Postdoctoral researcher position (2 years), Artificial Intelligence - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

The Department of Computing Science at Umeå University (www.cs.umu.se) is seeking a candidate for a post-doctoral researcher position in Artificial Intelligence with focus on formal methods and proof theories. The project is part of the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP), Sweden’s largest ever individual research program, and a major national initiative for strategic basic research, education and faculty recruitment. The program is initiated and generously funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW) with 2.6 billion SEK. In addition to this, the program receives support from collaborating industry and from participating universities to form a total budget of 3.5 billion SEK. Major goals are more than 50 new professors and more than 300 new PhDs within AI, Autonomous Systems and Software. The vision of WASP is excellent research and competence in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software for the benefit of Swedish industry. For more information about the research and other activities conducted within WASP please visit http://wasp-sweden.org/.

The position is within the newly started Social and Ethical Artificial Intelligence group at Umeå University. The Social and Ethical Artificial Intelligence group conducts research into AI systems that meet their social responsibility, including the development of theories, models and tools for oversight, accountability and verification, and methods to analyse, design, measure and audit social implications. The group collaborates with several national and international research groups, and has active links with industry and policy organisations. For more information, please visit http://people.cs.umu.se/virginia/. The research spans from basic research to applied research, and the group collaborates with internationally renowed groups in academia and industry.

Project description

This project focuses on identifying desirable properties that can “guarantee” some ethical limits of machine learning algorithms, in particular those based in neural nets. More precisely, the postdoc is expected to develop models and theories that, given a set of features (representing ethical values) can determine how to mathematically represent those features and then determine which properties a machine learning algorithm would need to have to meet those features. This assuming that the algorithm is non-deterministic and evolving. The project aims at

• Providing better understanding on why existing logics have the properties that they have
• Give guidelines on how to design new systems to ensure that they will have good properties.

The appointment is for 2 years full-time employment. The employment will start January 1, 2019, or as otherwise agreed.

Qualifications

Applicants must have earned a PhD or a foreign degree that is deemed equivalent to a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science or a subject relevant for the position. The PhD degree should not be more than three years old by the application deadline, unless special circumstances exist.

Ideal candidates are research driven, organized, and would like to work on challenging problems and innovative solutions. Strong research merits and excellent publications in the area of the position are required. Experience from systems modelling and theorem proving, algebra and formal logic are considered merits. Proficiency in English, both spoken and written, is required.

Application

A complete application should include:

• Introductory letter including a 2-page statement of research interests relative to the above topics and a motivation of why your expertise is appropriate for the position.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) including a complete list of scientific publications.
• Copies of degree certificates, including documentation of completed academic courses and obtained grades
• A copy of your PhD thesis and copies of (max 5) original research publications relevant to the above topics, numbered according to the publication list.
• Names and contact information for three persons willing to act as references.
• Any other information relevant for the position such as description of software development experience, or previous industry experience.

Please observe that all material needs to be in Swedish or English. If material is submitted in other languages a translation to Swedish or English must be included. As we strive for a more balanced gender distribution within the department, we encourage women as applicants.

Welcome with your application

Applications must be submitted electronically using the e-recruitment system of Umeå University, AN 2.2.1-1728-18 and be received no later than 15 November 2018.

Further information

For further information, please contact Professor Virginia Dignum (virginia@cs.umu.se).

More information about the hosting research group and Umeå University can be found at http://people.cs.umu.se/virginia/ and http://www.umu.se/