Postdoctoral Position in Hybrid AI

We invite you to apply for a 2-year postdoctoral position in the area of hybrid AI, combining modern language models (LMs) with ontologies and knowledge graphs (KGs).

The position is part of a newly funded 4-year research project starting in 2026, focused on domain-specific, trustworthy, and explainable AI systems.

Work Tasks

Recent advances in foundation models have demonstrated impressive capabilities, but they still face critical limitations in reasoning, explainability, robustness, and domain adaptation. This project explores integrations of modern LMs with ontologies and knowledge graphs to address these challenges.

The research will investigate:

• Ontology- and KG-enhanced language models
• Domain-specific language models and retrieval-augmented generation
• Knowledge grounding, constraint-aware generation, and explainability
• Evaluation methodologies for knowledge-intensive AI systems

The project will be driven by real-world domain applications in materials, casting, and manufacturing, developed in close collaboration with domain experts, ensuring both scientific depth and applied impact.

What We Offer

• Freedom to shape research directions and co-develop the project agenda
• Opportunities for high-impact publications and open-source contributions
• Collaboration with PhD students, domain experts, and international partners
• Support for conference travel and research networking
• A stimulating interdisciplinary research environment

Required Qualifications

Applicants must have been awarded a PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Engineering disciplines with demonstrated research in AI, or a closely related field, completed by the start date and no more than three years before the application deadline.

Strong research background in at least one of the following areas:

• Ontologies, Knowledge Graphs, and Knowledge-based Systems, or
• Natural Language Processing, Large/Small Language Models, and/or Transformer-based Architectures

Demonstrated ability and interest in working across methodological boundaries

• Solid programming skills (e.g. Python) and experience with research-oriented software development
• Evidence of research excellence (publications, open-source contributions, or comparable output)

Desired Qualifications

Experience or strong interest in the integration of language models with structured knowledge. Familiarity with one or more of the following:

• Knowledge graph construction, querying, or reasoning
• Ontology engineering and semantic modeling
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation or knowledge grounding
• Fine-tuning or adaptation of language models
• Interest in domain-specific and explainable AI applications

You will find general information about a postdoc position and the recruitment process at JU, in this document (https://ju.se/download/18.10cb1a671979b9039cb1eaa0/1751015221770/Regulations%20for%20employment%20of%20teachers%20at%20J%C3%B6nk%C3%B6ping%20University%20-%20Appointment%20procedure.pdf).

Employment Details

The position is a fixed-term employment, for two years, full-time (100%), with a start from 1 September 2026, or according to agreement. Individual salary setting and collective agreement applicable.

Application

We look forward to receiving your application by March 10, 2026, including the following documents:

• Cover letter
• CV
• Certified copies of certificates and diplomas
• Verified list of qualifications
• References
• List of publications
• Other (optional)

Jönköping University is a modern institution characterized by its internationalization and entrepreneurial spirit. Here, you will find qualified, inventive, and enterprising staff from all over the world. We develop new knowledge and share expertise through sustainable collaborations with industry, the public sector, and other academic institutions. We offer an equal and inclusive workplace and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. Read more about us on our website (https://ju.se/).