PhD Fellowship in machine learning for science

The Machine Learning for LIfe Science (MLLS) and the Cosmic DAWN Center invite applications for a PhD Fellow position starting in June 2024 or as soon as possible after that. The position is jointly funded by two grants: MetalAI (Villum Foundation) and MLLS (Novo Nordisk Foundation Data Science). The project is centered at the Pioneer Centre for AI and the Niels Bohr Institute, Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen.

About the MLLS Center

The Machine Learning for Life Science Center is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and runs until the end of 2026. The principal investigators come from the Department of Computer Science and Biology, University of Copenhagen and DTU Compute, Technical University of Denmark and all work on machine learning methodology inspired by applications in life and natural sciences. The Pioneer Centre for Artificial Intelligence at University of Copenhagen serves as host for the Center’s activities.  

For more information on the Center's activities and researchers, please see http://mlls.dk .

About the HEAVYMETAL project at the Cosmic DAWN Center

HEAVYMETAL is a European Research Council Synergy Grant dedicated to determining the astrophysical and nuclear pathways to the formation of the heavy elements in neutron star mergers. The Copenhagen node of HEAVYMETAL is located within the Cosmic Dawn Center (DAWN) at the NBI, University of Copenhagen. DAWN is a center of excellence funded by the Danish National Research Foundation which brings together experts in all aspects of early Universe galaxy evolution and is deeply involved in major existing and upcoming surveys with HST, ALMA, Euclid, and JWST, theoretical modeling and simulations.

For more information on the Center's activities and researchers, please see http://cosmicdawn.dk

The PhD project

The position is funded two-thirds by MetalAI, a research project funded by a two-year Villum Foundation grant to Darach Watson (the Niels Bohr Institute) and Ole Winther (Department of Biology), that aims at accelerating the understanding of heavy elements with the use of deep learning. Having access to spectra and transition intensities for heavy elements are crucial for the interpretation and modeling of observations of neutron star mergers and kilonovae. This is a computationally heavy task that we seek to make order of magnitude faster with machine learning. MetalAI is a machine learning companion to the HEAVYMETAL project and also involves atomic physicists at the Queen’s University Belfast. The remaining one third of the position is funded by the MLLS grant. This part of the PhD aims at developing general machine learning methodology inspired by the applications to atomic physics and science more broadly.

Who are we looking for?

We invite applications from outstanding candidates with a background in machine learning preferably with excellent knowledge about astronomy or physics. A strong motivation for doing multidisciplinary research is mandatory. 

Research projects involving both machine learning modeling and analysis of atomic physics experimental and theoretical data. Positions are available for three years for candidates holding a 2-year MSc, or for four to five years in the “Integrated MSc and PhD programme” for very strong candidates holding a 1-year MSc or BSc only.

The PhD programme

Depending on your level of education, you can undertake the PhD programme as either:

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

Option B: An up to five year full-time study programme within the framework ofthe integrated MSc and PhDprogramme (the 3+5 scheme), if you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree – but you have an education equivalent to a Danish bachelor's degree.

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Option A: Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the regular programme

To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, 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. Physics, Astronomy or other related technical discipline. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, seeGeneral assessments for specific countries andAssessment database .

Terms of employment in the regular programme

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.

The terms of employment and salary are in accordance to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Option B: Getting into a position on the integrated MSc and PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the integrated MSc and PhD programme

If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree, you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programme, if you have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish bachelor´s degree. Here you can find out, if that is relevant for you:General assessments for specific countries andAssessment database . 

Terms of the integrated programme

To be eligible for the integrated scholarship, you are (or are eligible to be) enrolled at one of the faculty’s master programmes in Astrophysics. Students on the integrated programme will enroll as PhD students simultaneously with completing their enrollment in this MSc degree programme.

The duration of the integrated programme is up to five years and depends on the amount of credits that you have passed on your MSc programme. For further information about the study programme, please see:www.science.ku.dk/phd , “Study Structures”.

Until the MSc degree is obtained, (when exactly two years of the full 3+5 programme remains), the grant will be paid partly in the form of 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: “SU-klip”) plus salary for work (teaching, supervision etc.) totalling a workload of at least 150 working hours per year. A PhD grant portion is DKK 6,820 (2024) before tax.

When you have obtainedtheMSc degree, you will transfer to the salary-earning part of the scholarship for a period of two years. At that point, the terms of employment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes

●       Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme (ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and 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:

●       Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project

●       Relevant work experience

●       Relevant publications

●       Other relevant professional activities

●       Curious mind-set with a strong interest in the research themes of DAWN

●       Excellent English language skills

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Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include: 

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 8 January 2024, 23:59 GMT +1.

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 the 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 athttps://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in February 2024.

Questions

For specific information please contact Ole Winther ([email protected] ).

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 back. ground to apply for the position.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.