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Project Description

Doctoral Subject: Computer Science with a focus on Computational Biology

This position offers a unique opportunity to develop and advance cognitive brain theories and build computer-based neural network models that can serve as the foundation for the new generation of brain-inspired AI systems, aiming for brain-like machine intelligence. The successful candidate will benefit from the vibrant interdisciplinary environment maintained through a strategic collaboration with Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University.

The project's goal is to develop and simulate large-scale neural network models of the brain's cognitive functions, focusing on the cortical memory system, and use these to make progress towards brain-like intelligent systems. Special emphasis is placed on connecting multiple neural networks to study neural interactions between different cortical regions that support cognitive functions. Your tasks will involve building such large-scale, brain-plausible network-of-networks models in the continuum between spiking and non-spiking computations, thereby proposing a new architectural blueprint for AI agents. You are also expected to evaluate the emerging models given multimodal data and various constraints. The project will involve interdisciplinary efforts in several areas, including cognitive science, computational neuroscience, machine learning/AI (deep generative modeling), and dynamical systems.

You are also expected to write scientific articles in English.

Supervision: Pawel Herman is proposed to supervise the doctoral student. Decision is made upon admission.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to doctoral studies (Chapter 7, Section 39 of the Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility:

• completed an advanced level degree, or
• fulfilled course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, including at least 60 higher education credits at an advanced level, or
• acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way, within or outside the country.
• The applicant's educational profile must be in computer science/computing, technical physics/mathematics, cognitive science, or related fields.

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English proficiency equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

To succeed in your doctoral studies at KTH, you need to be goal-oriented and persistent in your work. In the selection of applicants, the ability to:

• independently drive your work forward,
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional attitude, and
• analyze and work with complex issues.
• Furthermore, particular value is placed on interest in the brain's cognitive functions, computational brain theories, and computations in the cerebral cortex.
• Competence in scientific programming, numerical simulations, or GPU programming is desirable but not a requirement.
• Previous experience with large-scale brain models based on neural networks (spiking or non-spiking) is an advantage.

After meeting the eligibility requirements, great weight will be placed on personal qualities.

Final Degree: Doctorate

Information on Admission and Employment

Only those admitted to doctoral studies may be employed as doctoral students. The total employment period may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education over four years. An employed doctoral student may, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within, for example, education and administration. A new employment as a doctoral student is valid for a maximum of one year; the employment may thereafter be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

As a doctoral student, you will be part of KTH's employment benefits and have a monthly salary according to KTH's agreement for doctoral salaries. Read more about Doctoral Studies at KTH | KTH | Sweden.

Trade Union Representatives

Contact details for trade union representatives.

Doctoral Student Section (Student Union of the Royal Institute of Technology)

Contact details for the doctoral student section.

Application

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

The application must contain the following:

• Copies of degree certificates and transcripts from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations to English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages. Copies of originals must be certified.
• CV with relevant professional experience and skills.
• Cover letter with a brief account of why you wish to pursue doctoral studies, your academic interests, and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Max 2 pages)
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please attach a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

The application must be received by KTH no later than the last day of application at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Other

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It may occur that a position at KTH is classified for security reasons. If this is the case for this specific position, a security clearance check will be conducted on the applicant in accordance with the Security Protection Act (2018:585) with consent. In these cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved after the security clearance check.

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