Postdoctoral Researcher

ABOUT USQuintessence AI is a private research centre dedicated to investigating the deep impacts of AI and digital technologies on society, as well as to disseminating scientific advances to the largest audience. We leverage transdisciplinary research methods to produce pioneering approaches and new types of scientific knowledge capable of embracing the complexity of the digital world.Our missions1. Produce the kind of research nobody else willWe see ourselves as a shelter for unconventional researchers and thinkers, willing to develop pioneering approaches and transdisciplinary methods to address complex challenges – e.g. mixing psychology and statistics to study online misinformation, combining philosophical approaches and computer sciences to anticipate new risks in AI-mediated social interactions. This does not mean that all our researchers necessarily have a transdisciplinary background, but that they are open to collaborating with colleagues from other disciplines to explore novel approaches at the intersection between scientific disciplines.2. Inform society to guide decisions and increase societal resilienceImportant findings deserve to be effectively disseminated to impact society positively. To this end, we build various types of dissemination channels to inform governments, private organisations and populations about the advances of scientific research on critical topics they must deal with.3. Develop applications that benefit societyInforming populations about emerging risks is often insufficient to address these effectively. New generations of researchers also want to engage in impact-driven research, one that can have a more direct positive impact on society to participate in shaping the future. At Quintessence AI, we support such ambitions to develop practical methodologies and concrete applications that can help protect individuals and benefit society.WHY JOIN US

• Join a pioneering and impact-driven research environment: work with an interdisciplinary community of top scientists who develop novel approaches to address complex societal problems.
• Enjoy research freedom: we support you to work on the topics you are passionate about, publish your findings and promote these in international conferences.
• Promote your research far beyond academia: have your results relayed to high-profile decision-makers and society at large, via our dissemination channels.
• Benefit from competitive salaries and extensive resources: we offer attractive wages and resources to support research-based applications you want to explore.
• Partake in the building of a leading European research centre: contribute to the development of a fast-growing organisation which aims to become the European reference research institution on the social impacts of AI and digital technologies.WHO ARE WE LOOKING FORWe are looking for highly motivated individuals who are passionate about researching critical societal challenges related to AI and digital technologies.Research areasWe welcome applications in the following areas:
• Responsible AI (e.g., fairness, transparency, explainability)
• AI safety (e.g., alignment, evaluations, hallucinations, vulnerabilities, multi-agent systems)
• Human-Computer Interactions (e.g., LLMs’ influence on users’ behaviours, overreliance, cognitive overloads, evolution of AI-mediated social interactions, persuasive techniques)BackgroundWe welcome applicants with a Master’s/PhD degree from top universities in disciplines such as:
• Mathematics
• Computer sciences and statistics
• Economics and econometrics
• Cognitive sciences
• Psychology
• Anthropology
• SociologyWe particularly value profiles with technical skills, and those with a transdisciplinary background, although this is not necessary. English fluency is required. Industry experience is a plus.OPEN POSITION
• Postdoctoral researchers (2 years full-time contract): candidates should hold a doctoral degree and a publication track record in top academic venues.All applicants should be legally allowed to work in France, as Quintessence AI does not sponsor work visas. All positions are full-time on-site positions; applications for remote work will not be considered.