Umeå University, Department of computing science

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.

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Postdoctoral position (2 years) in Computing Science with focus on Explainable AI and Machine Learning


The Department of Computing Science at Umeå University (http://www.cs.umu.se) is seeking a post-doctoral researcher with focus on Explainable AI and Machine Learning. Autonomous Systems are an important target area. Explaining AI signifies developing new methods for explaining and justifying decisions, recommendations and actions of Artificial Intelligence systems to different users and stakeholders. Explanations should be adapted to the context and to the targeted user. Autonomous Systems signifies autonomously driving vehicles, smart houses, smart machines etc, which interact with the surrounding world and therefore also need to handle different situations (contexts) successfully. It is also often useful or necessary to explain un-successful decisions or failures, especially if there is a risk for injuries to humans.

The last date for application is September 16, 2019.


The recruited postdoc will be part of the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP), http://wasp-sweden.org/. The WASP program is Sweden's largest individual research program ever, and provides a platform for academic research and education and fostering interaction with Sweden's leading technology companies. The program addresses research on autonomous systems acting in collaboration with humans, adapting to their environment through sensors, information and knowledge, and forming intelligent systems-of-systems. WASP's key values are research excellence and industrial relevance.


Project description and working tasks

The recruited post-doctoral researcher will be a member of the Explainable AI team. The team’s high-level vision is to develop ground-breaking Data Science methods for Autonomous Systems that learn from data and experience and that can justify and explain their behavior. This kind of systems are sometimes described using the term Self-* capable Intelligent Products and Environments, where Self-* signifies self-configuring, self-organizing, self-tuning, self-healing, self-managing systems, and self-explaining systems. Future work is expected to have a significant role in the development of such Self-* systems through IoT-enabled remote monitoring and updating over standardized interfaces, together with novel machine learning methods and algorithms are the main technical enablers of such systems.

Your research will focus on one or several of the following key topics:

• Modeling and learning of user and decision-maker actions and preferences in different contexts using non-linear machine learning methods such as neural networks. A challenge with such models is how they can justify their actions and recommendations, and how robust they are in different situations. This is particularly relevant and challenging for autonomous systems whose “intelligence” is based on machine learning and is therefore not directly explainable and understandable by humans.
• Use machine learning and related technologies targeted towards self-learning and adaptive control. Emphasis would be on augmenting the product intelligence embedded in products so that they can auto-adapt themselves according to their operating conditions.
• Autonomous agents and multiagent systems. Intelligent products need to communicate with other products and adapt to them, as well as access and use external information systems that are relevant to them.

The research will be performed jointly with PhD students and senior researchers within our research group, as well as with our national and international partners. Coordination tasks within large-scale projects may also be included.

The appointment is for two years full-time employment. The employment will start November 1,2019, or as otherwise agreed. The position comes with a competitive salary and (non-mandatory) opportunities for teaching (up to 20 % of full-time).

Qualifications

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

Demonstrated experience of artificial intelligence and machine learning is required. Ideal candidates should be capable of independent research and like to work with challenging problems and innovative solutions. Proficiency in English, both spoken and written, is required. Publications in the area of the position are highly meriting. Demonstrated skills in cognitive sciences, psychology, or software development are also considered merits.

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 a 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.

Welcome with your application!

Applications must be submitted electronically using the e-recruitment system MyNetwork Pro, and be received no later than September 16, 2019. Reference number AN 2.2.1-1174-19.

Further information

For further information, please contact (primarily)
Professor Kary Främling, Kary.Framling@cs.umu.se, phone: +46-(0)72-144 08 60.

More information about our university can be found at
http://www.umu.se

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment November 1 2019, or as otherwise agreed
Salary Monthly
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Umeå
County Västerbottens län
Country Sweden
Reference number AN 2.2.1-1174-19
Contact
  • Kary Främling, 46-(0)72-144 08 60
Union representative
  • SACO, 090-786 53 65
  • SEKO, 090-786 52 96
  • ST, 090-786 54 31
Published 13.Aug.2019
Last application date 16.Sep.2019 11:59 PM CEST

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