Job Information
- Organisation/Company
- University of Amsterdam (UvA)
- Research Field
- Physics
- Researcher Profile
- First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Country
- Netherlands
- Application Deadline
- Type of Contract
- Temporary
- Job Status
- Not Applicable
- Hours Per Week
- 38.0
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
- Not funded by an EU programme
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
- No
Offer Description
The project you will work on lies on the boundary between AI and theoretical physics. Physics has been a source of inspiration for innovation since the early days of machine learning. In particular, building on recent developments on VAE and diffusion models, we focus on the role of physics in generative models. In generative AI, images, text or other data such as molecules are generated by learning to invert the coarse graining steps in a diffusion process. This is to be compared with the emergence of new physics at different scales that can be well modeled using the Renormalization Group. We aim at exploiting this analogy further to gain a deeper understanding of generative models on the one hand, and to improve the computational aspects of RG flows on the other. The project will be supervised by Dr Miranda Cheng and partially co-supervised by Prof. Max Welling.
What are you going to do?
You will work together with a strong, welcoming and collaborative teams on both theoretical physics and machine learning. You will write scientific publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, present results in leading international conferences, and help supervise Master students.
Tasks and responsibilities:
- Conducting independent research in physics and machine learning, resulting in academic publications in peer-reviewed international journals;
- Help to guide Master students in the group.
Requirements
You are have enthusiasm and talent for theoretical physics and machine learning, eager to explore the interaction between the two
Your experience and profile:
- MSc in physics of computer science;
- Fluent in spoken and written English;
- Excel academically, as indicated by grade transcript and curriculum vitae;
- Basic knowledge about machine learning.
Additional Information
A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is 1 September 2024. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.
The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 2,541 to € 3,247 (scale P). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.
Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park we offer you multiple fringe benefits:
- 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
- multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
- a complete educational program for PhD students;
- multiple courses on topics such as leadership for academic staff;
- multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
- 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
- partly paid parental leave;
- the possibility to set up a workplace at home;
- a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
- the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
- help with housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad.
Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here.
If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the button below. We accept applications until and including 01 April 2024.
Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):
- A detailed CV including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience;
- A letter of motivation;
- A list of publications (if any);
- Transcripts of your grades from your Bachelor and Master studies.
- Two letters of recommendation should be sent to mcheng@uva.nl, with the subject starting with “PhD1-24”, by the deadline.
Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:
Dr Miranda C. N. Cheng. mcheng@uva.nl
- Website for additional job details
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Faculty of Science
- Country
- Netherlands
- City
- Amsterdam
- Postal Code
- 1098XH
- Street
- Science Park 904
- Geofield
Where to apply
- Website
Contact
- City
- Amsterdam
- Website
- Street
- Spui 21
- Postal Code
- 1012 WX