Postdoctoral Researcher in Mathematics, Coding Theory for Data Privacy under Federated Learning

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 13 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 500 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

The School of Science, Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis is looking for a

Postdoctoral Researcher in Mathematics: Coding Theory for Data Privacy under Federated Learning

The Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis https://math.aalto.fi/en/  is looking for a postdoctoral candidate in the area of mathematical coding theory and its applications to federated learning, especially with a view towards data privacy. The research will be supervised by Dr. Ragnar Freij-Hollanti and Prof. Camilla Hollanti, together with an international team, within the framework of a joint project with the Department of Electrical Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden (Prof. Alexandre Graell i Amat). The project is funded jointly by the Wallenberg Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) in Sweden and Aalto University in Finland. 

Project Abstract: Next-generation autonomous networks will be characterized by a massive number of Internet-of-Things devices—autonomous vehicles, wearables, drones, sensors—that produce and process data simultaneously. In such networks, data is inherently distributed and can be sensitive. The key principle of federated learning is to enable IoT devices and a central server (located at the cloud or the network edge) to collaboratively learn a shared global prediction model without sharing their local training data with the central server. In this project, we will use information-theoretic techniques to study fundamental trade-offs between computation accuracy, communication cost, and information leakage. We will also seek to use algebraic coding-theoretic techniques to devise close-to-optimal practical schemes.

The hired researcher will join a vibrant community of applied algebraists, coding theorists, and number theorists at Aalto, currently including three visiting professors, three postdocs and seven graduate students. We believe in diversity, mutual respect, exchange of ideas and carrying out research together as a team. We especially encourage members of underrepresented groups to apply.

The successful applicant should have a PhD degree in Mathematics or a related subject and should have expertise in coding theory and/or information theory, as well as a high-level understanding of machine learning. Skills related to statistics and programming are considered an asset. An excellent command of English is required.

The position will start as soon as possible, and ends on May 31st, 2025. The initial salary is €3887, and the contract includes occupational health care.

Please send your application as a single PDF file through the eRecruitment system via the link ‘Apply now’. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Full consideration will be guaranteed to applications received by January 31st 2024.

Your application should include the following documents:

• Cover letter (describe your motivation, mathematics and other relevant skills, scientific interests and career goals, and mention your earliest possible/preferred starting date).
• CV.
• University transcripts (with clear explanation on the grading scale).
• PhD certificate (or estimated graduation date if not yet finished).

Two reference letters should be sent directly to Minna Westerlund ([email protected] ) by the writer of the recommendation. We do not accept reference letters attached by the applicant.

Please note: Aalto University’s employees and visitors should apply for the position via our internal system Workday -> find jobs (not the external aalto.fi webpage on open positions) by using their existing Workday user account.

Aalto University is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to attracting, retaining, and developing our people regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, disability, and age. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified people from all sectors of the community.

For additional information, contact Ragnar Freij-Hollanti ([email protected] ) for scientific questions, or HR Partner Johanna Glader ([email protected] ) for administrative questions.

About Finland

Finland has a high standard of living, a world leading education system, and a vibrant commercial and cultural life. It has excellent transport links to the major cities of Europe and beyond. The Nordic values of equality and co-operation are rooted deeply into our society. We are one of the world’s top countries in press freedom and consider the many voices in our society a strength. Gender equality, flexibility and low hierarchy are at the core of our Nordic working environment. Professional ambitions can be combined with a fulfilling person-al life. As a living and working environment, Finland is consistently ranked highly in quality-of-life and competitiveness studies. It is the best country in the world to live according to a Newsweek 2010 study. More information is available at: http://www.aalto.fi/en/about/careers/international_staff/ .

More about Aalto University:

Aalto.fi
youtube.com/user/aaltouniversity
linkedin.com/school/aalto-university/
www.facebook.com/aaltouniversity
instagram.com/aaltouniversity
twitter.com/aaltouniversity