in healthcare. This empirical interdisciplinary project combines insights from sociology of science, philosophy of technology, and AI research to understand how primary stakeholders, such as healthcare professionals and patients, evaluate the trustworthiness of AI systems. The research will also explore the redistributions of expertise and power associated with the adoption and adaption of AI in healthcare.

To accomplish these goals, you will identify and engage with stakeholders, collect data in the clinical and research practices in which AI features and conduct experiments with these actors. The project embodies innovative and participative approaches, rooted in sociological and philosophical perspectives on trustworthiness and credibility.

Your responsibility is to fulfill all the requirements to obtain a PhD degree at Maastricht University, including but not limited to:

• Write and co-write academic publications which will form the basis of your PhD thesis, together with the members of your supervision team and others,
• Collect data according to a well-considered research design,
• Further build your qualitative and mixed-methods data analysis skills,
• Participate in required and jointly decided elements of your PhD education

You will be working in and with two interdisciplinary groups: Clinical Data Science (CDS) and Health, Ethics & Society (HES), both in the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML). You will be expected to actively participate in the colloquia and meeting of both groups and will benefit from peers with expertises in quantitative and qualitative methodology, descriptive and normative studies and experimental and theoretical foci. At any given moment, your reliance on one of these groups and their expertise may take priority, but for the whole duration of the work we expect this to be balanced.

Requirements
We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

• A master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field, such as computer science, sociology, philosophy, or Science, Technology and Society (STS).
• Strong analytical and research skills, with experience in qualitative and/or mixed-methods research methodologies and a willingness to engage in innovative research approaches.
• Familiarity with AI technologies and their applications, particularly in healthcare contexts
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams.
• A keen interest in understanding societal implications of AI technologies and a commitment to responsible research practices.
• Epistemic flexibility and social tact, allowing constructive interactions with various social and clinical stakeholders.
• Able to manage your time and your research activities well.
• Capable of autonomously conducting original research as well as working in a team.
• Flexible, open-minded, growth-oriented, and eager to learn.
• English proficiency (Cambridge English Proficiency, level C1, orally and written), knowledge of Dutch is requested, but not required
• Willing to relocate to (the vicinity of) Maastricht and/or to be present at FHML three days per week.

What we offer
As PhD-position “Trustworthiness of AI Systems in Healthcare” at Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale P according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €2770,00 and €3539,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as ‘acknowledge and appreciate’.

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?
At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM.

Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
At the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), everything revolves around healthy living. Our research and education are not solely focused on recovery, but place a strong emphasis on prevention, health preservation, and health promotion. Our aim is to use our knowledge and expertise to genuinely contribute to the well-being of individual people as well as society in total.

In, research, and healthcare, FHML is closely collaborating with the academic hospital in Maastricht, together forming the Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+).  FHML is strongly connected in education, research, and care with the Maastricht academic hospital, together with which it forms the Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+).

FHML, which is the largest faculty of Maastricht University, is formed by an (inter)national community of employees and students. The faculty offers a wide range of Dutch and English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs in innovative educational concepts in which the emphasis is always on building bridges to practice.

The multidisciplinary research of the FHML focuses on a number of carefully chosen topical current themes. In addition to research aimed at gaining new insights, it also concerns research whose results can be directly translated into concrete applications and innovations.

Curious?

Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Rianne Fijten via r.fijten@maastrichtuniversity.nl or Bart Penders via b.penders@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information.

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD-position “Trustworthiness of AI Systems in Healthcare”? Apply now, no later than April 24, 2024, for this position.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.