<div dir="ltr"><span id="m_4455008295035951390gmail-docs-internal-guid-04428a05-7fff-a65c-8942-047c81c4142f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dear colleagues,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We have an opening for a fully-funded Ph.D. researcher position (flexible start date, but ideally September-November 2023).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The successful candidate will work on a project to build the first Large non-verbal Language Model (LnvLM). The project will combine ideas and methods from robotics, human-robot interaction, and deep learning, and in particular deep reinforcement learning, imitation learning, and reinforcement learning from human feedback.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The ideal applicant should have a strong interest in robotics and artificial intelligence (e.g, deep reinforcement learning). Requirements include strong algorithmic and programming skills (in particular a high proficiency in Python), and a master’s degree in computer science, robotics, artificial intelligence, or related fields.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Prior experience with deep reinforcement learning / robotics / human-robot interaction is preferred but not required.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The PhD student will join the AI for Robotics Lab (AIR-Lab; <a href="https://airlab-tilburg.github.io/" target="_blank">https://airlab-tilburg.github.io</a> ) at the Department of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence of Tilburg University (Tilburg, The Netherlands). AIR-Lab is a newly established research lab, co-directed by Murat Kirtay (<a href="https://www.crossvalidate.me/" target="_blank">https://www.crossvalidate.me</a>) and Giacomo Spigler (<a href="http://spigler.net/giacomo" target="_blank">http://spigler.net/giacomo</a>), with a focus on recent advances in AI for robotics to endow robots with advanced cognitive capabilities and state-of-the-art performance. AIR-Lab members have access to a wide range of state-of-the-art robot platforms, including a Franka Robot Arm, Humanoid Robots (Pepper and Nao), Unitree Robot dogs, and in-house built robots.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The position is for a 4-years PhD, adhering to Dutch academic salary scales (full-time monthly gross salary ranging from €2,541 in the first year to €3,247 in the last year). Additional benefits include an 8% vacation allowance and an 8.3% year end bonus. Researchers from outside the Netherlands may qualify for a tax-free allowance equal to 30% of their taxable salary (30% rule), for which the University will apply on their behalf.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Interested candidates should visit <a href="https://tiu.nu/21598" target="_blank">https://tiu.nu/21598</a> for more information and to apply for the position. Please include a motivation letter, full CV, academic transcripts, and names of two academic references. Questions can be directed to Dr. Spigler ( g.spigler <at> <a href="http://tilburguniversity.edu/" target="_blank">tilburguniversity.edu</a> ).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Applications will be evaluated in batches on a rolling basis, with the first deadline set for June 16th. The position will remain open until filled.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Kind regards,</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Giacomo Spigler and Murat Kirtay</span></p><div><br></div>--------------------------------------------------------------------<br>Dr. Giacomo Spigler<br><br>AI for Robotics Lab (AIR Lab) - Department of</span><div>Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence<div>Dante building, room B124<br></div><div>Tilburg University</div><div>Tilburg, The Netherlands</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.spigler.net/giacomo" target="_blank">http://www.spigler.net/giacomo</a></div><div>-------------------------------------------------------------------</div></div></div>