PhD student in Information Systems: AI Supported Decision-Making: Responsibility, Simulation and Governance in Practice Full-time

PhD Student in Information Systems

Are you interested in working with research in Information Systems, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a position as PhD student in Information Systems at Uppsala University.

The doctoral student will be affiliated with the Department of Informatics and Media (IM) at Uppsala University and will be part of research environments in information systems, digital innovation, and critical digital infrastructure. The project is conducted in close dialogue with ongoing research on AI, organisation, and governance within the WASP-HS Collaboration Arena for Welfare, involving collaboration with academia, the public sector, and industry.

Duties: We are seeking a doctoral student in Information Systems for a research project that examines how accountability, traceability, and human oversight are organised in AI-supported decision-making processes in the public sector, with a particular focus on model- and simulation-based systems.

The project is practice-oriented and combines qualitative studies of real-world decision-making and modelling environments with analyses of exceptions, operational situations, and failures in concrete public-sector processes. The dissertation may also include the development and evaluation of concrete artefacts, such as principles for traceability, documentation, or the handling of exceptions in AI-supported systems. This may include the development, adaptation, or empirical evaluation of technical artefacts or computational components, where relevant to the research questions.

Requirements: To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must hold a Master's (second-cycle) degree in Information Systems, or have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 90 credits at Master's level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way. We welcome applicants with a strong interest in information systems, organisation, and the practical use of technology. Relevant academic backgrounds may include information systems, informatics, computer science, industrial engineering and management, or closely related fields. Experience of working with models, simulations, decision-support systems, complex IT environments, or public-sector organisations is considered an advantage, as is an interest in qualitative and practice-oriented research.

The application must include: A brief cover letter, which should contain: 1) The applicant's motivation for applying for the position (maximum 500 words). 2) A brief description of the documents submitted (list them). 3) If more than one academic work (thesis, article, etc.) is submitted for assessment, the cover letter must specify which of these the admissions committee should prioritize. Doctoral project plan (maximum two pages, in English). The plan should include the theoretical framework, research questions, aims, type of data, methodology, and timeline. CV with certified copies of academic documents, such as transcripts, demonstrating that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements for doctoral studies in Media and Communication Studies, as well as copies of certified degree certificates and grades. Two letters of recommendation. Copies of independent academic works authored by the applicant as part of their undergraduate or graduate education (C-, D-, or advanced level, or equivalent; drafts of ongoing work may be attached), or other relevant texts. Any other documents the applicant wishes to include.

About the employment: The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 1 September or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.