Posting Details

Position Information

Position Title
Senior Research Scientist

Position Type
Limited-Term

Job Number
SA79124

Full or Part Time
full-time 40 hours weekly

Fair Labor Standard Act Classification
Exempt

Anticipated Pay Range
$85,000 - $90,000

Pay Range Information

Chapman University is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this position. This range takes into account a variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Salary offers are determined based on the final candidate's qualifications and experience, as well as internal equity and other internal factors. The anticipated pay range is not a promise of a particular wage.

Position Summary Information

Job Description Summary

Senior Researcher Scientist will conduct advanced scientific research investigating the area of agency, intentions, and artificial intelligence. The position requires high-level expertise in philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence research, with an emphasis on the study of intentions. Key responsibilities include designing and conducting research studies, performing complex data analysis, publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals, applying for grants and other funding, supervising junior researchers, and assisting with the scientific aspects of professional meetings and events. This position requires a Ph.D. in Philosophy, Psychology, or Neuroscience as well as postdoctoral training. It represents a specialty occupation requiring a combination of highly advanced and domain-specific theoretical and practical knowledge.

Responsibilities

Conceptual analysis of descriptions of AI systems with focus on the concepts of alignment, alignment faking, belief, deception, and intention.
Project objective: to describe, evaluate, and improve the definitions of the key terms used in describing the alignment of AI systems with human values and goals.

• Describe the way these key terms are defined in AI research and related fields. Evaluate how well these definitions serve their function. Improve the definitions so that they serve their function better.
• Supervise a team collecting and classifying these definitions in AI research and related fields.
• Supervise and direct conceptual analyses of the results to refine the definitions.
• Prepare and submit research reports and a manuscript for peer-reviewed publication.
• Help write grants and other funding requests on this broad topic.

Development of a benchmark for agency and intentionality in AI.
Project objective: To develop a benchmark based on multidisciplinary input, designed to rate how well AI agents perform activities requiring agency and intentionality.

• Provide theoretical input into the benchmark development.
• Contribute to implementation and analysis of the benchmark prototypes.
• Prepare reports and submit research findings for peer-reviewed publication.
• Help write grants and other funding requests on this broad topic.

Outreach and event organization within the Agency, Intentions, and Artificial Intelligence consortium.
Project objective: Support the continuing interdisciplinary collaboration between neuroscientists, philosophers, and AI researchers to investigate intentions in artificial intelligence models and their relation to intentions in biological systems.

• Contribute to event organization with focus on the composition of their scientific program.
• Contribute scientific expertise in workshops, symposia, and talks.
• Assist with organization of educational events for a broader audience (workshops, summer schools).
• Help write grants and other funding related to this area.

Laboratory and Collaborative Responsibilities
In addition to project-specific work, the employee will assume other research and mentorship responsibilities in the lab:

• Provide technical support for the setup and operation of specialized lab equipment, including electroencephalography equipment.
• Present research findings at academic conferences and meetings, and help more junior lab members prepare for conferences and meetings.
• Assist in the scientific aspects of planning and coordination of academic workshops, symposia, and lab events.
• Co-mentor and help supervise undergraduate research assistants, Postbac researchers, and graduate students providing training in experimental design, equipment usage, data collection, data analysis, and coding as well as preparing posters and publications.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Philosophy, Psychology, Neuroscience, or a related field.
• 1+ year of postdoctoral research experience in philosophy, psychology, or neuroscience.
• 5+ peer-reviewed publications in recognized scientific journals.
• Experience with MATLAB for experiment design and JASP or R for statistical analysis.
• Advanced understanding of inferential statistical methods and neurophysiological data analysis.
• Proficiency in setting up and using electrophysiological equipment (e.g., EEG systems).
• Excellent scientific writing and public presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple research tasks

Desired Qualifications

• Experience supervising or mentoring research assistants or students

Minimum Number of References
2

Maximum Number of References
3