PhD position – Explainable AI - Data Analysis Methods for Scientific Data

Your Job:

We are looking for a PhD scholar to join our Data Management and Analysis team. The focus of the project is on the development of state-of-the-art methods for data analysis in data mining and machine learning that support domain scientists in their work, and that permit scrutiny and validation of the results via Explainable AI techniques that provide insight into artificial intelligence models.

In data analysis, we are interested in concepts and methods for learning from data, featuring both supervised and unsupervised methods. In particular, we contribute state-of-the-art deep learning methods, clustering methods for high-dimensional and noisy data, as well as unsupervised outlier detection solutions. Our research in data management concerns indexing, efficient access, as well as query processing and similarity search.

Our solutions typically consist of concepts, models and algorithmic strategies that allow efficient analysis and access to relevant data, often with provable correctness guarantees. A notable focus of our research is the use of modern hardware, i.e., multi-core CPUs and graphics cards (GPUs) on standard desktop or laptop computers, with scalabilty to high performance computers (HPC).

Methodologically, we combine formal problem definitions and analytical discussion with prototype implementations and empirical studies. We use benchmarking data as well as cooperations with domain experts to evaluation the quality, efficiency and scalability of our approaches.

Your tasks in detail:

• Work on state-of-the-art methods in modeling and training deep neural networks
  
• Devise machine learning solutions for fields where labelled data is expensive, and often collected under slightly varying experimental conditions, registration guidelines or with different sensors or devices
  
• Advance our understanding of the underlying theory, as well as applicability to scientific applications, where explainability, interpretability, and reliability are as important as high accuracy.
  
• Supervise student projects at BSc, MSc level
  
• Write reports and research articles, as well as grant proposals, and regularly participate in international conferences and workshops to present your own work
  
• Work with experts at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) to run your algorithms/tools on large distributed computer systems where needed
  

Your Profile:

• MSc in computer science (or a related field) with very good grades
  
• Experience with data analysis methods is a plus, e.g. in student projects or internships
  
• Solid programming skills (e.g. Python)
  
• Excellent ability to cooperate with other sciences and to work as part of a team, interdisciplinary and cross-topical thinking
  
• Very good communication skills
  
• Very good English, both spoken and written. German language skills are not necessary
  
• High motivation and work ethics
  

Our Offer:

We work on the very latest issues that impact our research field and society, and offer you the chance to help shape their future! We support you with:

• A world-leading, interdisciplinary and international research environment, providing state-of-the-art experimental equipment and versatile opportunities to grow as a curious researcher.
  
• Comprehensive training offers and individual opportunities for personal and professional development.
  
• Very good conditions for work-life balance and a family-friendly corporate policy.
  
• 30 days of annual leave
  
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service
  
• Further development of your personal strengths, e.g. through an extensive range of training courses; a structured program of continuing education and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral researchers via JuDocS, the Jülich Center for Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/judocs
  
• Exploration and preparation of next career opportunities supported by our Career Center & Postdoc Office ( https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/career-center-postdoc-office )
  
• Please also see https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/careers/phd
  

We offer you an exciting and varied role. The position is initially for a fixed term of 3 years. Salary and social benefits in conformity with the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Civil Service (TVöD), 75% of pay group 13, including Christmas bonus payment and social insurances (health care, unemployment, pension scheme etc.). Further information on doctoral degrees at Forschungszentrum Jülich including our other locations is available at: https://www.fz-juelich.de/gp/Careers_Docs

About Jülich and the surrounding area: Forschungszentrum Jülich is one of the largest research centers in Europe, with excellent scientific equipment including one of the fastest supercomputers in the world (top 7 worldwide, top 1 in Europe). We are more than 7000 employees located on a green campus offering an international and interdisciplinary working environment. Jülich is close to the border between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, and near the cultural centers Aachen, Bonn, Cologne, and Düsseldorf. The quality of life is exceptionally high and the atmosphere is both tolerant and inclusive.

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.