Our group studies how emerging technologies, specifically artificial intelligence (AI), shape human behavior – ranging from cooperation over trust to ethics. Our research combines (behavioral) experiments, large-scale surveys, and experience sampling to capture both controlled and real-world interactions.
By bringing together interdisciplinary expertise from social sciences, psychology, and computer science, we create a comprehensive understanding of human-machine dynamics.
Our goal is to provide evidence-based insights for policy and practice, ensuring that the integration of AI into society supports fairness, transparency, and human well-being.
Concrete research areas include
If you want to know more about the human understanding of algorithms and machines just reach out to our team members.
Prof. Dr. Nils Köbis
University of Duisburg-Essen
Tectrum Duisburg
Bismarckstraße 120
Room 3.1.OG.1130
47057 Duisburg
Germany
Tiffany Matej Hrkalovic
Vrije University of Amsterdam & Delft University of Technology
Dr. Bianca Nowak
University of Duisburg-Essen
Tectrum Duisburg
Bismarckstraße 120
Room 3.1. OG 1128
47057 Duisburg
Germany
Dr. Inês Terrucha
University of Duisburg-Essen
Tectrum Duisburg
Bismarckstraße 120
47057 Duisburg
Fabian Albers
University of Duisburg-Essen
Tectrum Duisburg
Room 3.1 OG 1128
Bismarckstraße 120
47057 Duisburg
Germany
Christian Nickel
University of Duisburg-Essen
Tectrum Duisburg
Bismarckstraße 120
47057 Duisburg
Germany
Alfio Ventura
University of Duisburg-Essen
Tectrum Duisburg
Bismarckstraße 120
Room 3.1.OG.1129
47057 Duisburg
Germany
Murtaza Fakhruddin
TU Dortmund
Tectrum,
Duisburg
Bismarckstrasse 120
47057 Duisburg
Germany
Sebastian Meinken
University of Duisburg-Essen
Tectrum, Room 31.OG.3324
Phone: +49 203 37 96032
Sophie Nakueira, Dr.
University of Cape Town / University of Duisburg Essen
Tectrum Duisburg
Bismarckstrasse 120
47057 Duisburg
We are part of theResearch Center Trustworthy Data Science and Security, a newly founded hub dedicated to ensuring the trustworthiness of intelligent systems in safety-critical applications through an interdisciplinary, human-centered research approach. It is one of four centers established in 2021 by the Research Alliance Ruhr, a joint initiative of Ruhr University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, and the University of Duisburg-Essen to address some of society’s most pressing challenges.
Our group is based in theTectrum in Duisburg, at the heart of the Ruhr Valley region - one of Europe’s largest yet greenest metropolitan areas and the region with the highest university density in Germany.
Post-Doc | PhD | Research Assistants |
We just finished hiring a Post-Doc on people’s perceptions of and interactions with AI-based systems in their daily lives together with Wilhelm Hofmann and Margarita Leib. More details will soon follow. | We are about to announce a new call for applications for a new PhD position. Stay tuned. | We have an open position for Research Assistant with a Bachelor's degree. Application deadline: 08.08.2025 For more information, see here. |
More updates can be found on LinkedIn