PhD student position in Machine learning for implementing urban mining strategies

Are you interested in developing the application of AI for sustainable cities? We offer a Phd position that will allow deepening your knowledge in AI applications and actively contribute to the uptake of circular economy (CE) strategies in the built environment.

Project description
The PhD position is part of a project funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF). The main goal of the project is to develop a novel method supporting reuse and recycling of urban construction materials based on digital twins to save greenhouse gas emissions. The project includes two PhD and a postdoc position. This first PhD position will focus on the development of a data collection and analysis workflow to enrich digital urban twins with material information, such as type of material, age, and state using a combination of remote sensing, statistics, computer vision and ML. 

Information about the division and the department
The position is part of the Sustainable building Research group at the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE) . ACE represents a broad field of knowledge theory ranging from natural sciences and engineering to social sciences, humanities and design-based artistic research. These different perspectives enable strong interdisciplinary development and a broad research approach to different aspects of sustainability. The research will be carried out in close collaborations with the Department for Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) and Digital Twin City Centre at Chalmers.

Major responsibilities
The candidate is expected to independently review existing approaches to collect and analyse data on urban materials including remote sensing, image recognition, and others. Based on the available data and stakeholders' needs, a method for establishing urban material inventories for cities should developed. The method shall be tested using real case studies. Interdisciplinary collaboration with other PhD students and colleagues at Chalmers, for example in the Digital Twin City Centre, and the practitioners in the reference group of the project is very important. The position may include teaching or other departmental duties up to a maximum of 20%. The intended start of the project is August 1st, but the starting date for the candidate is flexible.

You will be employed by Chalmers on a full-time temporary contract. The employment is limited to four years’ effective time on the PhD project, plus additional time spent on teaching and other departmental duties up to a maximum of five years. The employment is tied to successful progress of the doctoral studies, as evaluated throughout the project.

Qualifications
Applicants should have a Master's degree in data science or computer science or another field relevant to the description of the project. We are seeking an innovative, self-motivated candidate with brilliant analytic skills, who will be able to work independently in interdisciplinary teams and pursue new ways. Previous expertise in machine learning algorithm development and application of deep learning frameworks (e.g., Pytorch, Tensorflow, etc) and programming skills (e.g., Python) are very important. The position requires excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. As important merits will be considered knowledge of digital methods and tools used in architecture and urban planning, such as GIS and BIM. The person assigned to the position is expected to acquire sufficient knowledge to be able to communicate in Swedish in two years.

You are expected to take initiatives, work independently when needed and take responsibility for your work. Furthermore, the project interacts closely with adjacent disciplines and industrial partners. Thus you need to have significant collaborative skills. Finally, you need to be able to disseminate results and knowledge within existing and new networks. This includes academia, industry, and society at large.

If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg .
Read more about working at Chalmers  and our benefits  for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence . Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20230013 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

CV:(Please name the document: CV, Family name, Ref. number)
• CV
• Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter:(Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (e.g. education, thesis work and, if applicable, any other research activities)
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis.
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, e.g. TOEFL test results.

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. 

Application deadline: 28-02-2023

For questions, please contact:
Associate Professor Alexander Hollberg
E-mail: [email protected]

Assistant Professor Yinan Yu
Email: [email protected]

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***

Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!
 

URL to this page
https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/work-with-us/vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=11325&rmlang=UK