Computer jobs in Germany

The Ruhr area, one of Europe’s largest metropolitan regions, provides attractive career opportunities for outstanding scientists and scholars. The Research Alliance Ruhr consolidates international research with four centers and a college, forming the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr), a community of 14,000 researchers and 120,000 students. Join us and contribute to cutting-edge research at RC Trust, where innovation meets real-world impact.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will conduct empirical research on IT Security from the perspective of psychology or related social sciences. Research should address the interaction of different kinds of human users and technical systems from a user-centric perspective. As the position is a research professorship, teaching load is reduced to four weekly hours per semester. The candidate is expected to contribute to English-taught courses in RUB’s computer science or dedicated IT security study programs.

The Center enables research that connects computer science, security & privacy, and society to increase trust in the digital world. Applications with a strong interest in interdisciplinary research are welcome. An ideal candidate will have publications in both technical outlets and areas such as psychology, sociology, economics or other social sciences. Applicants should have an excellent track record in at least one of the following areas:

• Human-centered evaluation of S&P mechanisms (empirical evaluations using qualitative and/or quantitative methods)
• Human-centered approaches for designing S&P solutions (e.g., co-creation, participatory design)
• Human factors in the development ecosystem of S&P solutions (e.g., decision makers, developers, CISOs, etc.)
• Human-centered S&P in different kinds of intelligent systems and/or emerging technologies
• Participatory and collaborative approaches to designing S&P in emerging technologies
• Ethics in human-centric S&P, societal and social aspects
• Incentives and manipulations in the online world

Applicants should complement the research activities of the Faculty of Computer Science and be willing to participate in interdisciplinary collaborative research within and outside RC Trust and the Universities of the Research Alliance Ruhr. Prerequisites include excellent scientific qualifications (usually demonstrated by a doctorate of outstanding quality, positive evaluation as a junior professor, habilitation or equivalent), top international publications, and suitability for academic teaching. Strong social and leadership skills and willingness to participate in academic self-administration complete the profile.

In the case of the W2 professorship with W3 tenure track, the successful candidate will initially be appointed as a temporary civil servant for five years. At the end of this period the tenure track will lead to continued employment as a tenured W3 university professor, provided aptitude, competence, and performance meet requirements and applicable NRW higher education law.

The professorship will be part of the Research Center Trustworthy Data Science and Security, enabling research that connects psychology, computer science, statistics, and cyber security to empower humans to understand, control and verify artificial intelligence technology and modern machine learning in (semi-) automated decision making. The Center is linked to all three member universities of the University Alliance Ruhr. We offer an excellent scientific environment and opportunities for collaboration with international, national, and regional partners. The professorship will be closely associated with the Faculty of Computer Science and the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security (HGI). HGI hosts the CASA “Cyber Security in the Age of Large-Scale Adversaries” cluster of excellence and offers potential collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy (MPI-SP). Bochum’s ecosystem includes opportunities to engage with the local startup community in security and computer science.

The Research Alliance Ruhr, a collaboration of the Ruhr area universities, encompasses four research centers: “One Health Ruhr,” “Chemical Sciences and Sustainability,” “Trustworthy Data Science and Security,” and “Future Energy Materials and Systems,” plus a College for Social Sciences and Humanities. The Alliance is appointing up to 50 research professors and offers many positions for research assistants. Join us in creating innovations for the future within Europe’s most densely populated yet greenest university landscape, with diverse scientific and industrial partners.

We look forward to receiving your application via our online portal. Please mention the reference number ANR 5401. Online application | Apply by: 2026-03-15

Please provide the following documents: (1) CV, (2) list of publications, (3) documents demonstrating your academic and professional career including copies of certificates, (4) an exposé of your research profile with reference to its relevance for the Research Center, (5) a list of successful external grant applications, (6) an overview of your experience in academic self-administration, and (7) a teaching-learning concept including information on your previous teaching activities.

Questions will be answered by Bilal Zafar ( bilal.zafar@rub.de ).

Further information: www.rc-trust.ai

Ruhr University Bochum is committed to promoting diversity and equal opportunities. We encourage you to showcase your unique personality and expertise. Applications from women will receive preferential treatment in accordance with legal regulations. We also welcome applications from suitable candidates with severe disabilities.

Further information about the Research Center Trustworthy Data Science can be found at: www.rc-trust.ai