2 PhD positions on causal machine learning and reinforcement learning for FinTech

13 Jan 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

University of Amsterdam (UvA)

Research Field

Physics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

11 Mar 2024 - 22:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

38.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Do you enjoy solving challenging machine learning problems on complex real-world data, and are you interested in the fintech (financial technology) domain? The AMLab group at the university of Amsterdam is looking for two PhD candidates on topics in this field. Each candidate will work on one of two subprojects, that have a main focus on causal machine learning and reinforcement learning, respectively. The goal is to advance research in both fields while also evaluating and balancing its practical feasibility. The research falls within a collaboration between the University of Amsterdam and Adyen.

In project 1 we will focus on learning causal drivers of user behaviour in transaction approval pipelines through reusing existing data or by designing new A/B tests. For example, when deciding which options to use to authorize a transaction, we might want to optimize the trade-off between ensuring that the transaction is legitimate and creating unnecessary friction for the users. Estimating the causal effect of each choice on different sets of users allows us to optimize this decision, but designing and implementing A/B tests can be expensive and prone to selection bias. In this project, we will explore how to accurately and sample-efficiently learn causal relations by reusing data from previously run A/B tests and observational data, as well as design cheaper and more accurate A/B tests that can help us estimate the intended causal effects.

Project 2 aims to use and develop novel reinforcement learning (RL) techniques to improve the decision making about transactions. For example, should a transaction be marked as fraudulent, and how should the transaction best be presented to a payment card issuer? While these are practical problems, they pose fundamental challenges to learning algorithms. For example, how can we handle a complex, combinatorial, and constraint action space? How can we learn and evaluate policies on off-line data only? And how can we learn a solution that allows for a flexible trade-off between different metrics?

What are you going to do?
You will perform machine learning research with complex real-world data (and possibly synthetic proxies). You are able to work within a team, while also pro-actively tackling research challenges with input and guidance from your advisors. You will be working closely with faculty members from UvA’s AMLab as well as engineers from Adyen.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• invent, evaluate and describe novel algorithms for improving causal effect estimation, prediction and decision-making in the fintech domain using machine learning;
• integrate such algorithms into experimental and application scenarios, and evaluate them;
• present research results at international conferences, workshops, and journals;
• become an active member of the research community and to collaborate with other researchers, both at the Informatics institute and at Adyen, as well as externally;
• pursue and complete a PhD thesis within the appointed duration of four years;
• assist in teaching activities, such as teaching labs and tutorials or supervising bachelor and master students;

Requirements
Specific Requirements

Your experience and profile (below are examples you don’t need to use them):

• MSc in computer science, artificial intelligence, statistics, econometrics, or a related field;
• You have experience with artificial intelligence, statistics or data science, and you are not afraid of mathematics.
• You have a good academic record and you enjoy tackling complex scientific problems;
• You are able to implement and evaluate algorithms, e.g. using Python or R;
• You are able to work well in teams and communicate fluently in written and spoken English.

Familiarity with either causal methods or reinforcement learning is preferred but not a requirement. Likewise, interest in the FinTech domain is preferred but not a requirement.

Additional Information
Benefits

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is to be discussed, but preferably between May and September 2024. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and Master's students.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 2,770 in the first year to € 3,539 in the last year (scale P). UvA additionally offers an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. The UFO profile Promovendus is applicable. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park, we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
• Multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• A complete educational program for PhD students
• Multiple courses on topics such as leadership for academic staff;
• Multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
• 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
• Partly paid parental leave;
• The possibility to set up a workplace at home;
• A pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
• The possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
• Help with housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad.

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here .

Selection process

If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the button below. We accept applications until and including 11 March 2024.

Applications should include the following information (all files apart from your CV should be submitted in one single pdf file):

• a detailed CV including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience;
• a letter of motivation, mentioning which project (project 1 or project 2) you are most interested in;
• a written sample in English, e.g., (a draft of) your master thesis or a paper;
• a complete record of your Bachelor and Master courses, included grades and explanation of the grading system;
• the names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation (please do not include any reference letters in your application).

Please make sure to provide ALL requested documents mentioned above.
You can use the CV field to upload your resume as a separate pdf document. Use the Cover Letter field to upload the other requested documents, including the motivation letter, as one single pdf file.

A knowledge security check may be part of the selection procedure.
(for details: National knowledge security guidelines ).

Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered. Please don’t send any applications by email.

We will invite potential candidates for interviews soon after the expiration of the vacancy.

Additional comments

Do you have any questions, or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• E: Sara Magliacane or Herke van Hoof

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/336578/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Faculty of Science

Country

Netherlands

City

Amsterdam

Postal Code

1098XH

Street

Science Park 904

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/336578/2-phd-positions-on-causal-machine-le…

Contact

City

Amsterdam

Website

http://www.uva.nl/

Street

Spui 21

Postal Code

1012 WX

STATUS: EXPIRED