Postdocs & PhD students in Schmidhuber's group at the Swiss AI Lab IDSIA

JOBS for Postdocs (& PhD Students) in Machine Learning & Evolution & Robotics in Jürgen Schmidhuber's group at the Swiss AI Lab IDSIA, especially for the ProtoTouch project, initially for 2 years, with possibility of prolongation. Update of 5 Nov 2013: we have received many applications, and started hiring, but we still have not found the perfect ProtoTouch postdoc (to be funded by a prestigious Marie Curie Experienced Researcher Fellowship) - its online form reopened on 5 Nov - next deadline 8 Dec - see column to the right.
We are seeking outstanding postdocs (and PhD students) with experience / interest in topics such as deep learning neural networks (NN), recurrent neural networks (RNN), GPU programming, evolutionary computation, RNN evolution, adaptive robotics, curiosity-driven learning & intrinsic motivations based on our theory of surprise and interestingness and the Formal Theory of Fun & Creativity, computer vision and 3D animation, reinforcement learning & policy gradients for partially observable environments, hierarchical reinforcement learning, statistical / Bayesian approaches to machine learning, statistical robotics, unsupervised learning, general artificial intelligence, universal learning machines. The general goal is to advance the state of the art in machine learning and AI, in the context of various concrete research projects.
Most of the funding is provided by four research projects outlined below. For now, we are mainly interested in candidates applying for a prestigious Marie Curie Experienced Researcher Fellowship for the ProtoTouch project. But you will also collaborate on other projects with other lab members - we are one big family!
1. The ProtoTouch (EU-PEOPLE) project investigates novel touch-based user interfaces (e.g., touch screens for mobile devices, touch pads for computers). In a consortium of 10 European research institutes, you will help to develop and apply machine learning methods such as deep learning neural networks to investigate the performance of novel tactile displays, and biological processes responsible for touch. Candidates should have multidisciplinary research interests in areas like machine learning, electronic devices and neurophysiology. ProtoTouch candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Switzerland for more than 1 year in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Postdocs must fulfil the "experienced researcher" requirements of the Marie Curie regulations: at least 4 years but less than 5 years of "full time research experience." PhD students must fulfil the "early-stage researcher" requirements. See page 4 of the Marie Curie guidelines (PDF).
2. A general SNF research project aims at improving methods for deep learning and recurrent networks.
3. The NASCENCE EU (STREP) project requires expertise in machine learning and evolutionary computation (genetic algorithms, evolution strategies, estimation algorithms, neuroevolution). We intend to apply evolutionary algorithms to automatically discover the electrical signals which transform a nano-particle substrate (e.g. networks of nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes or films of graphene) into useful computational circuits.
4. The WAY EU (STREP) project on wearable interfaces and hand function recovery requires signal processing for EEG analysis combined with machine learning (recurrent neural networks, optimization). The goal is to develop and apply algorithms that facilitate control of hand prostheses and hand exoskeletons through brain-computer interfaces, in collaboration with partner institutes. We focus on practical application of hand-assistive devices, with a strong involvement of patients in clinical trials.
Our international project partners include neuroscientists, mathematicians, psychologists, roboticists, and other experts from the UK, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, France, and the US.