Department of Computer Science

TU Darmstadt stands for excellent and relevant science. We are playing a decisive role in shaping far-reaching processes of global change - from energy transition to artificial intelligence - through outstanding scientific knowledge and innovative academic programmes. We group our cutting-edge research into three fields: Energy and Environment, Information and Intelligence, Matter and Materials.

TU Darmstadt has strong ties to the Frankfurt-Rhine-Main metropolitan region and is well known for its cosmopolitanism and international outlook. As one of the three Rhine-Main Universities (RMU), TU Darmstadt cooperates closely with Goethe University Frankfurt and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. This includes academic research, study and teaching, the promotion of early-career researchers, and the transfer of knowledge and technology to the economy and society. TU Darmstadt actively promotes diversity and equality. We consider diversity to be the key to creative solutions and social progress.

About our department The Department of Computer Science is leading in research and teaching and is regularly ranked among the best CS-departments in Germany. It is central part of one of the three profile shaping research fields at TU Darmstadt (Information + Intelligence). The successful candidate will be appointed to the Department of Computer Science and will conduct research as a member of the Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence - hessian.AI (https://hessian.ai/).

Your tasks The scientific focus of the professorship for "Ethical and Safe AI" will be on developing methods and algorithmic foundations for AI systems whose behavior is consistent with human values, respects social norms, and remains reliable, robust, and controllable even in uncertain or safety-critical situations.

Examples of research topics include

• Methods for ethical and safe AI
• Methods for responsible and trustworthy AI
• Algorithmic fairness and explainable AI
• Methods for social and human-centered AI

Within the professorship, you will establish a strong research program in one or more of the fields mentioned above, thereby contributing to the continued growth of the Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence (hessian.AI) and reinforcing the Department of Computer Science's strategic focus on artificial intelligence at TU Darmstadt. You will have the opportunity to engage in existing collaborative research initiatives at TU Darmstadt, with an active role envisioned in the DFG Cluster of Excellence 3057 "Reasonable AI."

Your responsibilities will also include teaching core and advanced topics in computer science and artificial intelligence at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The teaching load is reduced by 50%, corresponding to 4 semester hours per week.

Your profile We are looking for

• an internationally visible member of the scientific community in an early career phase with promising potential (W2 tenure track) or
• an internationally established person with outstanding scientific reputation (W3)

We are looking for candidates who demonstrate scientific excellence, a strong alignment with the research visions of the Department of Computer Science, TU Darmstadt, and hessian.AI, as well as clear suitability for the position. Applicants should show both the ability and the ambition to actively shape the research ecosystem of TU Darmstadt and hessian.AI in the years to come. We particularly value candidates who combine an outstanding research track record with a collaborative mindset, strong teamwork skills, and a genuine commitment to innovative, high-quality teaching.

Applicants for a W2 assistant professorship with tenure track are expected to have initial successes in select and relevant research topics and demonstrate clear potential for development. Initial experience in acquiring third-party funding is also expected.

The assistant professorship is designed as a qualification professorship according to §70 HessHG (Hessisches Hochschulgesetz). Accordingly, the academic activity during and after the doctorate should generally not exceed nine years or the academic activity after the doctorate should not exceed four years. This maximum duration may be extended in the event of birth, adoption or having children.

Furthermore, applicants should have completed their doctorate at a university other than TU Darmstadt or have been academically active outside TU Darmstadt for at least two years after completing their doctorate.

Applicants for a W3 professorship should have an outstanding academic track record, evidenced by influential research contributions in the field of ethical and safe AI and its underlying methods, and by publications at leading international AI venues such as NeurIPS, AAAI, COLM, and ACM FAccT. We particularly welcome research profiles that engage with emerging and fast-developing areas such as algorithmic fairness, explainable AI, normative frameworks, or culturally adaptive AI systems. A proven record of successful international collaboration, partnerships with industry, or interdisciplinary research will be a strong advantage.

The prerequisites for employment are in accordance with the Sections 67 and 68 of the Hessisches Hochschulgesetz (Hessian Higher Education Act).

As part of the Frankfurt Rhine-Main metropolitan region, Technical University of Darmstadt and its surroundings are characterized by living internationality. The core element of this is a cosmopolitan climate with functional multilingualism at our university. Therefore, very good English and, at the latest after three years, good German language skills are expected.

Technical University of Darmstadt offers varied and challenging assignments, freedom to work independently, the latest technologies, good collaboration between colleagues in partnership, needs-based training opportunities and customised personnel development.

Development and organisation - comprehensive in-house training offers, including the opportunity for continuing education and development; Sustainable and mobile - eligibility to free public transport in the state of Hesse with the LandesTicket Hessen (Hesse StateTicket), in addition to opportunities to working mobile at times; Fit and healthy - free of charge preventive medical check-ups and a wide-ranging subsidised sports programme; Work-life balance - flexible working time models, plus BGM (Betriebliches Gesundheitsmanagement - University Health Management); Family-friendliness and career - Technical University of Darmstadt is certified as a family-friendly university and offers a dual career program; Accessibility is a high priority throughout our entire working environment. We constantly strive to further reduce digital, structural, and linguistic barriers for all employees and explicitly welcome applications from people with disabilities. In case of equal qualifications, applicants with a degree of disability of at least 50% or equal will be given preference.