Job Opportunity For its Research Group Globalization, Production and Work, the Berlin Social Science Center (WZB) is looking for
A Student Assistant (ID 333)
to be employed for a period of at least 12 months, starting as soon as possible and a weekly working load of 10 hours. The student assistant will be working in project “AGEAI: Ageism in AI: new forms of age discrimination and exclusion in the era of algorithms and artificial intelligence” lead by Dr. Justyna Stypinska.
The WZB Berlin Social Science Center is a publicly financed research institution that conducts leading edge theory-based and problem-oriented social science research (http://.wzb.eu/en). WZB researchers come from across the globe and work across social science disciplines including sociology, political science, economics, law, and psychology. A member of the Leibniz Association, WZB’s research is directed at the science community, policy makers, the media and the general public.
The AGEAI Project
The deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) holds great promise for the economy and society. However, it also brings forth risks concerning social equality, privacy, fairness, and accountability. Recent studies have shed light on significant race and gender biases in algorithmic systems, revealing how AI can negatively impact marginalized groups. Surprisingly, the category of age, crucial for social inclusion and equality in aging societies, has been largely overlooked in research and policy on AI bias. To bridge this gap, our interdisciplinary study aims to delve into the subject of ageism in AI, seeking to understand its implications and potential consequences for older individuals and the broader society. The aim of the AGEAI project is to critically assess how ageism operates in AI systems, products, services, and infrastructure by focusing on critical areas of AI deployment (healthcare, employment/hiring systems, mobility and transport, financial services, face recognition). The AI technology developed in those areas has been recognized as “high-risk” by the proposed EU AI Act (2022) and will need to be rigorously scrutinized to meet the standards of trustworthy, human centered and fair AI.
The international and interdisciplinary research project has partners at the University of Brighton (UK), Open University of Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain), and Leiden University (Holland) and is funded by a German Volkswagen Foundation for the period of 2023-2027.
Your tasks and duties
* Researching databases and literature
* Preparation of literature reviews
* Supporting organizational tasks in the project
* Preparing content for social media
* Updating the project website
* Supporting organization of participatory workshops and qualitative interviews
* Preparation of data for further data analysis
* Participation in team meetings
Your qualifications profile
* Advanced Bachelor or a Master student in social sciences (sociology, psychology, media sciences, political sciences, etc.)
* An excellent oral and written command of the English language (working language in the project is English)
* An excellent oral and written command of the German language (at least C1)
* Team work oriented, capable of independent work
* Interest in topics of diversity, algorithmic discrimination, gender, ageing, intersectionality, artificial intelligence, social and digital inequality
Our offer
* Remuneration in according to the TdL guidelines (currently €13.98 per hour without a Bachelor's degree and €14.59 per hour with a Bachelor's degree)
* A well-equipped workplace in the center of Berlin
* International, cooperative, and diversified working environment
* In-depth integration into the scientific community in the form of colloquiums and conferences
* Thorough instruction and guidance
* Flexible working hours and the possibility of mobile working (at least 20% of the weekly working hours agreed in the contract)
* We promote a good work-life balance
* Cafeteria with modern recreation rooms
* Discounted leisure and recreation opportunities with a membership in Sozialwerk.Bund
* Counselling and support services for WZB employees in difficult life situations
We value diversity and welcome all applications – irrespective of gender, nationality, ethnic or social origin, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation. WZB expressly encourages women or persons with migration backgrounds to apply. Equally qualified applicants with disabilities will be given preference.
If you have any questions regarding the job opening, please contact Eileen Jahnke, telephone +49 30 25491-538.
Job interviews will likely take place in the week starting on 26 May 2025.
For more information about the project, follow this https://wzb.eu/en/research/digitalization-and-societal-transformation/globalization-work-and-production/projects/ageai.
Candidates are kindly requested to submit their applications either in English or German (consisting of a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, copies of relevant certificates/references, and certificate of enrolment) via our online application tool by 11 May 2025.
Apply now