[PhD position] [Last call] AI systems that can proactively acquire new knowledge and new abilities

[Alessandro Saffiotti]

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Örebro University is offering a Ph.D. position to a highly-motivated
student who wants to investigate how AI systems can proactively acquire
new knowledge and new abilities. The position is fully funded for a
period of four years.

Application deadline: May 31, 2024.
Expected starting date: September 2024.
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ABOUT THE PROJECT:

The project is in the area of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and it
relates in particular to automated reasoning, automated planning and
knowledge representation. The project is funded by the prestigious
Swedish Research Council, and it will investigate the ground-breaking
question of how AI systems can proactively acquire new knowledge and new
abilities. The student will develop theories and methods to allow the AI
system to decide which knowledge or abilities it should learn, when, and
how. As part of this problem, the AI system must be able to perform
anticipatory reasoning, and to reason about its own knowledge and
abilities as well as the knowledge and abilities of others. Note that
this project investigates the high-level question of how an AI system
can autonomously decide to initiate a learning process, but it does not
aim at studying specific mechanisms for machine learning.

Applicants should have demonstrated knowledge in AI, specifically in:
knowledge representation, planning and decision-making, or multi-agent
systems. Experience with robotic systems and human-machine interaction
is desirable; experience in machine learning or neuro-symbolic
approaches can be beneficial (but this is not the focus of this
project as mentioned).  The ability to work in multi-disciplinary
projects and good programming skills are a plus.

ABOUT THE EMPLOYER:

The research will be performed at the Center for Applied Autonomous
Sensor Systems (AASS, www.aass.oru.se) of Örebro University, in a very
active team dedicated to Cognitive Robotic Systems.  Örebro University
(www.oru.se) is a young university that currently enrolls more than
17,000 students. It is located in Örebro, a city of 130,000 inhabitants
in central Sweden.

AASS is one of the Strong Research Environments at Örebro University. It
carries out multi-disciplinary research at the intersection of robotics,
machine learning, artificial intelligence, and computer science. The
research and human environment at AASS are young and enthusiastic.
Researchers come from a dozen countries in Europe and worldwide and have
different scientific and cultural backgrounds. AASS frequently hosts
international scholars and is involved in many international projects.

The Ph.D. student will receive a monthly salary adequate to the cost of
living in Sweden and will be included in the Swedish social security
system.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Applications are accepted immediately, with a deadline for application
by May 31, 2024. Please submit all required documents through our online
application system:

https://www.oru.se/english/career/available-positions/job/?jid=20240070

Please note that students currently finishing their Master's Degree and
expected to graduate before the employment starting date are welcome to
apply.

Expected employment start date is September 2024.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Full information about this position is available at:

https://www.oru.se/english/career/available-positions/job/?jid=20240070


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Prof Alessandro Saffiotti
Head, AASS Cognitive Robotic Systems Lab asa...@aass.oru.se
School of Science and Technology Tel: +46 19 303794
Orebro University, Orebro, Sweden Fax: +46 19 303463
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