Associate Professor in Artificial Intelligence with focus on Data Management - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Computing Science (http://www.cs.umu.se) is looking for an Associate Professor in Artificial Intelligence with focus on Data management. The department has more than 130 employees from more than 20 countries, and is expanding rapidly. The announced position is associated with the research group in Artificial Intelligence for Data Management. The group, which is led by Prof. Diego Calvanese, is established as one of the leading groups worldwide for its foundational and applied research at the interplay between semantic technologies, knowledge representation and reasoning, and databases. The position, which is established through the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP, http://wasp-sweden.org/), comes with a substantial recruitment package (see below). Last date for application is January 4th 2021.

Work description

Data access and integration is an important problem that comes up in different variations in most medium and large sized enterprises, private organizations, and public administrations. It poses many challenges in terms of semantics, performance, usability, privacy, and explainability, and it can be addressed by combining methods and techniques developed in different areas, ranging from logic-based knowledge representation in Artificial Intelligence, to databases, and the Semantic Web.  

The Associate Professor in AI for Data Management will carry out basic and applied research to address the many open problems that remain in this context, e.g the following problem areas:

• Seamless integration of different types of data sources (structured, JSON, XML, RDF, graph-based, textual),
• Dealing with specific kinds of data (temporal, geo-spatial, numeric),
• Allowing for more expressive forms of querying, exploiting data semantics, performing updates,
• Dealing with incompleteness and inconsistency.  

Work will also include teaching and supervision on all levels. It also includes research management (in particular planning and managing research projects, new applications for research grants, and presenting research results) and communication with stakeholders and the public in general. It may also include administrative assignments, including academic leadership on departmental and other levels within Umeå University.

The position includes full funding for the new associate professor to recruit two PhD candidates (four years each). The PhD candidates will take part in the highly attractive national WASP Graduate School that includes around 250 PhD candidates.

Qualifications

According to Chapter 4, Section 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance.

An applicant qualifies for appointment as an Associate Professor if she/he has demonstrated educational expertise and holds a doctorate or has attained equivalent academic competence or other professional skills relevant with regards to the subject area of the appointment, and the work description.

The subject area for the doctoral thesis shall be Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or any related subject with relevance for employment.

Excellent level of proficiency in both spoken and written English is a requirement.  

Assessment criteria and their weight

In the selection of candidates, emphasis will primarily be put on the degree of scientific expertise. Next, pedagogical skills will be taken into account. Equal attention shall be put on the assessment of pedagogical skills as scientific skills. In addition, regard will be given to management skills, communication and collaboration skills and other skills relevant to the area of the position and the tasks that will be part of the employment.

Scientific excellence

Scientific excellence is demonstrated by independent scientific production. Evaluation criteria are:

• breadth and depth of research – quality and scope
• originality of research
• productivity
• contributions to the international scientific community
• commissions of trust within the scientific society
• the ability to competitively obtain research funding
• collaboration with the surrounding society

The quality, originality, and timeliness of the research contributions will be assessed. Significant emphasis will be put on scientific work published in internationally recognized scientific journals and proceedings of scientific conferences that apply a peer-review system. The scientific expertise will also be judged from the research plan that should be part of the application. Documented ability to develop and manage research projects is a merit. International research experience is a merit.

Scientific expertise must relate to the subject area of Artificial Intelligence. Documented experience in research on methods, techniques, and tools stemming from knowledge representation in Artificial Intelligence for the management of data is a pre-requisite.  Experience in methods and technologies from the area of Semantic Web, and specifically in the use of knowledge graphs for accessing and integrating large, complex, and heterogenous data sources, especially by relying on the paradigm of virtual access/integration, is particularly relevant.  Experience in the development or in managing the development of software relying on Semantic Web technologies, and following the principles of open source development is also relevant.

Pedagogical skills

The pedagogical skills when employing an associate professor is demonstrated by documented experience of teaching on a scientific basis within the university sector.

Pedagogical skills are evaluated by:

• documented skills and experience to plan, conduct and evaluate teaching, and ability to supervise and examine at both graduate and undergraduate levels
• the ability to vary teaching methods and forms for examination in relation to expected study results and the character of the subject
• ability to collaborate with the surrounding community regarding planning and implementation of education
• development of learning environments and teaching material.
• ability to demonstrate a reflective attitude about your teaching and the learning of students
• ability to establish good communication with and motivate students, and to spread enthusiasm and interest for the subject

Pedagogical skills can be obtained by pedagogical education at university level, other education with relevance for university teaching, and / or documented experience of university teaching.

Teaching experience must include the area of artificial intelligence. Proven experience of teaching at both undergraduate and graduate/research level is a merit, as well as documented experience in supervision of theses. Experience in pedagogical development work and development of new academic courses in the areas of artificial intelligence and/or data management is a merit.

Other skills

Management skills and other skills of importance should refer to

• ability to lead and develop activities and staff at the university,
• ability to establish cooperation between education and research on all levels,
• ability to establish collaboration with public and private partners, the surrounding community, and researchers from other sujects.

Application

The application should preferably be written in English, and include the following items:

• A personal cover letter, including contact information
• Application form (link)
• Verified copies of relevant degree certificates
• Copies of specifically referred scientific publications
• Copies of specifically referred educational artefacts / works
• Research plan (maximum 3 pages)

See instructions for what to include in the application, as well as how to describe scientific and educational activities (pdf).

The Department of Computing Science is actively striving for gender balance, and thus encourages applications from women.

The application is to be submitted using the e-recruitment system of Umeå University, January 4th 2021 at the latest. Starting date June 1st 2021, or as otherwise agreed.

Information

Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) is Sweden’s largest individual research program ever, a major national initiative for strategically motivated basic research, education and faculty recruitment. The program addresses research on artificial intelligence and autonomous systems acting in collaboration with humans, adapting to their environment through sensors, information and knowledge, and forming intelligent systems-of-systems. Software is the main enabler in these systems, and is an integrated research theme of the program. The vision of WASP is excellent research and competence in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software for the benefit of Swedish industry.

Read more at: https://wasp-sweden.org/.

Further information about the position can be obtained from professor Diego Calvanese, diego.calvanese@umu.se

Umeå University is dedicated to providing creative environments for learning and work. We offer a wide variety of courses and programmes, world leading research, and excellent innovation and collaboration opportunities. More than 4 300 employees and 33 000 students have already chosen Umeå University. We welcome your application!