Postdoc in Quality-Aware Machine Learning and AI Systems

Job description

The Department of Computing and Learning Systems (CLS) is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher for a two-year project on Quality-Aware Representation Learning (QARL), a framework for developing responsible and sustainable machine learning (ML) systems. The project investigates how ML models can learn data representations that support not only predictive performance but also quality objectives such as fairness, privacy, sustainability, and contextual fidelity.

The successful candidate will develop and evaluate novel representation learning methods, create benchmarks and evaluation protocols, and collaborate with interdisciplinary researchers and societal stakeholders. This is a research-focused position with no teaching obligations. The postdoctoral researcher will join an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment that values methodological diversity, critical reflection, and engagement with societal challenges. We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We are committed to fostering an inclusive research environment where all researchers are valued, respected, and supported.

Qualifications

Requirements

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree, in computer science, machine learning, AI, data science, statistics, or a related field. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time the employment decision is made.
• You have experience conducting independent research and publishing in peer-reviewed venues.
• You have programming and data analysis skills relevant to computational research.
• As a person, you are independent, collaborative, and able to communicate effectively in English, as it is required in the daily work.

Preferred qualifications

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree, obtained within the last three years prior to the application deadline.
• It is commendable if you have research experience in representation learning, trustworthy AI, large language models (LLMs), multi-objective optimization, or synthetic data.
• It is commendable if you have experience with interdisciplinary research, open-source software, shared datasets, or reproducible research practices.
• It is commendable if you have knowledge of ethical, legal, policy, human-centered, feminist, participatory, decolonial, or other critical perspectives on AI and data.
• Teaching abilities.
• Awareness of diversity and equal opportunity issues, with specific focus on gender equality.

We recognize that excellent candidates may not meet every listed qualification. If your experience is relevant to the goals of the project, we encourage you to apply and explain how your background can contribute to the research.

Great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

Join us at KTH

KTH shapes the future through education, research and innovation. As a leading international technical university, we play an active role in advancing the transition towards a sustainable society. At KTH, you have the opportunity to grow and develop in a creative and dynamic environment, with good working conditions and attractive benefits. Equality, diversity and equal opportunities are essential to quality and form an integral part of KTH’s core values as a university and public authority.

Learn more about our benefits and what it's like to work and grow at KTH.

Trade union representatives

Contact information to trade union representatives.

To apply for the position

Log into KTH's recruitment system to apply for this position. You are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete according to the instructions in the ad.

The application must include:

• CV including relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Copy of diplomas and grades from your previous university studies. Translations into English or Swedish if the original documents have not been issued in any of these languages.
• Cover letter (maximum two pages) describing why you want to conduct research in this area, your academic interests, and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals.
• Contact information for two to three academic references

Your complete application must be received at KTH no later than the last day of application, midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

About the employment

The position offered is for, at the most, two years.

A position as a postdoctoral fellow is a time-limited qualified appointment focusing mainly on research, intended as a first career step after a dissertation.

Other information

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

1. Amir Payberah, [email protected]