Connectionists: Full-time PhD position in AI at the University of Namur (Belgium)

[Benoît Frénay]

  Full-time PhD position in AI -- Federated Learning using Inductive
  Logic Programming (ARIAC project)

*University faculty*: Computer science
*Grade*: researcher
*Contract*: renewable fixed term contract
*Category*: scientific personnel
*Allocation*: External funds


      Job description

The proposed research posittion is aimed at investigating fundamental 
research in the context of federated learning using inductive logic 
programming. The position is tailored for a researcher willing to do a 
PhD thesis. It is conceived as a 4-years program. It is offered as a 
2-years position, renewable for up to 2 additional years. The person 
hired will join the Focus research center under the guidance of Prof. 
J.-M. Jacquet, I. Linden and W. Vanhoof.  It is expected that the 
researcher will tackle both the design of languages and the study of 
their semantics. This project will also be conducted with the academic 
and industrial partners of the ARIAC project. More information on the 
project can be found at https://staff.info.unamur.be/jmj/filp.


      Context

ARIAC by DigitalWallonia4.ai is a research project funded by the Walloon 
Region bringing together the five French-speaking universities and four 
Walloon research centers with the primary objective of accelerating the 
development of artificial intelligence technologies in Wallonia. The 
project is part of the TRAIL (Trusted AI Labs) initiative, launched in 
September 2020, which aims at enhancing the development of artificial 
intelligence technologies in Wallonia. Among the different axes, the 
ARIAC project aims to develop Trusted Mechanisms for AI in the goal of 
offering guarantees to people using AI techniques. In that context, we 
explore the potential of inductive logic programming in a federated 
learning scheme. More information on TRAIL can be found at 
https://trail.bydw.be/en.


      About the employer

The University of Namur (UNamur) is located in the center of Belgium, in 
the French-speaking part of the country. It offers quality education to 
more than 7,000 students every year and hosts more than 900 researchers 
in all fields of expertise. The Faculty of Computer Science provides 
cutting-edge teaching and research, intending to put computers at the 
service of society, taking account of their impact on the environment 
and respecting the values of solidarity and sustainable development. The 
Faculty of Computer Science is a founding member of the Namur Digital 
Institute (NADI), which groups together over 150 researchers in digital 
technology. It has a multi-disciplinary approach and addresses, in 
particular, the issues and challenges of computer science in 
organizations and society. The Faculty of Computer Science has over 400 
students, 80 members of staff, including 18 professors and around 50 
researchers. Founded in 1968, the Faculty has trained over 1,800 
high-level computer science graduates since then.


      Profile

Those who apply will carry:

  * a Master's degree (120 ECTS credits) in Computer Science, or equivalent,
  * or a Civil Engineering degree, a Business Engineering degree or a
    Master in Mathematics with solid knowledge of computer-science
    related topics, or equivalent

The person hired will demonstrate:

  * interest for language design, semantics and declarative programming
  * ability to integrate and work in a research team,
  * good communication and presentation skills in English (read,
    written, spoken), knowledge of French is considered as a plus,
  * sense of initiative and responsibility, autonomy, and organization.

Note that soon to be graduating master students are welcome to apply 
provided that they will have graduated before the start of the position. 
Candidates that already hold a PhD degree are not eligible.


      Additional information

For additional information please do not hesitate to contact one of the 
project leaders : J.-M. Jacquet, I. Linden or W. Vanhoof (see email 
addresses below).


      How to apply?

Applications should be sent by e-mail to jean-marie.jacquet at unamur.be 
AND isabelle.linden at unamur.be AND wim.vanhoof at unamur.be and contain the 
following:******

  * a motivation letter describing the interest in the research topic,
  * a recent CV,
  * a copy of diplomas (Bachelor and Master, if available),
  * a transcript with the grades obtained for each course taken on each
    university year,
  * the name and e-mail address of two reference persons to be contacted
    upon request.

A dedicated selection committee will examine applications.


      Important dates

  * *Submission deadline*: May 15th, 2022 (11h59 pm AoE).
  * *Expected starting date*: September 1st, 2022 (negotiable, depending
    on COVID or candidate constraints).


/The human resources management policy of the University of Namur is 
based on respect for equal rights and equal treatment for all. This 
diversity is articulated around different axes, including gender, 
disability, origin, beliefs, age, sexual orientation, etc. The 
University of Namur is also a signatory of the charter of diversity/.

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