CFA Research Assistant/PhD Candidate
Computational Phenomenology & Psychopathology
- IDEAS Research Institute, Warsaw Duration: initial contract + up to 4 years
- Start Date: September 2025/negotiable Application Deadline: 31.07.2025
- Contract Type: Full-time/negotiable
- Contact: marcin.moskalewicz@ideas.edu.pl
This position is part of the project Computational Phenomenology & Psychopathology, which investigates the potential of AI systems to model and interact with human experience, subjectivity, and lifeworld structures. Drawing on both computational and phenomenological approaches, the project focuses on autism and personality disorder, but includes other neuroatypicalities. The successful candidate will join a dynamic team working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and phenomenological psychopathology, and explore how large language models can be designed, adapted, and evaluated to engage with phenomenological concepts, methods, and data.
The position does not require pursuing a PhD degree.
Candidates are encouraged to tailor their applications to either of the two research clusters, based on their expertise and interests.
Human vs therapeutic chatbot interaction
Key issues: attribution of intentionality to AI, factors stabilizing and disrupting anthropomorphic illusions and shifts in perceived agency; therapeutic role-playing and simulated empathy, digital transference.
In-silico phenomenological analysis
Key issues: AI-augmented tools for qualitative phenomenology; fine-tuning on first-person data; front-loaded phenomenological benchmarking; robustness testing and systematic validation
Required Qualifications
- Master’s Degree (or close completion) in Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science, Computational Linguistics, or a closely related field; strong research background in Natural Language Processing (NLP), with demonstrated interdisciplinary orientation; solid understanding of the current LLM ecosystem, including model families, open-source libraries, and computational infrastructure; first-hand experience with parameter-efficient and context-based fine-tuning methods
Desirable Qualifications
- Familiarity with AI ethics, alignment, and safety research; acquaintance with phenomenology and/or psychopathology; experience conducting or collaborating on mixed- methods research;
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct original research in computational phenomenology, with a focus on language models and lived experience; design, implement, and evaluate machine learning models relevant to phenomenological inquiry; collaborate with philosophers and clinicians; contribute to joint publications in leading conferences and journals; assist in organizing workshops and collaborative meetings
We offer flexible working conditions, including the possibility of hybrid work arrangements; salary is at EU academic standards. Pre-submission inquiries should be directed by email to the project PI, Marcin Moskalewicz.
Application Procedure
Please send the following documents as a single PDF file to marcin.moskalewicz@ideas.edu.pl
- Cover letter & CV (including linked publications)
- A short project concept fitting into one of the clusters (2-3 pages, excluding bibliography)
- Contact details of one academic referee.