Vacant job

Job Responsibilities

We are looking for two driven postdoctoral researchers to join the research group at the Department of Decision and Control Systems at KTH.

Our group conducts fundamental research at the intersection of machine learning, optimization, and decision-making, with applications in next-generation network systems.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you have a unique opportunity to define your own research agenda within our broad field. The position offers flexibility to focus on one of two main tracks, depending on your background and interests:

• Fundamental Algorithms and Theory: Development of rigorous mathematical frameworks for distributed optimization, learning, and decision-making under uncertainty. This track offers great freedom to explore new theoretical directions.
• Distributed Intelligence for 6G: Designing algorithmic foundations for wireless 6G networks. You will work on distributed learning (e.g., federated learning) at the network's edge, focusing on the interplay between communication, computation, and control.

You will join a dynamic team with strong funding (e.g., WASP, KAW, VR) and an extensive international network. We aim to publish in top-ranked venues such as NeurIPS, ICML, AISTATS, IEEE Transactions, and leading conferences in control engineering/signal processing. Ideally, this position serves as a stepping stone for a future academic career.

Your supervisor will be Professor Mikael Johansson, and you will collaborate closely with PhD students and senior researchers. The position may include a limited amount of teaching or supervision (up to 20%), allowing you ample time to focus on your research.

Qualifications

Requirements

• A completed PhD or foreign degree assessed to be equivalent to a PhD in electrical engineering, computer science, or applied mathematics. This eligibility requirement must be met by the time the employment decision is made.
• Very strong mathematical background in optimization, linear algebra, and probability theory.
• Documented research expertise in machine learning, control engineering, or applied mathematics, demonstrated through publications in high-quality international forums.
• Excellent ability to express oneself in spoken and written English, as this is necessary for daily work.
• Personal qualities: We are looking for a candidate with strong drive and scientific curiosity. As a person, you are independent and can drive your own research processes while having the collaborative skills required to work in teams and mentor junior researchers.

Meritorious

• At the time of application, no more than three years since the PhD or a foreign degree assessed to be equivalent to a PhD was obtained.
• Experience in distributed optimization as well as decentralized and federated learning. Note: Prior knowledge of wireless communication is not a strict requirement for candidates focusing on the theoretical track, provided they have a strong methodological background.
• Proven ability to publish in top-ranked conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, AAAI) or leading IEEE journals.
• Programming skills (e.g., Python, C/C++, Matlab) relevant for validating research results.
• Awareness of diversity and equality issues with a particular focus on gender equality.

We will place great importance on personal characteristics.

Join KTH

KTH shapes the future through education, research, and innovation. As a leading international technical university, we play an active role in driving and participating in the transition to a sustainable society. Here, you have the opportunity to grow and develop in a creative and dynamic workplace with good working conditions and benefits. Equality, diversity, and equal opportunities are quality issues and an obvious part of KTH's values as a university and government agency.

Learn more about working at KTH (https://www.kth.se/om/jobba-pa-kth)

Union Representatives

Contact details for union representatives (https://www.kth.se/om/work-at-kth/fackrepresentanter-1.500898).

Application

You apply via KTH's recruitment system. As an applicant, you are primarily responsible for ensuring that your application is complete when submitted.

The application should include:

• CV including relevant work experience and knowledge.
• Copy of degree certificates and transcripts from your previous university studies. Translations into English or Swedish if the original documents are not issued in either of these languages.
• A brief research description (research statement), including a statement of why you want to conduct research, your academic interests, and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. Max 2 pages.

The application must reach KTH by the application deadline at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

About the Employment

The employment is permanent, but lasts for a maximum of two years.

A fixed-term merit-based employment (https://www.arbetsgivarverket.se/globalassets/arbetsgivarverket/avtal-och-skrifter/avtal/avtal-om-tidsbegransad-anstallning-som-postdoktor/avtal-om-tidsbegransad-anstallning-som-postdoktor-2021-11-19.pdf) primarily focused on research intended as a first career step after the PhD.

Miscellaneous

For union representatives (https://www.kth.se/om/work-at-kth/fackrepresentanter-1.500898) in connection with recruitment.

It may occur that an employment at KTH is placed in a security class. If so, a security review of the applicant will be conducted in accordance with the Security Protection Act (2018:585) after consent. In these cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved after the security review.

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