Our society is changing. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related technologies are playing an increasingly important role in our society. To this end Leiden University has started a new, university wide initiative to enable collaboration on the use of AI. By building on and expanding the already existing expertise of AI the project intends to advance science and improve the quality of our life. All the disciplines of the University of Leiden are involved: Archeology, Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Public Administration, Sciences, and also the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), to collaborate and appoint new staff with joint interests. Leiden University has earmarked dedicated funding for the appointment of full professors, assistant professors, a post-doc and support staff to facilitate the expansion of AI related research at all its departments.

Key responsibilities
The goal of the chair of “Deep Learning Foundations” is to strengthen the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science, both in scientific research and in education. The chair will study fundamental properties of deep neural networks, in cooperation with our research areas in nonlinear optimization, automatic machine learning, reinforcement learning, and data science.

The focus of the chair is to work on foundations of deep learning, e.g. by using methods from optimization for automatic network design or for internal learning, by using visualization methods for understanding the internal learning process, or by using machine learning to extract the internal knowledge and make it human-readable. Applications of deep learning in other disciplines, such as drug discovery, health, or law are areas in which such foundational approaches can demonstrate their potential.

See full profile: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/binaries/content/assets/werken-bij/bijlage-vac-19-365-deep-learning-foundations.pdf

We offer a full-time temporary appointment for a period of 5 years with a view to a permanent contract depending on good performance and funding.  Salary range from € 5.582,- to € 8.127,- gross per month (pay scale H2 in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year (8.3 %) bonuses, training, career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. For more information, see http://workingat.leiden.edu/

Leiden University requires teaching staff to obtain the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). If the successful applicant does not already possess this qualification or its equivalent, he/she must be willing to obtain this Qualification within two years.

Diversity and Work-life balance
Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups. For more information: www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/about-faculty-of-science/diversity

The Faculty of Science strives for excellence in a caring Institute. We wish to reflect society in all aspects, as we believe that this improves the dynamics in our organization. Therefore, we support and understand the need for a work/life/family balance and consequently varying working hours and places. We believe that doing good science is fun, and goes hand in hand with a driven yet friendly culture. In the Netherlands,  parental leave is standard for 16 weeks. Child care is available at and near the Bio Science Park.

Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science
The Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) is a centre of excellence for multidisciplinary research and education in computer science and artificial intelligence (AI).

It is our mission to improve current computer science methods, systems and techniques, whilst exploring new research areas that are relevant to society. We concentrate on the study of theoretical foundations and formal methods, and focus on applications in the field of artificial intelligence and data science.

With (big) data as a driving force in all fields of science, LIACS has a multidisciplinary perspective striving for research results that combine computer science and other disciplines at Leiden University.

LIACS is known for its strong integration of research and education. Our international environment creates many possibilities for research projects and offers a close collaboration with research groups.

Research at the Faculty of Science 
The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in an international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are driven by curiosity to expand fundamental knowledge and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future.

The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organised in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and fourteen master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 1,300 staff and over 4,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where most companies have its focus on drug research. For more information, see www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science  and  www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at