Jef de Slegte joins the Paris Institute for Advanced Study as part of the PostGenAI@Paris Fellowship program

The Paris Institute for Advanced Study (IEA de Paris) is pleased to announce the arrival of Jef de Slegte in the fall of 2025 as a visiting fellow within the framework of the PostGenAI@Paris program. This program aims to support cutting-edge interdisciplinary research on artificial intelligence, its impact on our societies, and the perspectives it opens for the future.

A career bridging industry and academia

Currently a data scientist and researcher at the Data Analytics Laboratory of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jef de Slegte previously spent ten years in the private sector, working in telecommunications and high technology. This dual experience enables him to bring both technical expertise and a socially informed perspective to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.

His academic work sits at the intersection of machine learning and political science. Methodologically, he investigates how causal inference can be integrated into machine learning models to increase their reliability, interpretability, and fairness. This approach offers new possibilities for empirical research in the social and political sciences, especially in the field of electoral studies.

A project focused on equity and inclusiveness in AI

During his fellowship at IEA de Paris, Jef de Slegte will develop a project entitled:
“Quantifying Intersectional Disparities Using Causal Machine Learning.”

The project seeks to explore how causal machine learning methods can be used to:

detect and measure biases and discriminatory patterns present in data and algorithmic systems;
analyze the impact of multiple protected attributes (such as gender, age, or race) on observed disparities;
design approaches to recalibrate unfair predictions, thus fostering more equitable and inclusive outcomes.
Beyond its methodological contributions, the project is part of a broader reflection on trustworthy AI and its role in promoting fairness and inclusivity within democratic societies.

Welcoming Jef de Slegte to IEA de Paris

The Paris Institute for Advanced Study is delighted to welcome Jef de Slegte and to support his interdisciplinary research. His project will contribute to strengthening the dialogue between artificial intelligence, equity, and the social sciences - at the heart of the PostGenAI@Paris program.

Learn more about the IEA de Paris and the PostGenAI@Paris program: https://www.paris-iea.fr/fr/liste-des-residents/jef-de-slegte