About the PhD and Postdoc Positions in Machine Learning at the University of Amsterdam

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is one of Europe’s most prominent research-led universities. It is a Top-100 university globally and one of Europe’s 15 best universities. With 35,000 students, 6,000 staff and 3,000 PhD candidates, the UvA is also one of the largest general research universities in Europe. A prominent research area at the UvA is Artificial Intelligence.

The Korteweg-de Vries Institute for Mathematics at the University of Amsterdam is seeking four (4) PhD candidates and one (1) postdoctoral researcher for the recently established Mercury Machine Learning Lab (MMLL). In this lab, researchers from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) will be working together with data scientists from Booking.com to develop the machine learning foundations for a new generation of recommendation systems. Motivated by real-world problems faced in industry, the research will investigate fundamental problems regarding generalization and bias removal in data analysis.

As part of the MMLL initiative, the University of Amsterdam is inviting applications for the following four fully funded PhD positions:

• Position 1: Bridging online and offline evaluation (supervisor: prof.dr. Maarten de Rijke)
• Position 2: Avoiding filter bubbles by correcting for selection bias (supervisor: prof.dr. Joris M. Mooij)
• Position 3: Domain generalization and domain adaptation (supervisor: prof.dr. Joris M. Mooij)
• Position 4: Training NLP Models for Better Generalisation (supervisors: dr. Ivan Titov & dr. Wilker Aziz)

In addition, the University invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to assist with the research and the supervision of the PhD students.

The MMLL initiative also involves three positions (2 PhD positions, 1 postdoc position) that will be supervised by researchers from the TU Delft. More details on the contents of the MMLL research projects are provided on the MMLL webpage.

What are you going to do?

As a PhD student, you will be expected to:

• develop, study and apply machine learning techniques within the context of one of the four research projects, under supervision of the promotor and a data scientist from Booking.com;
• complete and defend a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four years;
• publish research results in top-tier international journals and present at leading conferences;
• collaborate with other MMLL researchers;
• assist in relevant teaching activities.

As the post-doctoral researcher, you will be expected to:

• assist with the research and the supervision of the PhD students;
• publish research results in top-tier international journals and present at leading conferences;
• collaborate with other MMLL researchers;
• assist in relevant teaching activities.

Eligibility Requirements

For all PhD positions:

• a Master's degree in artificial intelligence, computer science, mathematics, statistics, or closely related area;
• a strong background in AI / machine learning / data science / modern statistics.

Experience with teaching is a plus.

• for PhD position 1: a background in search and recommendation is a big plus.
• for PhD positions 2 and 3: an interest in causality is a plus.
• for PhD position 4: experience with NLP is a plus.

For the Postdoc Position:

• a PhD degree (or equivalent qualification) on a machine learning topic;
• an exceptional scientific track record, documented by publications at first-tier journals and conferences;
• a strong research background in (topics related to) domain adaptation;

For all positions, ideally, you:

• have an appetite for understanding the ML problems relevant to Booking.com, and have the desire to perform in-depth analyses of rich datasets;
• have excellent mathematical skills (in particular in probability theory, statistics, calculus, and linear algebra);
• have excellent programming skills;
• have strong communication, presentation and writing skills;
• show commitment, perseverance and a cooperative attitude;
• enjoy working in a multidisciplinary research environment;
• are highly motivated and creative;
• have an excellent command of English.

How To Apply

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer, prioritizes diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. The University values the spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provides the space to keep asking questions, and promotes a culture of curiosity and creativity.

Applications (consisting of a single .pdf file) for PhD positions should include:

• a curriculum vitae;
• a motivation letter that motivates your choice for this position, and in particular, which of the four PhD positions has your preference;
• an electronic copy of your Master’s thesis (or, if this is not yet finished, your Bachelor's thesis);
• a complete record of Bachelor and Master courses (including grade transcripts and the explanation of the grading system used by your university);
• a list of publications, if applicable;
• the names and contact information of two academic references (please do not include any recommendation letters).

Applications (consisting of a single .pdf file) for the Postdoc position should include:

• a curriculum vitae;
• a list of publications;
• a statement of your research experience and interests;
• a motivation letter that motivates your choice for this position, including an expression of interest regarding which subset of the four PhD positions you would like to co-supervise;
• an electronic copy of your PhD thesis;
• a complete record of Bachelor and Master courses (including grade transcripts and the explanation of the grading system used by your university);
• (URL pointing to) your most original publication;
• the names and contact information of two academic references (please do not include any recommendation letters).

Please mention the months (not just years) in your CV when referring to your education and work experience.

Application window closes on 23 August 2021 and potential candidates will be invited for interviews in early September.

For more details, visit the official announcement page.