Connectionists: Two PhD positions (4 years each) „Computing in Nonlinear Dynamical Media“ in Groningen, Netherlands

[Herbert Jaeger]

Within the European Innovative Training Network POST-DIGITAL 
(https://postdigital.astonphotonics.uk/), two full-salary, 4-year PhD 
positions are available at the University of Groningen in the MINDS 
research group (https://www.ai.rug.nl/minds/) of Herbert Jaeger.

Details can be found on 
https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/job-opportunities/?details=00347-02S0007NVP. 
The submission deadline is May 31, but applications will be considered 
until the positions are filled.

The research of these two positions will blend into the general research 
lines in the MINDS group, revolving around developing formal methods and 
  algorithms for „brain-like“, non-digital computing in novel hardware 
systems based on nonlinear phenomena of various sorts. A pertinent 
catchword is „neuromorphic computing“, but this will be abstractly 
interpreted to cover all non-classical computing methods which work in 
physical substrates that are characterized by stochasticity, continuous 
time, parallelism, spatiotemporal dynamics and other generic properties 
shared with biological brain matter.

The three main selection criteria are:

- the ability and inclination for mathematical formalization (with 
formalisms from machine learning, and/or dynamical systems, and/or 
formal logic, and/or theoretical computer science),

- a strong interest in solving the riddles of information processing in 
complex „brain-like“ (very wide sense) dynamical systems,

- openness for working in a very interdisciplinary setting.

These PhD fellowships will benefit from a rather intense scheme of 
cross-lab internships, project workshops, and professional training 
camps across the POST-DIGITAL consortium, which comprises 16 academic 
and industrial partners.

There are two formal eligibility criteria:

1. Applicants must be (at the first day of their POST-DIGITAL employment 
contract) in the first four years (full-time equivalent research 
experience) of their research career and have not been awarded a 
doctoral degree.

2. Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity 
(work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 
3 years immediately before the recruitment date.

The nationality of the applicant is of no concern. Applicants need not 
have a European nationality.

All applications must be submitted through the „Apply“ button on 
https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/job-opportunities/?details=00347-02S0007NVP. 


For pre-application inquiries please contact

Dr. Herbert Jaeger
Professor of Computing in Cognitive Materials
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Faculty of Science and Engineering - CogniGron
Nijenborgh 9, 9747 AG Groningen
email: h dot jaeger at rug dot nl
web: www.ai.rug.nl/minds/