Postdoc Bayesian Reinforcement Learning for Learning to Collaborate with Humans

Are you passionate about AI and do you want to advance the frontier of human-AI collaboration?

Job description

We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our team and explore the exciting intersection of Bayesian reinforcement learning, deep learning and human-AI interaction. This position focuses on developing adaptive algorithms that enable AI agents to learn, reason, and collaborate effectively with human partners in dynamic, uncertain environments. By integrating Bayesian reasoning you will address the sample complexity of reinforcement learning, making it applicable to human-AI collaboration settings.

Why build AI systems that replace people if we can build AI systems that collaborate with people? Hybrid Intelligence (HI) is the combination of human and machine intelligence, expanding human intellect instead of replacing it. Our goal is to design Hybrid Intelligent systems, an approach to Artificial Intelligence that puts humans at the center, changing the course of the ongoing AI revolution.

At Delft University of Technology we are looking for a postdoc who wants to push machine learning beyond traditional settings that assume a fixed dataset. Specifically, collaborating with people requires both reasoning about the sequential aspects of the interaction, as well as adapting based on very few data points. Many reinforcement learning methods, however, require a very large set of experience. We aim lower this sample complexity, by building exploring reasonable assumptions (e.g., from cognitive psychology) on goals and behaviors of humans, thus making an important step towards AI that can effectively adapt to its human collaborator.

The postdoc will be based in the sequential decision making group at the department of intelligent systems, and will benefit from the network provide by the ELLIS Unit Delft.

Additionally, this postdoc position is part of the Hybrid Intelligence project and the successful candidate will be supervised by Dr. Frans Oliehoek (TU Delft) and Dr. Jan Willem van de Meent (University of Amsterdam). The successful candidate will attend project meetings and actively collaborate with a variety of project partners.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Conducting independent research in reinforcement learning, with a focus on human-AI interaction.
• Disseminating research outcomes through publications, conferences, and workshops.
• Actively contributing to the larger research project goals of Hybrid Intelligence
• Contributing to education, e.g. By supervising bachelor or master theses.

Job requirements

Strict requirements:

• A PhD degree in AI or closely related topics in computer science, math, or physics.

Other desiderata:

• Thorough knowledge of general area of reinforcement learning, decision making under uncertainty, and/or other forms of interactive machine learning.
• Track record with international publications.
• Good coding skills and experience in contemporary machine learning frameworks (e.g., Pytorch).
• Fluent in English
• Self-motivated
• Team player: willing to initiate collaborations with other partners in the project.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

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 to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment - which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 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.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 13 months Temporary
• A job of 28,5-40 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands. .

Additional information

Application procedure

• CV
• Motivational letter

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.