PhD position on Practical AI Planning with Ontologies 100%
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PhD position on Practical AI Planning with Ontologies 100%
The Artificial Intelligence (https://ai.dmi.unibas.ch/) research group at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Basel, is seeking a PhD candidate for a collaborative project with TU Dresden (Germany) on Practical Planning with Ontologies. This research lies at the intersection of two key areas withing symbolic AI: AI Planning and Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KR).
This fully funded position is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (https://snf.ch/) for a duration of three years, with the possibility of extension to a fourth year. The position is available starting December 2024, but the start can be adjusted to spring or summer 2025, based on mutual agreement.
Founded in 1460, the University of Basel is the oldest university in Switzerland. The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (http://www.dmi.unibas.ch) is located in a modern facility in the heart of the city, near the River Rhine. With its approximately 100 members from all over the world, the department offers a welcoming atmosphere and a stimulating working environment with an excellent research infrastructure. The Artificial Intelligence group, led by Prof. Dr. Malte Helmert, focuses on Automated Planning and Heuristic Search. The group is responsible for the development and maintenance of the award-winning planning system Fast Downward, which will serve as an excellent foundation for this project.
This fully funded position is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (https://snf.ch/) for a duration of three years, with the possibility of extension to a fourth year. The position is available starting December 2024, but the start can be adjusted to spring or summer 2025, based on mutual agreement.
Founded in 1460, the University of Basel is the oldest university in Switzerland. The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (http://www.dmi.unibas.ch) is located in a modern facility in the heart of the city, near the River Rhine. With its approximately 100 members from all over the world, the department offers a welcoming atmosphere and a stimulating working environment with an excellent research infrastructure. The Artificial Intelligence group, led by Prof. Dr. Malte Helmert, focuses on Automated Planning and Heuristic Search. The group is responsible for the development and maintenance of the award-winning planning system Fast Downward, which will serve as an excellent foundation for this project.
Your position
In this project we investigate different possibilities of combining AI planning and KR formalisms, focusing on the implementation of practically feasible algorithms. For identifying suitable approaches, we will analyse the complexity and expressivity of combined planning and reasoning formalisms, so the work on this project will comprise practical as well as theoretical research.
The candidate is expected to:
The candidate is expected to:
- Conduct research on the topic of the project.
- Write research papers, articles, and present results at leading international conferences. We publish in venues such as ICAPS, KRR, AAAI, IJCAI, AIJ, JAIR, and more.
- Contribute to teaching and university self-administration (< 20%).
Your profile
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who meets the following criteria:
We are committed to increasing diversity in fields where women and other underrepresented groups are less represented and strongly encourage candidates from these groups to apply.
- A Master's degree in Computer Science or a related discipline.
- A strong interest in pursuing scientific research on the topic of the project.
- An outstanding academic record and a solid foundation in mathematics. While prior research experience is beneficial, it is not a requirement.
- Theoretical and practical experience in at least one of the following areas:
- Automated Planning
- Knowledge Representation and Reasoning
- Mathematical Logic
- Excellent communication skills and fluency in English (spoken and written). German language skills are not required, but welcome.
We are committed to increasing diversity in fields where women and other underrepresented groups are less represented and strongly encourage candidates from these groups to apply.
We offer you
- Close supervision of your research, including opportunities to collaborate with international experts.
- The opportunity to attend international conferences, where you can engage with leading scientists in the field.
- Excellent working conditions within a supportive research environment.
- A salary starting at approximately 48,000 CHF in the first year, with a moderate increase in the second and third years.
Bewerbung / Kontakt
If you are interested, please submit your application to Dr. Gabriele Röger at Write an email.
Your application should include:
We encourage you to submit your application by September 8, 2024. However, there is no strict deadline, and the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. You can expect to hear from us within two weeks of this date or your application date, whichever is later.
This job posting will remain active until the position is filled.
If you are interested, please submit your application to Dr. Gabriele Röger at Write an email.
Your application should include:
- A brief motivation statement explaining your interest in the position and why your background makes you a suitable candidate (please ensure this is written personally and not generated by an AI language model).
- Curriculum vitae.
- Scanned transcripts of Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
- Contact information for at least one referee (no direct recommendation letters needed at this stage).
- A copy of your latest thesis and/or a relevant publication, if applicable.
We encourage you to submit your application by September 8, 2024. However, there is no strict deadline, and the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. You can expect to hear from us within two weeks of this date or your application date, whichever is later.
This job posting will remain active until the position is filled.
Universität Basel
4000 Basel
4000 Basel
Place of work
4000 Basel
About the company