PhD Position Improving Symbolic AI through Learning and Reasoning

DataJobs; Delft; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Salary according to Dutch Universities

Job summary

TU Delft is inviting applications for a doctoral position in the Algorithmics Group within the Department of Software Technology, EEMCS. You will research teaching machines to learn from tiny data, combining program synthesis with automated reasoning to enable AI that thinks like a scientist.

You will collaborate with PhD students and postdocs, possibly co-supervising, and develop open-source software while contributing to scientific discovery and robotics challenges at a world-class technical

Qualifications

• MSc degree in Computer Science and/or Artificial Intelligence (essential)
• Prior experience in automated reasoning (essential)
• Prior experience with symbolic machine learning approaches (essential)
• Prior experience in applying automated reasoning or machine learning in biology, chemistry, or other natural sciences (desirable)
• Good communication, organisation, and writing skills
• Good programming skills and a desire to produce usable open-source software

Responsibilities

• Build this new approach on the combination of program synthesis and automated reasoning
• Apply it to actual problems from scientific discovery and robotics
• Collaborate with PhD students and postdocs working on program synthesis and automated reasoning
• Co-supervise students, with opportunities to do so

Skills

Automated reasoning

Symbolic machine learning

Programming skills

Documentation/writing

Education

MSc in Computer Science or AI

Job description

Role

Join TU Delft in developing AI that thinks like a scientist.

You will join the Algorithmics Group in the Department of Software Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS). You will be supervised by the professor named in this vacancy.

What you do

While all the headlines are full of AI learning from massive datasets, in this position you will investigate how to teach machines to learn from tiny amounts of data. You will make AI think like a scientist, reasoning about which models are plausible and should be explored.

• Build this new approach on the combination of program synthesis and automated reasoning.
• Apply it to actual problems from scientific discovery and robotics.
• Collaborate with PhD students and postdocs working on program synthesis and automated reasoning.
• Co-supervise students, with opportunities to do so.

What you bring

The ideal candidate is an ambitious, proactive, reflective, and results-driven researcher. We are looking for the following:

• MSc degree in Computer Science and/or Artificial Intelligence (essential)
• Prior experience in automated reasoning (essential)
• Prior experience with symbolic machine learning approaches (essential)
• Prior experience in applying automated reasoning or machine learning in biology, chemistry, or other natural sciences (desirable)
• Good communication, organisation, and writing skills
• Good programming skills and a desire to produce usable open-source software

What you get

Conditions of employment: Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract includes an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. An additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years follows if everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Salary increases from €3204 - €4051 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year, based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The Graduate School provides a research environment with a team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme develops your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Relocation: TU Delft supports your move to the Netherlands. The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on its website to help you prepare your relocation. It also organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme supports your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

About the employer

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology): For over 180 years, we have trained engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. We focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility. Our education and research are aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide education and conduct research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. You will join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS): The faculty brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and drive the technology we use in daily life, such as the electricity grid, which the faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. The faculty is developing the chips and sensors of the future, and the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment, which includes AI. It also pushes the limits of applied mathematics, for example by mapping out disease processes using single cell data and simulating gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. There is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. The faculty educates innovative engineers and has excellent labs and facilities that underline its strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this environment.

Visit the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.