Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Al Trustworthiness and Sustainability Assessment - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Computer Science has a vacancy for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is offered for the period from March 2023 of 2 years, with a possible extension of 1 year.

 The Postdoctoral Fellow will be affiliated to the Department of Computer Science and to the OsloMet/SimulaMet AI Lab, working within the Center of Research Excellence, NordSTAR - Nordic Center for Sustainable and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence Research, which is hosted by OsloMet and includes partners from several research centres and universities in Norway, such as Simula Research Laboratory and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

NordSTAR is one of the five Centers of Research Excellence at OsloMet. Modern AI can document impressive results and even outperform human beings on many tasks. The methods are however also associated with many challenges that limit the trust when the methods are applied. NordSTAR aims to improve trustworthiness and sustainability in AI methods by developing frameworks which enable to assess how trustworthy and sustainable AI methods, algorithms and tools are. The approach is based in four challenges. (i) It is usually hard to understand the mechanism in complex AI methods leading to the predictions; (ii) there are important human factors in the application of AI, both legally and ethically, (iii) the methods usually are not able to quantify how certain they are about their decisions, (iv)  running large and complex machine learning systems opens up security issues. NordSTAR is composed by 4 main research areas: “Understandable and explainable models”, “Human Factors in AI”, “Security, safety and reliability”, “Biologically inspired computational systems”, “Quantum AI”.

Project overview

The project for this position will be within the main goals of NordSTAR, namely developing assessment frameworks of the sustainability and trustworthiness of AI methods, algorithms and tools. The candidate’s project will intersect some of NordSTAR’s topics:

• User, autonomy and engagement in AI Systems
• Human-AI interaction
• Governance fairness and law
• Industry Growth and Outreach
• Communication integrity
• Testing and verification of communications within distributed AI systems
• Safety of reinforcement learning
• Safety protocols in robotics
• Methods from neuroscience and complex systems to interpret behavior and learning of artificial agents
• Modern data collection techniques for recording of high-resolution brain signals and data-driven approaches to pattern recognition
• Models of structure and function of biological neural networks
• Unconventional substrates for implementation of AI models

Your duties and responsibilities will be to

• Research on AI and in particular human factors related with it
• Perform measurements uncertainty, complexity and efficiency
• Conduct experiments using machine learning techniques
• Disseminate the projects results and outcome through appropriate channels
• Help administrative requirements as project partner  

Qualification requirements

• PhD degree in Computer Science, Human-computer interaction, Human factors in AI or other related fields
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English are required
• Documented education, research and/or work experience in machine learning techniques and AI algorithms

General criteria for appointments to academic positions are covered by the Forskrift om ansettelsesvilkår for stillinger som postdoktor, stipendiat, vitenskapelig assistent og spesialistkandidat

The following will be emphasized

• Knowledge in social aspects of AI
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary academic environment
• Experience with supervising graduate students
• Proven ability to secure external research funding

It is important to OsloMet to reflect the population of our region, and all qualified candidates are welcome to apply. We make active efforts to further develop OsloMet as an inclusive workplace and to adapt the workplace if required. You are also welcomed to apply for a position with us if you have experienced periods where you have not been in work, education or training.

Application process

If you would like to apply for the position you must do so electronically through our recruitment system. You will be assessed by an Expert Committee. You must upload the following documents with the application within the application deadline:

• Application letter
• A plan of up to two pages including references outlining how you propose to conduct this post-doctoral project main research ideas, motivation and background
• CV (including the name and contact information of at least two references)
• Copies of certificates/diplomas
• Complete publication list
• Up to ten full-text scientific articles, submitted together with a table of contents and a short introduction highlighting the relevance of the article to the profile of the position and a detailed description of the contribution to the article by the applicant
• A summary of your PhD thesis
• In case the applicant is waiting for PhD defense by the time of application: one reference letter from his/her PhD supervisor, stating the quality of the applicant’s work and skills.

We only process applications sent via our electronic recruitment system and all documents must be uploaded for your application to be processed. The documents must be in either English or a Scandinavian language. Translations must be authorised. Originals must be presented if you are invited for an interview. OsloMet performs document checks in order to give you as a candidate a proper evaluation and ensure fair competition.

Before submitting the application documents to the Expert Committee, all applications will be reviewed by the faculty and applicants who do not meet the formal qualification requirements will not be submitted for assessment.

OsloMet has adhered to the principles in the DORA declaration and obliged the institution to follow the recommendations in this declaration.

We offer

• An exciting job opportunity at Norway’s third largest and most urban university
• Participation in a research group and a creative and inspiring academic environment
• Opportunities for academic development in a professional research environment
• Loan and pension arrangements through the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Beneficial welfare schemes and a wide range of sports and cultural offers
• Free Norwegian language classes to employees and their partners/spouses
• Workplace in downtown Oslo with multiple cultural offers

Practical information about relocation to Oslo and living in Norway

The position is remunerated in accordance with the Basic Collective Agreement for the Civil Service and OsloMets salary policy, job code 1352 Postdoctoral Research Fellow. The salary is NOK 543 500-702 100 per year, salary scale 60 -74. A higher salary may be considered for particularly well qualified applicants. 

Other information

If you would like more information about the position, feel free to contact

• Prof. Anis Yazidi, anis.yazidi@oslomet.no
• Prof. Pedro Lind, pedro.lind@oslomet.no