Doctoral scholarship holder Artificial Intelligence - continual reinforcement learning

Emerging Scholars Council; Antwerpen; Sur place; EUR 20 000 - 25 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Eco vouchers

Internet connectivity allowance

Bicycle allowance

Educational courses

Résumé du poste

The University of Antwerp invites applications for a full-time doctoral scholarship holder in Artificial Intelligence, focused on continual reinforcement learning. You will prepare and defend a PhD thesis, publish articles, and support teaching and research tasks within the Department of Electronics and Information and Communication Technology.

The position starts around 1 January 2027, with yearly renewal after positive evaluation, and the scholar will work mainly at City Campus (The Beacon)

Qualifications

• Master's degree by start date.
• Excellent study results.
• Teaching competences aligned with university vision.
• Research qualities aligned with policy.
• Attention to quality, integrity, creativity, cooperation.
• Strong interest in machine learning/AI.
• Experience with deep learning.
• Experience with reinforcement learning (preferred).
• Experience with Python and deep learning toolkits (e.g., PyTorch).
• Good analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficient in English (written and spoken).

Responsabilités

• Prepare and defend a PhD thesis in continual reinforcement learning.
• Publish scientific articles related to the research project.
• Carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for the department.

Connaissances

Machine learning

Deep learning

Reinforcement learning

Python

Analytical thinking

Formation

Master's degree in Computer Science or related field

Outils

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Description du poste

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

Position

The Department of Electronics and Information and Communication Technology in the Faculty of Applied Engineering is looking for a full-time (100%) doctoral scholarship holder in the field of Artificial Intelligence.

• You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis in the field of continual reinforcement learning. Continual reinforcement learning studies how agents can learn across a sequence of changing tasks, environments, or objectives while retaining previously acquired skills. It extends conventional reinforcement learning by addressing catastrophic forgetting, knowledge transfer, and adaptation under non-stationarity. Potential application domains include autonomous systems, robotics, flexible asset (e.g., storage, electric vehicles) management in smart grids, etc.
• You will publish scientific articles related to the research project.
• You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for Department of Electronics and Information and Communication Technology.

Profile

• You hold a master’s degree in Computer Science, Informatics, Mathematics or closely related field, or you will have obtained it by the time you start work.
• You can demonstrate excellent study results.
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• You have a strong interest in machine learning/artificial intelligence.
• You have experience with deep learning.
• You have experience with reinforcement learning (preferred).
• You have experience with coding in Python using deep learning toolkits (e.g., PyTorch).
• You have good analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• You are proficient in English (written and spoken).

What We Offer

• We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of one year. Following a positive evaluation each year, the scholarship can be renewed for another three years.
• The planned start date is 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders.
• You will receive eco vouchers, Internet-connectivity allowance, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• As a doctoral researcher, you will have access to a wide and varied range of courses and an educational credit through the Antwerp Doctoral School.
• You will do most of your work at City Campus (The Beacon) and Campus Groenenborger in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.