Research Assistant (PhD Candidate) in Digital Work (m/f/x)

LMU; München; Hybrid; EUR 42.000 - 52.000; Teilzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Parent room

Campus childcare

Transport ticket

Jobbike

Canteens & cafés

Zusammenfassung

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München invites applications for a part-time PhD Candidate position in Digital Work. The Research Assistant will join EMANAIRE, a MSCA Doctoral Network, to study AI companions in caregiver workflows and organisational contexts.

The role emphasises qualitative research, collaboration within an international team, and a structured doctoral program. The successful candidate will engage in cross-institution supervision, present findings at conferences, and contribute

Qualifikationen

• Gained experience with qualitative research (e.g. interviews, case studies, ethnography).
• Strong written and spoken English language skills; German skills would be desirable but not mandatory.

Aufgaben

• Conduct research for EMANAIRE with focus on AI companions and how their use affects individuals and organizations.
• Explore how AI is changing everyday life in companies.
• Investigate impact on management, AI companions, and internal communication; study development of skills and careers.
• Support doctoral supervision and contribute to the PhD project design.

Kenntnisse

Qualitative research

English proficiency

Team player

Ausbildung

Master's degree

Jobbeschreibung

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München is a leading research university in Europe. Since its founding in 1472 it has been committed to the highest international standards of excellence in research and teaching.

Institution Faculty of Business Administration - Munich School of Management - Professorship of Digital Work

Remuneration group TV-L E13

Full-time / Part-time Part-time (75%)

Start date January 1st, 2027 (Position for 36 months)

About us:

About EMANAIRE:

EMANAIRE is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network ( The fifteen doctoral projects | EMANAIRE ) bringing together 15 doctoral candidates at nine European universities to study how AI is changing work. Its projects examine what happens when generative and agentic AI enters leadership, everyday workflows, team communication, professional learning and career decisions. Across the network, human agency means the practical ability to understand AI-supported decisions, exercise judgement, question outputs and shape how work is organized. Each researcher joins an international cohort, receives supervision across institutions and takes part in three residential schools, methods workshops, monthly research seminars and joint work with organizations beyond academia. Every project includes a planned six-month intersectoral secondment.

About the PhD project at LMU:

For the LMU, Professor Dr. Anne-Sophie Mayer, Professor of Digital Work, will be the main supervisor for one PhD student. Her project will focus on AI Companions and Caregiver Workflows in Inclusive Care.

AI is increasingly used by vulnerable groups, for instance people with depression or other mental illnesses, to find comfort, seek help and find support beyond human caregivers. The companion's behavior can affect both the individual using it but also respective care givers such as psychologists and therapists.

This project will investigate how AI companions can adapt to changing cognitive, emotional and social needs while supporting connection and personal agency. You will study how these systems enter caregiver workflows, where responsibility sits when an interaction becomes difficult, and which safeguards are needed around privacy, dependency, escalation and human oversight. You will further explore the interplay between individuals and caregivers that are affected by the use of AI companions and how AI companions shape such relationships, trust and wellbeing.

The doctorate should produce evidence on interaction quality, wellbeing and caregiver coordination, together with design patterns for inclusive and adaptive companions. Practical outputs may include implementation protocols, staff-training guidance and ethical evaluation checklists that help care providers introduce companion systems with clear lines of responsibility.

Applicants may be of any nationality. To be eligible for MSCA funding, the selected candidate must, on the first day of MSCA employment: (i) not hold a doctoral degree; candidates who have successfully defended a doctoral thesis but have not yet formally received the degree are not eligible; (ii) comply with the MSCA mobility rule, meaning they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding that date, excluding compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent in a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention; and (iii) be enrolled in, or meet the conditions required for timely enrolment in, the doctoral programme leading to the degree specified in this notice. The appointment is conditional on documentary verification of these conditions and fulfilment of the host institution's doctoral admission requirements.

We are looking for you:

Research Assistant (PhD Candidate) in Digital Work (m/f/x)

Your tasks and responsibilities:

• Conduct research for EMANAIRE with focus on AI companions and how their use affects individuals and organizations
• How is AI changing everyday life in companies?
• What impact does it have on management and AI companions, AI and vulnerable groups and internal communication, and the development of skills and careers?
• Ideally, you hold an excellent master’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Business Informatics Psychology, Sociology or similar
• You have gained experience with qualitative research (e.g. interviews, case studies, ethnography)
• You have strong written and spoken English language skills; German skills would be desirable but not mandatory
• A high degree of self-motivation for science and (qualitative) research
• Strong interest in technologies (particularly AI) in the context of work
• You are a reliable teamplayer
• We offer a structured doctoral program to complete a PhD
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the German public sector scale ( TV-L E13 , 75%).
• Our offices are in central Munich, working from home is possible, and working hours are flexible
• Presentation of research at national and international conferences
• Close mentoring and personal coaching
• Lifelong learning for your personal and professional development
• Join a stimulating, international research team

Further LMU-Benefits:

• LMU is promoting a balance between work and family life (e.g. parent room and kindergarten on campus, school holiday and emergency child care).
• Numerous LMU employee benefits, e.g. discounted fitness and cultural offers, job public transport ticket, jobbike as well as several canteens and excellent cafés on campus

LMU Munich is an equal opportunity employer, committed to enhancing the diversity and inclusion of our faculty. We encourage female candidates to apply.

People with disabilities who are equally as qualified as other applicants will receive preferential treatment.

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