Full-time PhD researcher (m,f,x) on Artificial Intelligence and Formal Methods, for three years

BiteOrganization; Deutschland; Vor Ort; EUR 45.000 - 55.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading university in Germany seeks a full-time PhD researcher to contribute to research in Artificial Intelligence and Formal Methods. Ideal candidates hold a Master's degree in Computer Science or similar, with strong communication skills in English. Responsibilities include conducting research, collaborating with top institutions, and supporting teaching activities. The position offers opportunities in an international environment with a focus on innovative AI solutions and robust interdisciplinary approaches.

Leistungen

Challenging tasks with high responsibility

International team-oriented cooperation

Friendly and collegial environment

Dynamic working atmosphere

Employment at a major university

Qualifikationen

• Master's degree required.
• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Background in Formal Methods, AI, ML, Control Theory or Robotics is beneficial.
• Experience in software development with languages like Python, Java, or C/C++ is a plus.

Aufgaben

• Conduct research in Artificial Intelligence and Formal Methods.
• Shape research direction in collaboration with renowned universities.
• Support teaching in AI and formal verification areas.

Kenntnisse

Interpersonal skills

Communication in English

Formal Methods

Artificial Intelligence

Machine Learning

Control Theory

Robotics

Programming in Python

Programming in Java

Programming in C/C++

Ausbildung

Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related fields

Jobbeschreibung

Faculty of Computer Science:

Chair of Artificial Intelligence & Formal Methods

Full-time PhD researcher (m,f,x) on Artificial Intelligence and Formal Methods, for three years

The chair of Artificial Intelligence and Formal Methods at the Ruhr-University Bochum in Germany (headed by Prof. Dr. Nils Jansen) has a mission: Increasing the trustworthiness of Artificial Intelligence (AI). We conduct broad foundational and application-driven research on neurosymbolic AI. The following goals are central to our efforts: 1. Increase the dependability of AI in safety-critical environments. 2. Render AI models robust against uncertain knowledge about their environment. 3. Enhance the capabilities of formal verification to handle real-world problems using learning techniques. We are interested in various aspects of dependability and safety in AI, intelligent decision-making under uncertainty, and safe reinforcement Learning. A key aspect of our research is a thorough understanding of the (epistemic or aleatoric) uncertainty that may occur when AI systems operate in the real world. We publish regularly in the top venues and journals of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI, IJCAI, ICLR, NeurIPS, JAIR), Formal Methods (CAV, TACAS), and Control Theory (Transactions on Automatic Control). You can find our latest results at https://ai-fm.org/publications/.

The research of this position aims broadly at the intersection of formal verification and machine learning. In particular, the aim is to address major challenges in ensuring the safety of reinforcement learning methods: Complex environments with large degrees of freedom and high-dimensional feature spaces, realistic, continuous spaces, and the inherent uncertainty that reinforcement learning agents face in the real world. The project proposes interdisciplinary approaches from the intersection of Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Formal Methods, Robotics, and Control Theory. Many variations or further topics within the group's broad research scheme are possible.

Scope: full-time
Duration: fixed-term, 3 years
Start: starting on the earliest date possible
Apply by: 2026-01-05

Your tasks:

• The main task of this position is to conduct research in the broad research area of the chair of Artificial Intelligence and Formal Methods.
• There will be freedom to shape the chair in an excellent research environment in close collaboration with Radboud University, Nijmegen, RWTH Aachen University, The University of Oxford, and The University of Texas at Austin.
• Support of the chair's teaching program in the form of conducting exercises and the organization of seminars and practical courses (esp. in the areas of artificial intelligence, formal verification, and programming languages).

Your profile:

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related fields.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in English.
• Background in one or more of the following areas is beneficial, but not necessary: Formal Methods, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Control Theory, and Robotics.
• Experience in software development including experience with programming languages, such as Python, Java, or C/C++ is a plus.

We offer:

• Challenging and varied tasks with a high level of personal responsibility.
• Team-oriented cooperation in a committed, international and appreciative team.
• A friendly and collegial environment.
• A dynamic environment.
• Employment at one of the largest universities in Germany within the University Alliance Ruhr.

Further information:

The position is salaried and based on the collective agreement of the Länder (TV-L). If the personal and collective agreement requirements are met, the employee will receive pay grade E13 TV-L. Further information can be found at https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/ (in German). The place of work is Ruhr University Bochum. The load of teaching will be calculated according to § 3 of Lehrverpflichtungsverordnung (state of North Rhine-Westphalia).

Please send your complete application documents (recent CV, a cover letter describing your motivation and suitability for the position, and a transcript of your academic records) in the form of A SINGLE PDF document (max. 10 MB). RUB sees itself as a university with an international presence. The campus languages are German and English. Competence in at least one of the two languages and the willingness to learn the other are a prerequisite. RUB provides corresponding free courses for employees. German language courses are offered by the University Language Center (ZFA) in the field of German as a Foreign Language (DaF). https://www.daf.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/sbgk/index.html.en The Staff Council has the right to participate in all selection interviews. At the request of a candidate (m/f/x), it will ensure its participation in the entire procedure. Please contact [e-mail].

The Ruhr-Universität Bochum stands for diversity and equal opportunities.

For this reason, we favour a working environment composed of heterogeneous teams, and seek to promote the careers of individuals who are underrepresented in our respective professional areas. The Ruhr-Universität Bochum expressly requests job applications from women. In areas in which they are underrepresented they will be given preference in the case of equivalent qualifications with male candidates. Applications from individuals with disabilities are most welcome.

Contact persons for further information:

• Prof. Dr. Nils Jansen, [e-mail]
• Verena Schramm, [e-mail]

Travel costs, accommodation costs and loss of earnings or other application costs for job interviews can unfortunately not be reimbursed.

We look forward to receiving your application via our online application portal by 2026-01-05. Please make sure to mention the reference number ANR 5177.

Online application

RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM
44801 Bochum
Universitätsstraße 150