Connectionists: Open position: Postdoctoral research associate in machine learning (representation learning, curiosity-based learning, Bayesian theories of deep learning, reinforcement learning)

[R. Valentin Florian]

We are looking for a postdoctoral research associate who will work on 
machine learning models that allow an artificial agent to develop 
structured, hierarchical representations of its environment, by 
interacting with this environment. These models will integrate and 
develop upon curiosity-based learning, Bayesian theories of deep 
learning, and reinforcement learning, and will be tested in simulations 
of physical environments (e.g., a robotic simulator) as well as in 
purely computational environments.

The position is available within an EU-funded project that aims to 
develop artificial intelligent systems able to automatically generate 
software. After 3-4 years, the project is expected to spin off a 
startup, and the candidate will have the opportunity to be part of this 
startup.

The position is offered for an initial period of 3 years, at the 
Romanian Institute of Science and Technology (RIST) in Cluj, Romania. 
The position will be part of the Deep Computational Intelligence group, 
one of two newly-formed groups in machine learning where about 20 new 
postdoctoral research associates and research software developers will 
be hired in the next year.

We are looking for self-motivated, independent, creative scientists, 
with strong analytical and computational modeling skills. Candidates 
should have a PhD, preferably in machine learning, statistical learning, 
representation learning, robotics or related fields. Candidates must 
have a strong publication record.

To apply, send to dci at rist.ro your CV (indicating your 3 most 
representative publications), a letter of intent in which you motivate 
your interest in this position and explain why your skills, knowledge 
and experience makes you a suitable candidate for the position, as well 
as the names and contact details of at least two references.

The contract will start as soon as the position is filled, after 
September / October 2016. Net salary is from 1,700 to 2,000 euros per 
month, while the cost of living in Cluj is significantly lower than in 
Western Europe or the USA. The working language is English.

The project, called “Automated software development through abstraction 
in deep, distributed computational models” (AutoWare), is funded by 
European structural funds and is led by Dr. Bipin Indurkhya (project 
director) and Dr. Răzvan Valentin Florian (associate project director).

Cluj hosts Romania’s largest university and boasts a strong, rapidly 
developing IT industry. Cluj is the main city of Transylvania, which has 
been named by Lonely Planet as the top region to visit in its 2016 Best 
in Travel ranking.

More information: 
http://rist.ro/en/details/news/postdoctoral-research-associate-in-machine-learning.html