3 PhD fellowships at the Pioneer Centre for Artificial Intelligence

The Pioneer Centre for Artificial Intelligence at the Department of Computer Science (DIKU) invites applications for PhD fellowships in 3 of its Collaboratories, Extended Reality (XR), Fine-grained Analysis (FG), and Speech & Language (SL).

The Pioneer Centre for AI is a multi-university cooperation focusing on fundamental research, and within an interdisciplinary framework, contributing to solving society’s greatest challenges. Hosted by the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Computer Science, cooperating institutions, Denmark’s Technical University, IT University of Copenhagen, Aalborg University, and Aarhus University co-lead the efforts.

Start date is flexible in the early autumn of 2023.

The projects

XR: Human–Computer Interaction with Virtual Reality
The PhD fellow will work on human–computer interaction with virtual reality. The position is part of a project that investigates movement learning in VR. The project aims to theorise how sensory feedback (e.g., visual or haptic) influences moving in VR (e.g., redirection), and to optimise motor learning through designing how user interfaces for VR provide feedback. Therefore, knowledge and interest in human–computer interaction research is essential, but as a PhD student you have much freedom to detail your focus: to a large extent, you shape the research you work on and the ideas you pursue. We seek a candidate who is passionate about human-computer interaction research and experienced in one or more of the following: empirical studies of human–computer interaction, motor learning, or perception; or designing or developing software or hardware prototypes of interaction techniques or user interfaces. You should demonstrate a keen interest in virtual reality, movement sciences, cognitive sciences, multimodal interacation, or other topics related to the project.
Supervisor: Joanna Bergström, joanna@di.ku.dk

FG: White matter lesion and acute stroke detection in the wild
We are looking for a candidate with keen interest in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Pattern Recognition, and/or Medical Image Analysis. This project aims to identify and characterize the brain’s white matter abnormality and acute stroke in MRI scans by developing robust deep/machine learning methods with fine-grained conclusions drawn from standard clinical data harvested in the wild to help with the disease diagnosis. The robustness will be proven to variations in scanner vendor, field strength, software, quality, and protocol, on a very heterogeneous data with natural variation of comorbidities and demographics.  
Supervisor: Mads Nielsen, madsn@di.ku.dk, Co-supervisor: Mostafa Mehdipour Ghazi, ghazi@di.ku.dk

SL: Externalist XAI
Externalism is the mainstream position in natural language semantics, but large language models and related technologies are commonly analyzed using internalist techniques.This PhD will aim to extend current XAI taxonomies to include externalist approaches, discuss how they relate to functionalist accounts, and - through a combination of theoretical and empirical analysis - investigate the pros and cons of externalist accounts. Research questions include: Are functional approaches to XAI generalizations of externalist approaches, and what criteria would be further satisfied by externalist accounts? Is there a continuum from functional approaches to internalist approaches? Can externalist accounts provide knowledge or understanding that internalism cannot account for? Finally, does the analysis of AI systems shed new light on human communication, e.g., by deanthropomorphizing current accounts?

Supervisor: Anders Søgaard, soegaard@di.ku.dk, Co-supervisors: Herman Cappelen (University of Hong Kong), and Thor Grünbaum

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates with a curious mind-set and a strong interest in fundamental research questions described in the projects. Backgrounds can vary, depending on the project, for example, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Computational Physics, Applied Mathematics, Cognitive Science, Psychology, Movement Sciences, Computer Games, Computer and Electrical Engineering, or any relevant backgrounds with training or experience in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, Human-Computer Interaction.

The Department of Computer Science and the Pioneer Centre for AI - what do we offer?
Employment as a PhD Fellow will be at the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. Each project will be anchored in a research section at DIKU, as well as at the Pioneer Centre for AI.

There will be a cohort of 15+ PhD students starting during the fall of 2023 across the centre’s 5 partner universities. PhD students at the Pioneer Centre for AI have extraordinary access to computing resources, to international researchers across many disciplines within computer sciences and other academic areas, as well as courses and events at the centre, and meaningful collaboration with industry, the public sector, and the start-up ecosystem. Centre website: AICentre.dk.

Copenhagen is known among the world’s most livable cities. Whether it’s the bicycle infrastructure, public transporation, green spaces, café and restaurant culture, start-up scene, or cultural and sporting opportunities, the city offers something for everyone.

PhD Fellows, and their accompanying family members, have access to health care and other social benefits. You can read more about employment and the Danish social benefits on the University of Copenhagen’s International Staff Mobility pages.

The PhD programme

The programme is  three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Qualifications needed
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed an MSc degree (or obtaining a MSc soon) programme that is equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Computational Physics, Applied Mathematics, Cognitive Science, Psychology, Movement Sciences, Computer Games, Computer and Electrical Engineering, or any relevant degrees with training in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, Human-Computer Interaction.

For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database. Note that not all programmes are listed in these databases, so don’t hesitate to ask, if you have questions about your eligibility.

Terms of employment
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities during the PhD programme:

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Educational and/or professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant publications, if any
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Strong motivation for doctoral studies; possessing the ability to work independently, and be creative in problem-solving
• Good English language skills, both oral and written

Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments (PDF) must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include: 

1. Motivated letter of application, incl. which project you are applying for (max. two pages)
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If the degree is not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is acceptable.
4. Publication list (if relevant)

Application deadline
The deadline for applications is 1 April 2023 at 23:59 GMT +2.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in late April.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD project, please contact the principal supervisor.

Questions about the Pioneer Centre for AI, please contact Michelle Cumming Løkkegaard, mcl@di.ku.dk.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.