Are you an aspiring researcher with an interest in applications of probability theory, for instance in machine learning or neuroscience? Then start your academic career off right as a PhD candidate at one of the top computer science departments in the Netherlands. Using the language of category theory and string diagrams, you will investigate fundamental notions in probability theory.

This PhD position is part of an effort to investigate fundamental notions in probability theory using the language of category theory and string diagrams. The aim is to bring forward the mathematical structures underlying probabilistic reasoning in various areas, with emphasis on probabilistic logic, learning and programming.

The main task is to produce a PhD thesis at the end of the contract. You will publish articles in the scientific literature that will form the building blocks (chapters) for this thesis. An incomplete draft version of a book entitled ‘Structured Probabilistic Reasoning’ will give an impression of the research topic. You can spend a small part of your time (in the order of 10%) as teaching assistant. You will work mainly with Prof. Bart Jacobs, who will be your PhD supervisor, and with Dr Dario Stein.

• You should have a Master's degree in (theoretical) computer science, mathematics, artificial intelligence or a related field.
• You have good mathematical skills, preferably in probability theory and/or category theory, and you have elementary programming skills (for instance in Python or R).
• You have an interest in applications of probability theory, for instance in machine learning or in neuroscience.
• You have a good command of spoken and English language.
• You have good communication skills. You have a clear research drive.

Fixed-term contract: You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).

• It concerns an employment for 0.8 (5 year contract) - 1.0 FTE (4 year contract).
• The gross starting salary amounts to €2,541 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,247 from the fourth year onwards (salary scale P).
• You will receive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services. Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment and help your family settle in Nijmegen.
• Working for us means getting extra days off. In case of full-time employment, you can choose between 29 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the legally allotted 20.

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

You will be appointed at the Computer Science Department of the Institute for Computing and Information Sciences (iCIS). Radboud University's iCIS is an internationally recognised institute, consistently ranked among the top Computer Science departments in the Netherlands. The institute focuses its research on three themes: Data Science, Digital Security and Software Science. In recent evaluations, iCIS has been consistently ranked as the No. 1 Computing Science department in the Netherlands. More specifically, you will be appointed at iHub, Radboud University’s interdisciplinary research hub on digitalization and society. iHub is Radboud University’s interdisciplinary research hub on digitalization and society. iHub brings together a diverse range of scholars from across the humanities, social sciences, engineering and natural sciences to tackle urgent questions raised by the increased digitalization and datafication of science and society.

The Faculty of Science is a complete science faculty where research and education are closely related. The faculty aims to be an academic community with an international character, where staff members from different backgrounds combine their talents with the common goal of being a leading faculty of science in Europe.



Radboud University
We want to get the best out of science, others and ourselves. Why? Because this is what the world around us desperately needs. Leading research and education make an indispensable contribution to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. This is what unites the more than 24,000 students and 5,600 employees at Radboud University. And this requires even more talent, collaboration and lifelong learning. You have a part to play!