Humboldt Scholarship: Paderborn welcomes AI experts from the USA!

Humboldt Scholarship: Paderborn welcomes AI experts from the USA!

Today, March 21, 2025, it was announced that Prof. Dr. Jacob Martin Rump from Creighton University in Omaha, USA, receives a Humboldt research fellowship. This scholarship enables him to initially conduct research for three months and a further three months next year at the University of Paderborn. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation supports above-average qualified scientists in their research projects in Germany.

At the beginning of March, Prof. Rump is at the Institute of Human Sciences, Department of Philosophy, under the direction of Prof. Dr. Sebastian Luft worked. Rump's research covers diverse topics such as the history of philosophy, epistemology and linguistic theory, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence. His decision to choose the University of Paderborn is based on a long-standing academic friendship with Prof. Luft as well as on the interdisciplinary approach that combines humanities and computer science.

Interdisciplinary research and concern for academic freedom

In his comments, Prof. Rump highlights his concerns about support for free academic research in the US. These concerns seem to be driving him into Germany's research community, where he values ​​the opportunity to work in a productive academic environment. Prof. Dr. Sebastian Luft, who heads the Chair of Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Paderborn, underlines his long-standing acquaintance with Rump and emphasizes his expertise in the field of artificial intelligence, which is also of interest to other members of his field.

The philosophy department, to which Rump belongs, has almost 1,000 students, two thirds of whom are enrolled as teachers. The management of the subject didactics is the responsibility of Prof. Dr. Vanessa Albus, while Prof. Dr. Suzana Alpsancar works as a professor of applied ethics with a focus on technology ethics in the digital world. In addition, Prof. Dr. Ruth Edith Hagengruber the research project “Center for the History of Women Philosophers and Scientists”.

The relevance of artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in modern research and significantly influences the way we live, work and think. Developments in this area can not only provide solutions to climate change and disease research, but also pose risks such as promoting inequality and spreading disinformation. The Humboldt Foundation promotes innovative research in AI to support scientific advances in this discipline and ensure fairer and more sustainable use of these transformative technologies.

With the introduction of the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship for Artificial Intelligence, the foundation aims to promote cutting-edge international AI research at the interface of technology, environment and society. The foundation works to bring together expertise both within and outside its network to develop guidelines for safe use of AI.

Prof. Rump's stay at the University of Paderborn could therefore not only contribute to enriching his own research, but also to strengthening the connections between the humanities and computer science in the current discussion about artificial intelligence.