Phd Position: Software Architecture for - Amsterdam Zuid, Nederland - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Geverifieerd bedrijf

Amsterdam Zuid, Nederland

3 weken geleden

Geplaatst door:

Daan Van den Berg

werver van beBee

Beschrijving

Your function:

With the current hype around generative AI and large language models (LLMs), one approach to partly mitigate the lack of common-sense reasoning of systems relying solely on machine learning (ML) is
neuro-symbolic AI, i.e., synergistically combining the neural AI tradition via deep learning and artificial neural networks and the symbolic AI tradition via knowledge representation and reasoning.

The vision of this combination is to gain the advantages of both worlds.

The Learning and Reasoning group and the Software and Sustainability group are looking for a joint PhD student in the field of
software architecture for neuro-symbolic AI.

The project will investigate how this unique combination of deep learning and symbolic reasoning AI methods influences important requirements like maintainability, evolvability, explainability, reliability, performance efficiency, or environmental sustainability.

Taking a system perspective that is shaped by quality attribute trade-offs, the PhD student will develop and evaluate software architecture design techniques to support practitioners building such systems.

To bridge the gap between these two fields, the PhD student will be supported by one supervisor with extensive AI expertise (Dr. Filip Ilievski) and one supervisor with extensive SE expertise (Dr. Justus Bogner).

Your duties
- shape and refine the indicated research topic according to your interests
- conduct research on the indicated topic using a variety of research methods
- publish the results as scientific papers in prestigious SE and / or AI venues
- attend suitable conferences to present the research
- support BSc / MSc teaching and supervision activities in the department

Your profile:

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset.

Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

- a strong MSc degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or a related field
- at least foundational knowledge in both SE and AI, but more advanced knowledge in one of the two areas is expected
- solid programming abilities, e.g., in Python
- excellent communication skills in English (verbal and written)
- motivated team player that shows initiative to drive their own research
- experience with foundational language models is a bonus
- experience with neuro-symbolic AI is a bonus
- experience with empirical research methods is a bonus
- prior publications are a bonus
- industry experience (especially with ML-enabled systems) is a bonus

What do we offer?:

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable.

So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

- a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 18 months. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended to a total duration of 4 years.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations

Some examples:
- a full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.

8% holiday allowance and 8.3% endofyear bonus

- solid pension scheme (ABP)
- contribution to commuting expenses
- optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

About us:

About the department
The VU Department of Computer Science has approximately 200 staff members, including approximately 110 PhD students.

Lecturers form a critical and essential basis for the functioning of the department, providing foundational education that helps determine the future of our students.

Our research and our students are diverse, covering disciplines such as Social sciences, Humanities, Economics, and Bioinformatics.

Currently, we offer programs in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Information Sciences (BSc and MSc), and Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (MSc), with a total of around 1,000 new students each year.

Faculty of Science

Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam's Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future.

From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon:
we cover the full spe