Six cross-theme PhD positions in Computer Science

The Informatics Institute is renowned for its research in complex information systems at large with a focus on three themes: artificial intelligence, computational science, and systems and networking. Within these themes, specific topics are selected and pursued through theory and application development, using a broad range of methods from computer science and engineering. We also highly value topics that are crossing the themes. This brings together the different fields of expertise and creates the synergy and creativity needed for innovative approaches. To strengthen collaboration we have opened six cross-theme PhD positions on various scientific challenges.

Are you interested in performing word-class research in artificial intelligence, data science and computer vision? We are seeking a PhD candidate to research the problem of discovering spatio-temporal knowledge graphs from videos.  A core challenge in video understanding is the ability to understand scenes at a semantic level over time. This can be formalized as the ability to build a knowledge graph directly from videos, where entities such as people and objects form nodes and their (action) relations form edges. In such a graph, nodes and edges evolve constantly and can (dis)appear at any given time. Hence, this position aims to move away from global action recognition and make the challenging step towards localized spatio-temporal understanding of all actions and entities in a video. Acquiring such an understanding requires novel contributions at the intersection of computer vision, knowledge-based semantics, and graph-based deep learning.

This position offers a unique opportunity to carry out research in cooperation with two different research groups within the Informatics Institute of the University of Amsterdam, namely prof. dr. Paul Groth (INDElab) and dr. Pascal Mettes (Intelligent Sensory Information Systems group). This collaboration allows you to gain world class experience in different areas, an embedding in a larger pool of academic peers, and the opportunity to work on fundamental research

What are you going to do?

You are expected to:

• invent and implement novel graph-based deep learning algorithms for video and multimedia understanding;
• actively collaborate on the intersection between two research groups;
• pursue and complete a PhD thesis within the appointed duration of four years;
• present research results at international conferences and journals;
• take part in ongoing educational activities, such as assisting in a course and guiding student thesis projects, at the BSc or MSc level.

• A Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a closely related field;
• a strong scientific and mathematical background in deep learning;
• good programming skills, experience with Python and deep learning toolkits is preferred;
• a collaborative mindset;
• a good academic record and eagerness to tackle core scientific problems;
• fluency in English, both written and spoken.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years, preferably starting as soon as possible but no later dan 1 September. The initial appointment will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years and 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 salary will be €2,325 to €2,972 (scale P) gross per month, based on full-time employment (38 hours a week). These amounts are exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus. A favorable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Then find out more about working at the Faculty of Science.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 6,500, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.