[CogSci] Postdoctoral Fellowship in AI Alignment and Cultural Psychology (University of Waterloo)

[Igor Grossmann]

University of Waterloo - CHARM Lab & Wise Judgment Consortium
Location: University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Start Date: Fall 2025
Salary: CAD $65,000 per year + standard UWaterloo benefits
Duration: One-year appointment with possibility of renewal

About the project
We are seeking an exceptional postdoctoral researcher to join a groundbreaking interdisciplinary project on Democratizing Human-AI Engagement. This research investigates how Large Language Models (LLMs) can align with diverse human values, preferences, and cultural contexts in both single- and multi-agent settings. This project is jointly led by Prof. Amir-Hossein Karimi (Electrical & Computer Engineering, CHARM Lab) and Prof. Igor Grossmann (Psychology, Wisdom & Culture Lab & Wise Judgment Consortium), as part of a CIFAR AI Catalyst initiative.

Project goals

  *   Develop LLM-based frameworks for personalized value and preference alignment
  *   Investigate fairness and cooperation in multi-agent AI systems
  *   Build context-aware AI models that adapt to social, cultural, and interactional cues
  *   Apply insights to domains like negotiation, meeting assistance, task delegation, and cross-cultural marketing

What you'll do

  *   Design, implement, and evaluate LLM-based agents for preference inference and contextualized decision-making
  *   Analyze cultural and value-laden text data using NLP and social science-informed methodologies
  *   Run and analyze multi-agent simulations, including negotiation and coordination tasks
  *   Lead and co-author publications for top ML, AI ethics, and psychology venues (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, FAccT, AIES, APS)
  *   Engage in collaborative work across CHARM Lab, the Wise Judgment Consortium, Vector Institute, and Mila - Quebec AI Institute

Who we're looking for

  *   PhD in Computer Science, Psychology/Cognitive Science, Computational Social Science, or related fields
  *   Strong research record in one or more of: NLP, LLMs, value alignment, multi-agent systems, computational modeling
  *   Deep interest in responsible AI, cultural psychology, and interdisciplinary collaboration
  *   Prior experience with multi-agent simulations, game theory, or LLM fine-tuning is an asset

Why join us

  *   Work with leading scholars at the intersection of AI and social science
  *   Access to cutting-edge resources and datasets
  *   Opportunity to shape the future of culturally aware and ethically aligned AI
  *   Present your work globally and build a strong academic and professional network
  *   Enjoy the vibrant research community and quality of life in Waterloo, Ontario

Application process
Complete the form here: https://forms.gle/u1aJgXVJjTxsP9sc7

  *   Cover Letter (indicate interest and fit)
  *   Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  *   Two or three representative publications
  *   Contact information for 2-3 referees

Application Deadline: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until filled.

With best wishes,

Igor

Igor Grossmann, Ph.D. | IgorGrossmann.com<https://www.igorgrossmann.com/>
Professor of Psychology | University of Waterloo
Director, Wisdom and Culture Laboratory<https://uwaterloo.ca/wisdom-and-culture-lab/>

Founder, World After COVID<https://worldaftercovid.info/> | Futurescape<https://futurescape.uwaterloo.ca/> | Wise Judgment Consortium<https://wiseminds.uwaterloo.ca/>
Editor, Psychological Inquiry<https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/hpli20>
Co-host, On Wisdom Podcast<http://onwisdompodcast.com/>
Member, College of the Royal Society of Canada<https://rsc-src.ca/en/fellows-members/college-members>

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