Assistant Professor in verification of machine learning systems

Tasks

The Assistant Professor will be based at the department of Software Engineering (SE) at the Department of Computer Science, LTH. The department consists of approximately 15 employees and conducts research and education in software engineering, requirements engineering, testing, and quality assurance in close collaboration with industry and society.

This position offers an opportunity to establish and develop research in verification, validation, and quality assurance of autonomous systems. The research is conducted in a strong international environment with experience in empirical software engineering and industrial collaborations. The department participates, among other things, in the research project VerSACE and has established collaborations within ELLIIT, WASP, and NextG2Com, which provides good opportunities for collaboration, external funding, and the development of a long-term research profile.

As an Assistant Professor, you will receive support in your development towards promotion to Professor through mentorship, seminars, and collegial collaboration. We are seeking a person who wants to contribute to the department's development and build up an independent research activity with national and international collaborations.

Read more: VerSACE, NextG2Com, ELLIIT, and WASP.

Subject

Computer Science with a focus on verification and validation of large-scale autonomous systems

Special subject description

The position focuses on methods, tools, and studies for verification, validation, quality assurance, and certification of large-scale autonomous systems with AI and ML components, such as autonomous vehicles, industrial robotics, cyber-physical systems, AI agents, and automated decision support systems.

The subject area includes, among other things:

Scenario-based and simulation-based testing of autonomous systems. Statistical and data-driven verification under uncertainty and non-determinism. Model-based system development and architecture for autonomous systems. Safety argumentation and assurance cases. Regulatory compliance and requirements engineering linked to the EU AI Act and relevant safety standards.

The research concerns the behavior of the entire system in its operational context and thus complements research on the verification of individual AI or ML components. The area builds upon the department's established research in software and systems engineering as well as collaboration within, among others, ELLIIT, WASP, NextG2Com, and the profile area AI and digitalization.

Tasks

Employment as an Assistant Professor is a qualifying position and aims for the holder to develop their independence as a researcher and educator. The tasks mainly include research and teaching. Within the framework of the employment, the opportunity for five weeks of higher education pedagogical training shall be provided.

The tasks include:

Research within the subject area. Teaching at undergraduate, advanced, and doctoral levels. Supervision of master's students and doctoral students. Work with seeking external research funding. Collaboration with industry and society. Administration related to the tasks above.

Qualifications

To be qualified for employment as an Assistant Professor, one must have obtained a doctoral degree or achieved equivalent scientific competence.

Primarily, the candidate should be someone who has obtained a doctoral degree or achieved equivalent competence at most seven years before the end of the application period. However, those who have obtained a doctoral degree or achieved equivalent competence earlier may also be considered if there are special reasons. Special reasons refer to leave due to illness, parental leave, or other similar circumstances.

Assessment criteria

For employment as an Assistant Professor, the following shall constitute the basis for assessment of qualifications:

Good ability to develop and conduct high-quality research. Pedagogical ability.

Other requirements

Very good knowledge of English, both oral and written. Significant documented research experience (for example from postdoc or doctoral training) from another university/institute or relevant experience from industry/public sector. Documented research competence in verification, validation, quality assurance, and/or certification of autonomous and/or AI-based systems, or a related area. Documented skill in using empirical, analytical, and/or design science methods as well as the ability to collaborate and interact across methodological and knowledge areas. Documented research that is applied to or anchored in real, large-scale industrial systems and problems, rather than purely theoretical research without such application or anchoring. Ability to contribute to a good, inclusive, and respectful research and work environment. Good collaborative ability, initiative, ability to solve tasks independently, as well as demonstrated interest in leadership.

Other merits

Ability to collaborate in interdisciplinary and international research environments. Ability to establish and develop collaborations with, for example, industry or other universities and institutes. Experience of open research, open research data, and/or development of software with open source.

Consideration will also be given to how the applicant, through their experience and competence, is assessed to complement and strengthen ongoing research, undergraduate education, and innovation within the department, as well as contribute to its future development.

About the employment

The employment is time-limited to 6 years and is full-time. The employment is time-limited according to 4 kap. 12 a § HF. The purpose of the employment is for the teacher to be given the opportunity to develop their independence as a researcher and qualify both scientifically and pedagogically to meet the requirements for eligibility for an employment as Professor.

Instructions for application

The application must be written in English. Report your merits according to LTH's academic merit portfolio, see the link below. Upload as PDF files in the recruitment system. Read more here: http://www.lth.se/jobb/sokalararanstallning/