Doctoral education pilot / Seven (7) Doctoral Researchers in Finnish Doctoral Program Network in Artificial Intelligence (AI-DOC)

We are seeking to recruit seven (7) Doctoral Researchers for a fixed term of three years to the Doctoral Education Pilot for the Finnish Doctoral Program Network in Artificial Intelligence (AI-DOC). Depending on the applicant, the positions are filled to the departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Biological and Environmental Science at the faculty of Mathematics and Science, the faculty of Information Technology, the departments of History and Ethnology and Language and Communication Studies at the faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, or Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics. We expect applicants to be ready to start on 1.8.2024 or 1.1.2025 and to be motivated to complete their dissertation within the three-year target period and to possibly be employed in Finland after graduation.

Artificial intelligence (AI), the fastest developing general-purpose technology, is a key area for Finland’s competitiveness: every field and business needs AI expertise. Finnish AI research is among the best in Europe in selected fields of research, and we have a favorable operating environment for the creation, development, and utilization of AI technologies.

The doctoral education pilot is a programme funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture for the period 2024-2027 and implemented by Finnish universities, which will fund a total of up to 1,000 new fixed-term doctoral researcher positions and part of the associated supervision. The programme will develop new practices in doctoral training that will enable doctoral researchers to complete their dissertations in three years and support their employment in a wide range of sectors of the Finnish society. Read more about the doctoral education pilot programme at the University of Jyväskylä.

Who we are looking for

The doctoral program rests on two interlinked pillars: 1) strong fundamental research in AI as a necessary condition for applying AI responsibly and competitively, and 2) a set of application areas of high scientific quality and wide impact in industry and society.

1) Fundamental AI:

• Fundamental AI methods are the core of the research activities and the cornerstone in all application areas. Fundamental AI encompasses probabilistic AI for verifiable and uncertainty-aware model building, simulation-based inference for efficient and interpretable reasoning capabilities, data-efficient deep learning, privacy-preserving and secure AI, interactive AI for collaborative AI tools, autonomous AI, statistics, and decision-making. Widely applicable goals of the fundamental AI are AI-assisted decision-making, design and modeling. 
  Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Causal Inference, Collaborative AI and human modeling, Machine Learning, Statistics.
  Supervisors: Matti Vihola, Juha Karvanen, Jenni Raitoharju, Ilkka Pölönen, Kaisa Miettinen, Samuli Pekkola, Mikko Salo, Sara Taskinen, Klaus Nordhausen, Santtu Tikka, Salme Kärkkäinen.

2) Application areas:

• AI in Communications, Signal Processing and Engineering
  The area covers a wide range of advanced methods in communications technology, statistical methods in signal processing, and analysis of images, video, speech, and audio signals. Industries are currently employing AI methods in numerous research and development tasks, e.g., in product design and predictive maintenance. 
  Keywords: Array signal processing, Computer vision, Perception, Sensors, Wireless communications, Autonomous systems, Energy systems, Machine automation.
  Supervisors: Tommi Kärkkäinen, Vagan Terzian, Otso Ovaskainen.

• AI in Language and Speech Technology
  The area covers various aspects of natural language processing. It includes language model-based technologies, and speech recognition and analysis methods. Special focus is given to cross-lingual transfer and technologies for smaller languages, like Finnish and Swedish that are structurally very different from e.g. English and need a separate approach. 
  Keywords: Foundation models, Human language technology, Large language models, Speech recognition.
  Supervisors: Tommi Jantunen, Anna Puupponen, Dave Sayers.

• AI in Society and Business
  The area focuses on social and ethical aspects of AI, including the preconditions of trustworthy and socially acceptable. AI and the consequences of use of AI. It brings together AI research and human sciences to better understand how AI works in organizations and society. Another dimension of the area is AI and data-based methods in economics. 
  Keywords: AI in business operations, AI in technology and society, Education, Trust & ethics.
  Supervisors: Antero Holmila, Pasi Nevalainen, Marko Siitonen, Mikko Villi, Turo Uskali, Karoliina Talvitie-Lamberg, Anu Sivunen, Ari Kuismin, Ward van Zoonen, Raine Koskimaa.

The PhD topics are integrated into ongoing research in supervisors’ groups to provide peer support and help in getting the first scientific paper out quickly. Teaming up in fundamental AI research and application areas, and across them, provides peer support to PhD students. Companies and research institutes are an integral part of the program and they will provide future jobs for the PhDs. The planned activities of AI-DOC include biannual seminars for the whole network, entrepreneurship training, summer schools and research seminars. There will be mobility possibilities for the PhD students.

AI-DOC is associated with Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI) flagship

Successful candidates should have previous experience in machine learning, statistics, artificial intelligence, in another relevant field, demonstrated by success in related studies and ideally also by some publication record. For the candidates applying for positions in applied research areas, relevant experience and expertise in the application area are valued in the evaluation. Other merits demonstrating suitability for a researcher position can also be considered.

Candidates should hold (or shortly receive) a Master’s degree in computer science, statistics, electrical engineering, mathematics, relevant application area or in another relevant field. The Master’s degree must be completed by the start of the employment relationship. In addition, the Doctoral Researcher must have a permission for post-graduate studies at the University of Jyväskylä. If the applicant does not have permission for post-graduate studies, it must be applied with a separate application procedure to the corresponding faculty you are applying to after selection for the position.  There is a six-month trial period at the beginning of the employment.

