The CITEC (Center for Cognitive Interaction Technology) has the following job opening in the SFB TRR 318 [subproject B07]: 
In order to develop a social XAI involving LLMs, the interdisciplinary project B07 investigates how users interact with LLM-based agents through prompting practices when searching for information and explanations. To this end, methods from ethnomethodological conversation analysis, ethnography, and computer science are combined. The linguistic part of the project will focus primarily on the users’ sensemaking practices in different contexts of human-computer-interaction (education, workplace, everyday life).
The position will be filled subject to project approval.
Employment is conducive to academic qualification.
Research Position in the SFB TRR 318 [subproject B07]
ID: Wiss25370
- starting: 01.01.2026
- Vollzeit
- salary according to Remuneration level 13 TV-L
- befristet
The transregional collaborative research center (TRR) “Constructing Explainability” funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) at the Universities of Paderborn and Bielefeld, deals with explainable and explanatory artificial intelligence. The central hypothesis of the TRR is that explanations should be co-constructed by dialogue partners so that humans can make confident and informed decisions when interacting with intelligent systems.
To this end, both universities aim to contribute basic research in the areas of co-constructive explanation processes and their mechanisms, explanation as a socio-technical phenomenon, and computational representations of the dynamics of co-constructive explanation. They bring together different disciplinary perspectives both at the level of individual projects and the TRR as a whole. The goal of the second funding phase is to develop more flexible, personalized, proactive explanation systems (sXAI) that take social and situational context into account when adapting their explanatory behavior.
To this end, both universities aim to contribute basic research in the areas of co-constructive explanation processes and their mechanisms, explanation as a socio-technical phenomenon, and computational representations of the dynamics of co-constructive explanation. They bring together different disciplinary perspectives both at the level of individual projects and the TRR as a whole. The goal of the second funding phase is to develop more flexible, personalized, proactive explanation systems (sXAI) that take social and situational context into account when adapting their explanatory behavior.
In order to develop a social XAI involving LLMs, the interdisciplinary project B07 investigates how users interact with LLM-based agents through prompting practices when searching for information and explanations. To this end, methods from ethnomethodological conversation analysis, ethnography, and computer science are combined. The linguistic part of the project will focus primarily on the users’ sensemaking practices in different contexts of human-computer-interaction (education, workplace, everyday life).
The position will be filled subject to project approval.
Your Tasks
- research activities (90 %):
- interdisciplinary research in the field of co-constructive explanation
- publication and presentation of results
- teaching equivalent to 1 LVS (5%)
- collaboration in administration and in the activities of the Collaborative Research Centre (5%)
Employment is conducive to academic qualification.
We offer
- salary according to Remuneration level 13 TV-L
- befristet (limited until 30.06.2029 - end of project) (§ 2 (1) sentence 1 of the WissZeitVG; in accordance with the provisions of the WissZeitVG and the Agreement on Satisfactory Conditions of Employment, the length of contract may differ in individual cases)
- Vollzeit
- internal and external training opportunities
- variety of health, consulting and prevention services
- reconcilability of family and work
- flexible working hours
- good transport connection
- supplementary company pension
- collegial working environment
- open and pleasant working atmosphere
- exciting, varied tasks
- modern work environment with digital processes
- various offers (canteen, cafeteria, restaurants, Uni-Shop, ATM, etc.)
Your Profile
We expect
- very good scientific academic degree (e.g. Master's or equivalent) with a clear focus on linguistics or sociology
- very good analytical and conceptual skills
- communicative and team-oriented approach to work
- strong organisational and coordination skills
- independent, responsible and committed approach to work
- interest in interdisciplinary scientific collaboration
- very good knowledge of German and English (spoken and written)
Preferred experience and skills
- knowledge of ethnographic research
- knowledge of linguistic conversation research and ethnomethodological conversation analysis
- experience in conducting surveys, conversation analysis transcription and, if necessary, annotation of video data
Application Procedure
We are looking forward to receiving your application. To apply, please preferably use our online form via the application button below.
application deadline: 13.10.2025
Contact
Prof. Dr. Friederike Kern
friederike.kern@uni-bielefeld.de
Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Fakultät für Linguistik und Literaturwissenschaft
Prof. Dr. Friederike Kern
Postfach 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
Prof. Dr. Friederike Kern
friederike.kern@uni-bielefeld.de
Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Fakultät für Linguistik und Literaturwissenschaft
Prof. Dr. Friederike Kern
Postfach 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
Bielefeld University has received a number of awards for its achievements as an equal-opportunity employer and has been
recognized as a family-friendly university. The university welcomes applications from women. This is particularly true with regard
both to academic and technical posts as well as positions in information technology as well as the skilled crafts and trades.
Applications are handled according to the provisions of the state statutes on equal opportunity. Applications from suitably qualified
handicapped and severely handicapped persons are explicitly encouraged.
At Bielefeld University on request positions can be carried out with reduced working hours as long as this does not conflict with official needs.
