PhD Position Transparent and Traceable AI for Teamwork

The research focus for this PhD is about making AI systems (such as robots) transparent, traceable and controllable to their human teammates. Lack of understanding of what teammates are doing impairs the functioning of a team. For AI, that creates the challenge of explaining complex decisions to humans, but also sets the goal of making these decisions traceable and controllable in case of mistakes made by the AI. The focus will lie on knowledge-based AI for instance using formal reasoning models, as these allow for higher levels of transparency than, for instance, machine-learning based models. Examples of the types of tasks involved are: explaining decisions in human-robot teaming, updating AI models based on feedback from interactions, transforming decision traces to transparent explanations and, when/how to allow explicit human control over AI teammates. 

The DAI Lab AI*Man is led by Anahita Jamshidnejad and Myrthe Tielman and is a collaboration between the faculties of aerospace engineering (AE) and electrical engineering, mathematics, and computer science (EEMCS) of the Delft University of Technology. The main focus of the joint research is on human-AI teamwork.
The main challenges of human-AI teamwork include obtaining mutual understanding among the teammates and making optimal decisions to realize the team's global objectives. To achieve this, this multidisciplinary project will integrate various methods from control theory with knowledge-based methods from AI. Beyond this research goal, this project aims to build a bridge between the faculties of AE and EEMCS on the topic of AI, including both research and educational activities. Your home department will be the Interactive Intelligence department of EEMCS.

Department
The AI*Man Lab is a Delft Artificial Intelligence Lab. Artificial Intelligence, Data and Digitalisation are becoming increasingly important when looking for answers to major scientific and societal challenges. In a DAI-lab, experts in ‘the fundamentals of AI technology’ along with experts in ‘AI challenges’ run a shared lab. As a PhD, you will work with at least two academic members of staff and three other PhD candidates. In total TU Delft will establish 24 DAI-Labs, where 48 Tenure Trackers and 96 PhD candidates will have the opportunity to push the boundaries of science using AI. Each team is driven by research questions which arise from scientific and societal challenges, and contribute to the development and execution of domain specific education. Instead of the usual 4-year contract, you will receive a 5-year contract and spend approximately 20% of your time on educating students. All team members have many opportunities for self-development. You will be a member of the thriving DAI-Lab community that fosters cross-fertilization between talents with different expertise and disciplines.

• Completed Master’s degree in artificial intelligence, logic or a related field;
• An affinity with logic, knowledge-based AI and human-robot teamwork related research;
• An Independent, results driven, motivated personality with the ability to work in an interdisciplinary team;
• Proficiency in written and verbal English;
• Good presentation skills;
• An affinity with teaching and guiding students.

TU Delft offers DAI-Lab PhD-candidates a 5-year contract (as opposed to the normal 4-years), with an official go/no go progress assessment after one year. Approximately a fifth of your time will be allocated to developing ground breaking learning materials and educating students in these new subjects.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2395 per month in the first year to € 3217 in the fifth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers both in business and in a social context. TU Delft offers 16 Bachelor’s and 32 Master’s programmes to more than 23,000 students. Our scientific staff consists of 3,500 staff members and 2,800 PhD candidates. Together we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three disciplines - electrical engineering, mathematics and computer science. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make future-proof. We are also working on a world in which humans and computers reinforce each other. We are mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. There is plenty of room here for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1,100 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

Submit the following in two pdf files: (pdf 1) 1-page Motivation letter, your CV; (pdf 2) a (part of your) M.Sc. thesis or a paper that you have written, in which you demonstrate your writing skills.

Please highlight in your motivation letter and/or CV examples of projects and achievements that demonstrate your relevant competences.
Send your application material before July 15, 2020 to vacancies-eemcs@tudelft.nl mentioning vacancy number TUD00239.

A pre-employment screening can be part of the application procedure.