The positions are intended for new doctoral researchers. No applicants can therefore be considered who have obtained doctoral study rights before 1 November 2023. The duties, qualification requirements, and the language skills of Doctoral Researchers are stipulated by The University of Jyväskylä Regulations and language skills guidelines (Doctoral Students).

The place of employment is Finland. Permits and registrations are required for non-Finnish nationals to work in Finland. The University’s International Staff Services team will assist selected employees in applying for these.

Benefits

At the University of Jyväskylä, you are a recognized member of our community with an ample opportunity to be drawn into international research. You get to participate in our international and multidisciplinary community, where everybody’s welfare is essential. You will work in an inspiring and lively campus area and an environment that supports a healthy and active lifestyle. To find useful information about the University of Jyväskylä, the City of Jyväskylä, and living in Finland, see the University's Handbook for international staff and visitors.

The annual salary will be approximately 30,000 EUR (gross income, including holiday bonus). As the dissertation work progresses, the salary will be revised in accordance with the General Collective Agreement for Finnish Universities.

Doctorates from our renewed doctoral programmes will give you the skills to work as an independent researcher or in challenging specialist roles in academia or other sectors of working life. To support your employment in Finland, we offer you the opportunity to study Finnish during your assignment as a Doctoral Researcher.

How to apply?

Please attach the following documents in PDF format to your online application:

1. Curriculum vitae written in accordance with the responsible conduct of research and, if possible, using the template for researcher’s curriculum vitae from the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity, and including contact details of 1-2 referees.

2. Motivation letter, clearly stating which supervisor's group you are applying to.

3. A numbered list of publications (if applicable).

4. Master’s degree certificate and transcript of records in English, Finnish or Swedish.

Please submit your application using the online form at the latest on April 30, 2024. The applications sent via emails are not considered.

Eligible candidates will be evaluated based on the submitted documents following the national recommendations for responsible researcher evaluation in Finland and the principles of the DORA Declaration. For further information, please contact Professor Juha Karvanen, juha.t.karvanen@jyu.fi, or an of the research theme supervisors.

University of Jyväskylä

Ever since the Faculty of Mathematics and Science of the University of Jyväskylä was founded in 1965, we have been looking for answers and striving to improve our understanding of the Universe and World around us. We want to share our expertise and be influential in shaping the future by solving problems which affect us all. We aim to provide solutions, for example in climate change, in fighting the decline in biodiversity, developing new technological innovations or in building more sustainable living habits.  In collaboration with the international scientific community, we search for the answers to the biggest questions in science, especially in the fields of evolution, sustainable use of natural resources, mathematical analysis, multidisciplinary nanoscience, resource wisdom and subatomic physics. Our research has impact at the international level and our partners include the European Space Agency ESA and the European Organisation for Nuclear Research CERN.

The Faculty of Information Technology at the University of Jyväskylä is the first and largest in its field in Finland. The mission of the faculty is to create a science-based digital future. In research, education, and stakeholder collaboration, the faculty combines comprehensively the viewpoints of technology, information, organizations, business, and people.  Teaching is given both in Finnish and in English. Strong collaboration with companies and other actors in society is based on long-term research. The faculty’s research is organized through four areas of activity, which are computational science, engineering, information systems science, and learning and cognitive science. The faculty traditionally has degree programs in the natural sciences and business, in addition to which new degree programs in technology have been launched. Multidisciplinarity is concrete within our faculty, and the surrounding multidisciplinary university provides a fertile ground for various research openings and other collaborations.

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is a strong contributor to human sciences. It has a central role in understanding and developing human activities and the structures of society. The faculty is a unique, strongly profiled unit that conducts internationally significant research with societal impact. Research and education at the faculty focus on culture, arts, traditions, languages and communication, social sciences and philosophy.

Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics (JSBE) conducts high-quality research and offers quality degree education and executive education in business and economics. JSBE mission supports Competitive, Digital, and Sustainable Transformation in Business and Economy.  We offer our expertise widely to business, economy and society and contribute our knowledge to promote university-based entrepreneurship and innovation activities. JSBE is accredited by AACSB and BGA. JSBE’s Avance Executive Education has AMBA accreditation. JSBE’s research is ranked among top 401-500 in Shanghai’s Academic Ranking of World Universities and 250-300 in Times Higher Education ranking. JSBE is an active, international, and cooperative faculty in the dynamic and international University of Jyväskylä. The number of JSBE faculty is around 120, including about 25 professors. 1.500 students study at JSBE. Each year, around 200 students graduate as Masters of Science, and about 10 doctoral dissertations are publicly defended at JSBE.

The University of Jyväskylä is a human-centered environment of 2,500 experts and 14,500 students. Our goal is to create wisdom and wellbeing for all. JYU's naturally beautiful campus is located in the heart of the city of Jyväskylä. JYU is the third largest employer in Central Finland.

Phone: (014) 260 1211

Email: jy-rekrytointi@jyu.fi

Location: Seminaarinkatu 15