Open postdoc positions in "CyPhAI: Formal Analysis and Design of AI-intensive Cyber-Physical Systems"

[Kohei SUENAGA]

皆様，
（複数お受け取りの場合はご容赦ください．）

京都大学の末永です．

私が代表を務めている CREST のプロジェクト
「AI集約的サイバーフィジカルシステムのための形式的解析設計手法」で
博士研究員を募集しております．募集要項が
https://hackmd.io/5QMqMBiTRNyT1iic_NRurQ?view
にありますので，ご興味がお有りの方はご検討いただければと思います．
また，適任の方をご存知でしたら，どうぞ本メールを
ご転送いただけますとありがたいです．

よろしくお願いいたします．

末永

--
# Open Positions Announcement: Postdoctoral Researchers in Formal
Methods and Control Theory for AI-Intensive Cyber-Physical Systems

## Overview

We are excited to announce the availability of three postdoctoral
researcher positions within the "CyPhAI: Formal Analysis and Design of
AI-intensive Cyber-Physical Systems" project. We seek to develop
mathematically rigorous methodologies for the modeling, verification,
testing, monitoring, and control of cyber-physical systems (CPS) where
artificial intelligence (AI) plays a pivotal role. This pioneering
project is a collaborative effort between Japan teams led by Prof.
Kohei Suenaga (Kyoto University) and Prof. Masako Kishida (NII) and
the France team led by Prof. Thao Dang (CNRS), emphasizing
international collaboration and interdisciplinary research in AI-CPS.

In this project, you will help advance the research in formal methods
and control theories for AI-CPS and closely work with the leading
researchers in Japan, Prof. Kohei Suenaga at Kyoto University in Kyoto
or Prof. Masako Kishida at the National Institute of Informatics (NII)
in Tokyo. You will also have opportunities to participate in several
annual project workshops held in France or Japan to collaborate with
the France team as well as other Japan teams.

Candidates must have or be near the completion of a PhD with research
in relevant fields and demonstrate a track record of research
publications, conference presentations, and software programming
skills. Research experience in interdisciplinary collaborations is
highly valued. The positions are heavily research-oriented. Selected
candidates will be expected to independently conduct research tasks
including but not limited to the following:
- Propose and execute research plans
- Present progress and discuss with team members and collaborators regularly
- Prepare submissions to top-tier journals or conferences
- Promote our research outcome at international venues

We welcome applications from foreign (non-Japanese) nationals. This
project is funded by the Core Research for Evolutionary Science and
Technology (CREST) program from Japan Science and Technology Agency
(JST). Positions are to be filled on a rolling basis with flexible
start dates. The initial contract will end at March 2025 with the
possibility of extension up to March 2026, when the project will
conclude. Compensation is determined on the basis of your
qualifications according to the employment regulations in Kyoto
University or NII, with social insurances covered by the hiring
institutions.

## Position Descriptions

### 1. Two Postdoctoral Researchers in Formal Methods for AI-CPS
- **Workplace:** Onsite at Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- **Qualifications:**
+ Must have or be near the completion of a PhD with research
topics in verification and testing of software or hybrid systems,
verification and testing of machine-learning systems, or reinforcement
learning
+ Full Professional Proficiency in English
+ Strong programming skills in C++, MATLAB, OCaml, or Python
- **Recommended Skill:** Elementary Japanese to help your daily life
- **Principle Investigator**: Prof. Kohei Suenaga
- **Research Focus:** Formal methods applicable to AI-CPS and its
application to real-world problems, including but not limited to ones
related to our previous publications listed below:
+ [Junya Shijubo, Masaki Waga, Kohei Suenaga: Efficient Black-Box
Checking via Model Checking with Strengthened Specifications. RV 2021:
100-120](https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.04656)
+ [Ryotaro Banno, Kotaro Matsuoka, Naoki Matsumoto, Song Bian,
Masaki Waga, Kohei Suenaga: Oblivious Online Monitoring for Safety LTL
Specification via Fully Homomorphic Encryption. CAV (1) 2022:
447-468](https://arxiv.org/abs/2206.03582)
+ [Atsushi Kikuchi, Kotaro Uchida, Masaki Waga, Kohei Suenaga:
BOREx: Bayesian-Optimization-Based Refinement of Saliency Map for
Image- and Video-Classification Models. ACCV (7) 2022:
274-290](https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.17130)
+ [Amit Gurung, Masaki Waga, Kohei Suenaga: Learning Nonlinear
Hybrid Automata from Input-Output Time-Series Data. ATVA (1) 2023:
33-52](https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.03915)
+ [Junya Shijubo, Masaki Waga, Kohei Suenaga: Probabilistic
Black-Box Checking via Active MDP Learning. ACM Trans. Embed. Comput.
Syst. 22(5s): 148:1-148:26 (2023)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.07930)
+ [Étienne André, Masaki Waga, Natsuki Urabe, Ichiro Hasuo:
Exemplifying Parametric Timed Specifications over Signals with Bounded
Behavior. NFM 2022: 470-488](https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.13247)
+ [Masaki Waga, Ezequiel Castellano, Sasinee Pruekprasert, Stefan
Klikovits, Toru Takisaka, Ichiro Hasuo: Dynamic Shielding for
Reinforcement Learning in Black-Box Environments. ATVA 2022:
25-41](https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.13446)
+ [Masaki Waga: Active Learning of Deterministic Timed Automata
with Myhill-Nerode Style Characterization. CAV (1) 2023:
3-26](https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.17742)


### 2. One Postdoctoral Researcher in Control for AI-CPS

- **Workplace:** Onsite at National Institute of Informatics, Tokyo, Japan
- **Qualifications:**
+ Must have or be near the completion of a PhD with research
topics in control theory, learning-based control, or hybrid systems
+ Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
+ Must be able to work independently
- **Recommended Skill:** Elementary Japanese to help your daily life
- **Principle Investigator**: Prof. Masako Kishida
- **Research Focus:** Towards controller designs using machine
learning techniques and/or safe controller designs for systems with
machine-learning-based components


## Application Process

Please send your application to `application-cyphai [at]
fos.kuis.kyoto-u.ac.jp` with the subject "CREST Job Application". Your
application must include:
- A brief CV,
- A list of your publications (A link to your dblp or Google Scholar
profile will be sufficient.),
- Softcopies of your representative publications,
- Contact information for two references,
- For applicants to Kishida's group at NII: a short research proposal
(at most one page including figures/illustrations).

We will reach out for further materials and interview arrangements if
your application aligns with our project needs.

If you have questions regarding the positions, please send your
inquiries to `application-cyphai [at] fos.kuis.kyoto-u.ac.jp` with the
subject "CREST Job Inquiry".

--
Kohei Suenaga (末永幸平), Ph.D
Associate professor (准教授)
Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University
(京都大学情報学研究科)
ksue...@gmail.com
http://www.fos.kuis.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~ksuenaga/