Prof. Dr. Michael Klenk
Department Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Practical Philosophy
About
Michael Klenk is Professor of Practical Philosophy at the University of Technology Nuremberg. His research addresses fundamental and applied questions in ethics, with a focus on manipulation, autonomy, and artificial intelligence. He has secured major international funding, including an ERC Starting Grant, and leads interdisciplinary projects that connect philosophy with engineering, policy, and design to promote ethically responsible technological development.
Current research topics
- The ethics of influence and its relevance for AI applications
- Normative considerations about socio-technical dependency and deliberation
- Applied AI ethics
- Value change, moral change, moral progress, and technology
Curriculum Vitae
| Since 2026 | Professor at the University of Technology Nuremberg |
| 2020 – 2026 | Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Delft University of Technology and Management Team Member of the Delft Design for Values Institute and Delft Digital Ethics Centre |
| 2024 – 2025 | Carl Friedrich von Siemens Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at LMU Munich |
| 2024 | Research Visit Umea University |
| 2021 | Research Visit Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele |
| 2019 – 2020 | Niels Stensen Postdoctoral Fellowship, Stanford University & University of St Gallen |
| 2018 – 2019 | Postdoctoral Researcher in ERC Advanced Grant Project, Delft University of Technology |
| 2014 – 2018 | Promotion in Philosophy, Utrecht University, with research visits at Oxford, Harvard, and Columbia |
| 2018 | B.Sc. in Psychology, FernUniversität Hagen (Distance-learning degree) |
| 2012 – 2014 | Management Consultant at Atos Consulting, Munich |
|
2012
|
M.A. in Philosophy, University College London |
| 2011 | B.A. in Business Administration, Duale Hochschule Baden Württemberg |
Awards, Fellowships, and Major Research Grants
| 2026 | Best Paper Award |
| 2024 | ERC Starting Grant |
| 2024 | Carl Friedrich von Siemens Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation |
| 2023 | GSO Leadership Academy Fellow |
| 2023 | Fellow in ‘Das Junge ZiF‘, Zentrum für Interdisziplinäre Forschung, University of Bielefeld |
| 2022 | Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences Early Career Partnership |
| 2019 | Essay Prize of the Institute of Philosophy, Hannover, together with Martin Sand |
Scientific Leadership and Outreach (Selection)
Algorithmic Advisory Board, Municipality of Rotterdam (2022-2026)
Member of the inaugural Algorithmic Advisory Board established by the Rotterdam City Council to guide responsible AI use in public services. Provided ethical evaluation of systems such as government chatbots, camera-based facial recognition, and generative AI tools, helping address risks around privacy, bias, transparency, and trustworthy digital governance.
Trustworthy Public Communication (European Commission, Joint Research Centre, 2021–2022)
Contributing author in a project commissioned by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre to develop guidelines for trustworthy public communication. Coordinated research activities, drafted policy-relevant reports, and collaborated closely with Commission staff on communication and governance frameworks.
Design for Human Autonomy, Delft Desing for Values Institute, 2024-2025
Scientific lead of the institute-wide annual theme on designing technologies that protect and enhance human autonomy. Coordinated interdisciplinary workshops, courses, and public events, contributed to the development of a cross-disciplinary white paper, and fostered dialogue on responsible AI, human control, and the risks of technological manipulation
Van Hasselt Lecture Chair, Delft University of Technology (2023–2025)
Chair of the annual Van Hasselt Lecture in Practical Philosophy, a public lecture series highlighting the societal relevance of philosophy in a technological age. Responsible for selecting internationally recognized speakers, organizing public events, and fostering dialogue between academia, students, and the broader public on pressing ethical challenges in technology and society.
Associate Editor, Ethics and Information Technology (2024-)
Publications
List of publications of Prof. Dr. Michael Klenk on Google Scholar