Vacant job

We are now seeking a PhD student in machine learning with a focus on generative modeling and data-centric strategies for data-efficient machine learning, taking into account fairness and privacy aspects.

The position is part of the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP), and you will belong to WASP's doctoral school and benefit from the program's extensive network of doctoral students and senior researchers.

The Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program, WASP, is Sweden's largest single research program in modern times. The program creates a platform for academic research and education in close collaboration with leading Swedish technology-intensive industry. The research includes artificial intelligence and autonomous systems that operate in collaboration with humans and adapt to their surroundings using sensors, information, and knowledge, creating intelligent systems of systems.

WASP's vision is excellent research and competence in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and software for the benefit of Swedish industry and society.

Read more: https://wasp-sweden.org/ (https://wasp-sweden.org/)

Your responsibilities

Machine learning, and particularly deep learning, requires large amounts of data and energy resources for training. At the same time, there are significant challenges in handling dataset bias and privacy issues, especially in applications handling sensitive data, such as medical diagnoses. The focus of this PhD project is to develop methods to reduce the amount of data without significantly affecting the performance of a model trained on that data, to promote efficient optimization and reduce computational requirements, while taking into account fairness and privacy aspects. The goal is to promote resource-efficient and reliable machine learning in a unified framework.

In your work, you will explore generative modeling to create synthetic representative data points with high training value, while considering dataset bias and ensuring that sensitive information does not leak from the real dataset. You will work with different types of datasets (from low-dimensional point clouds to high-dimensional image data) and target different types of applications (e.g., medical imaging). The work will be both theoretically oriented and focused on implementing experiments with machine learning algorithms for empirical testing.

As a PhD student, you will devote yourself to your doctoral education and research project in which you are involved. Your work may also include teaching or participating in other institutional duties, up to 20% of full-time.

Your qualifications

You have completed an advanced degree in computer science, statistics, mathematics, electrical engineering, or a related field, or alternatively completed courses totaling at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 credits are at an advanced level (in the mentioned fields) or have otherwise acquired substantially equivalent knowledge. It is required that you can communicate fluently in spoken and written English.

It is considered meritorious if you have solid programming skills in Python, good knowledge of LaTeX and version control systems (git), and are comfortable working with GNU/Linux systems. Additionally, it is considered meritorious if you have a strong interest in efficient machine learning, fair AI, and privacy (differential privacy).

It is highly meritorious if you have excellent academic results and a strong background in mathematics. You are skilled at implementing new models and algorithms in a suitable software environment, with documented experience. You have a strong drive to conduct basic research, ability and interest in working together. Furthermore, strong communication skills are highly valued.

The project involves both theoretical and applied work.

Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities and suitability.

Your workplace

Linköping University is one of the leading AI institutions in Sweden. We have strong connections to outstanding national research initiatives, such as https://wasp-sweden.org/ (https://wasp-sweden.org/) and https://elliit.se/ (https://elliit.se/). You will have access to state-of-the-art computer infrastructure for machine learning, e.g., through https://liu.se/en/news-item/sveriges-snabbaste-superdator-for-ai-ar-invigd (https://liu.se/en/news-item/sveriges-snabbaste-superdator-for-ai-ar-invigd).

The project will be carried out as a collaboration between Media and Information Technology (MIT) (https://liu.se/forskning/medie-och-informationsteknik-mit) at the Department of Science and Technology at Campus Norrköping (main supervisor Gabriella Pizzi (https://liu.se/medarbetare/gabei62)) and STIMA (https://liu.se/organisation/liu/ida/stima) at the Department of Computer Science at Campus Valla in Linköping (co-supervisor SMAIR group (https://smair.github.io/)).

For the full announcement, see: Vacancies - Linköping University (https://liu.se/en/job-at-liu/vacancies)

About the position

Upon commencement of employment, you will be admitted to the doctoral education. Read more about the respective faculty's doctoral education https://liu.se/en/research/doctoral-education (https://liu.se/en/research/doctoral-education)

The employment is fixed-term for normally four years full-time. Extension of employment up to five years occurs based on the extent of teaching and institutional duties. In special cases, further extension may occur. You are initially employed for one year, and thereafter the employment is renewed for up to two years at a time, based on the achieved study plan.

Commencement by agreement.

The position may be placed in a security classification. If so, a security investigation with register control will be conducted before a decision on employment is made.

Salary and benefits

The PhD student salary is regulated based on a locally agreed salary scale. Read more about benefits for employees https://liu.se/en/job-at-liu/benefits (https://liu.se/en/job-at-liu/benefits).

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see https://liu.se/en/job-at-liu/help-for-applicants (https://liu.se/en/job-at-liu/help-for-applicants).

Application

You apply for this position by clicking the "Apply" button below. Your application must be received by Linköping University no later than August 21, 2026. Applications received after the last application date will not be considered.

We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, as this enriches and develops our operations. For us, it is obvious to safeguard everyone's equal value, rights, and opportunities. Read about our work with equal conditions (https://liu.se/en/article/equal-conditions/).

Welcome with your application!

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