The university professorship will be placed at the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) and will assume leadership tasks there. ITAS is a globally leading institute for technology assessment, employing roughly 170 staff members.

Organizational unit

Bereich II - Informatik, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft

Job description

ITAS is dedicated to scientifically independent, high-quality problem-oriented research on the relationship between humans, technology, and the environment, to the responsible shaping of technology, and the assessment of opportunities and risks associated with current and future socio-technical change. The university professorship will further advance technology assessment at KIT, shape sustainability research and systems analysis in the long term, and position this research internationally. The university professorship has a central role in the Helmholtz programs Energy System Design (ESD) and Engineering Digital Futures (EDF), where it forms the core of research on socio-technical change. In addition, the university professorship is expected to maintain and further develop ITAS’s activities in institutionalised policy advice.

We are looking for an internationally recognized scholar with outstanding expertise in research and teaching, particularly in the following areas:

• Concepts, methods, and conditions for the implementation of technology assessment, including, i.a., its epistemic and ethical dimensions.
• Systematic reflection on the opportunities, conditions, and consequences of socio ‑ technical change.
• Shaping of socio ‑ technical systems and governance of complex transformation processes.
• Interaction between science and political action (e.g., scientific policy advice).

In addition to these required qualifications, competencies in the following areas are desired:

• Involving non ‑ scientific actors in research processes.
• Conceptualising and investigating complex transformations, especially in digitisation or energy supply.
• Leading large research networks and inter- or transdisciplinary research teams.
• Supporting and fostering early ‑ career researchers.

Starting date

zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt / as soon as possible

Personal qualification

Experience in international scientific committees and policy- advisory bodies is advantageous. Applicants should possess in‑depth knowledge of the German and European research‑funding landscape and a proven track record in securing third‑party funding from public and private organisations.

The university professorship will represent the academic field Technology Assessment and will be a key contributor to the major Technology Assessment and Future Design module within the "Liberal Arts and Sciences” study programme at KIT. Since the university professorship is entrusted with the performance of large scale research responsibilities, the teaching load is 2 semester hours per week. Communication with policymakers and the public is an important part of this role, hence proficiency in German is therefore essential.

Employment is subject to Art. 14, par. (2) of the KIT Act in conjunction with Art. 47 LHG Baden-Württemberg (Act of Baden-Württemberg on Universities and Colleges).