Learning and Cognition: Biological and Machine Learning-Based Approaches M/F

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Direction des ressources humaines Research Field Philosophy Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 2 Sep 2026 - 17:00 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Other Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 30 Jul 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

One distinguishes at least two visions of learning. Living organisms possess a priori knowledge that structures their cognition. This knowledge then enables them to express meta-representational capacities such as metacognition, self-awareness, and social cognition. Modern AI architectures, on the other hand, appear to acquire significant cognitive abilities without these initial building blocks, relying instead on massive datasets.Comparing biological and artificial learning could shed light on the nature of cognitive capacities and their emergence, the role of initial “cognitive building blocks”, and the specificities of artificial learning systems. In other words, understanding how human cognitive capacities articulate with the biological mechanisms that underlie them —and how artificial intelligence systems either illuminate or challenge existing models— is the central ambition of this CPJ APPCO. This chair sits at the convergence of three fields: computer science and AI, life sciences (biology, neuroscience), and the philosophy of mind and cognitive sciences.The focus on the interplay between these two dimensions places this CPJ at the core of two cross-cutting challenges of the CNRS-State COMP 2024–2028: the “Brain” challenge and the “Generative AI for Science” challenge, as well as within the scientific priority “Experiments, Simulations, and Modeling in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” under the “Digital” field. Positioning this chair at the interface between the CNRS Institute of Computer Science and the CNRS Institute of Humanities & Social Sciences would foster interdisciplinary collaboration around a complex scientific object—cognition—which requires cross-disciplinary approaches between computer science, neuroscience, and human sciences. Thus, this CPJ would help structure a key disciplinary interface between artificial and human intelligences.

The Institut Jean Nicod is a Human and Social Sciences laboratory specialising in the philos-ophy of mind and cognitive science. Hosting such a CPJ could present a valuable opportunity to develop research in the field of AI modelling. The laboratory's well-established foundation in long-standing empirical-based research, fostering a conducive environment for interdiscipli-nary research and innovation, would be a significant asset for the CPJ holder. The ISIR is a laboratory in informatics, holding significant pertinence across a wide range of application are-as, particularly with regard to the emerging applications of robotics and intelligent systems in the life sciences. Their researchs are characterised by a close interdisciplinary approach, drawing on cognitive science and neuroscience. A particular focus is placed on the establish-ment of synergies with engineering and information science, with the objective of advancing the cognitive and interactive capabilities of robots.

At the interface between human sciences and computer science, the CPJ APPCO seeks to combine computational modeling, behavioral experimentation, and conceptual analysis in analytic philosophy and the sciences (cognitive sciences, biology): specifically, the cognitive foundations and computational models. The goal is to model cognitive capacities (causal reasoning, spatial, numerical, and social cognition, as well as communicative and linguistic abilities) under ecologically realistic conditions, in order to test whether biological a priori knowledge is necessary for their emergence.The question of modular versus generic architectures is central here: which organizational structure best supports generalization, learning, and transfer? Socially interactive agents would serve as a relevant evaluation tool, given that human cognition is deeply tied to social interactions.

Teaching will be discussed according to the site which the successful candidate is assigned to. He/She will be involved in teaching on existing courses at each site.

The CNRS is developing a strong policy in favor of open science. Open science consists of making research results "as accessible as possible and closed as necessary". As such, the CNRS aims to make 100% of the texts of publications resulting from the work of its laboratories accessible , in particular through deposit in HAL. The data produced must also be made available and reusable, except for specific restrictions. In addition, the guiding principles of individual evaluation have been revised in accordance with the DORA declaration, to be more qualitative and to take into account all facets of the researcher's profession.

The dissemination of the results will be done through world-class scientific productions: publications, patents, software... In addition, the results will be communicated to various targets such as scientific communities, media, decision makers, general public, schools, etc., with an adapted calendar. Specific tools may be developed such as websites, newsletters, meetings, international symposia, summer schools and conferences.

The relationship between science and society is now recognized as a full dimension of scientific activity. The project will develop this dimension in synergy with all the partners. The resulting research work will contribute to informing public decision-making. Participatory science initiatives may be initiated with actors from the project's socio-economic and cultural eco-system.

holders of a doctorate or a PhD or equivalent degree or applicants who have gained scientific. There is no restriction on the age or nationality of applicants. All CNRS positions are accessible to people with disabilities, with special arrangements for tests made necessary by the nature of the disability.