The position is embedded in the Cognitive Systems group of the Department of Advanced Computing Sciences, and the successful candidate will work together with PhD candidates, other postdoctoral researchers, and senior researchers. The candidate will conduct research in deep learning and, specifically, will contribute towards the development of methods and algorithms from the area of self-supervised learning. The final goal is the development of a series of techniques for human emotion recognition in the absence of widely annotated data. The position is supported by a large-scale, multi-disciplinary Horizon Europe project, which brings together universities, companies, and end-users, all active in the fields of AI and XR (eXtended Reality), aiming at designing novel human-to-machine interactions within XR. Maastricht University is playing a key role in the project, mainly focusing on automated human behavior recognition using the latest AI methods.  

The successful candidate will:

1. Support the group’s activities in R&D within the area of multimodal, self-supervised learning, for automated human emotion recognition and contribute to the integration of these methods in broader platforms and tools that are currently developed as part of the EU project.

2. Support in day-to-day project-related activities, onsite and online meetings, as well as in the preparation of project reports, deliverables and presentations.

3. (Co-)author scientific, peer-reviewed papers, submitted to top conferences and journals in the field of AI and human behavior recognition.

1. A PhD degree (already completed or near completion) in AI and specifically in deep learning, with a focus on computer vision, human activity/emotion recognition, NLP, or any other related field.
2. Excellent programming skills with a focus on deep learning packages (Python) are required.
3. Experience in programming for VR/AR and/or Unity3D applications will be appreciated.
4. Solid experience and interest in latest advances in AI, especially in the field of Deep Learning, with proven experience (e.g. through publications, prior projects, etc.).
5. Excellent command of English.
6. Team spirit is also very important, since a large team will work on the project, both within the department, as well as across other institutes in Europe.
7. Strong presentation, writing, communication and organization skills are required for this position.

Fixed-term contract: we offer a full-time position for a period of one year initially, and a possibility for a contract extension beyond this, subject to performance. The preferred starting date is June 1st, 2023.

The salary is stipulated in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities: a minimum of €3.974 and a maximum of €5.439 per month, for a full-time position of 38 hours a week. On top of this, there is an annual holiday allowance (8% of annual income) and an annual end-of-year bonus (8.3% of annual income).

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/about-um/working-um

Maastricht University | is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 22,000 students and about 5,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Living and working in Maastricht | Situated in the heart of Europe and within 30 kilometers from the German and Belgian borders, Maastricht and its 120,000 inhabitants have a strong international character. It is a safe and family-friendly city with a history spanning more than 2,000 years. The city’s rich past is reflected everywhere in the streets: the ratio of monuments-to-inhabitants is roughly 1:73. If you are unfamiliar with the Netherlands, UM’s Knowledge Centre for International Staff will gladly assist you with practical matters such as housing.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering | Maastricht University heavily invests in the growth of its STEM research and education. The Faculty of Science and Engineering – which houses the Department of Advanced Computing Sciences – is one of the focal points of these developments. Within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, over 260 researchers and more than 2,700 students work on themes such as data science and artificial intelligence, circularity and sustainability, and fundamental physics. 

https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/fse

Department of Advanced Computing Sciences | The Department of Advanced Computing Sciences is Maastricht University’s largest and oldest department broadly covering the fields of artificial intelligence, data science, computer science, mathematics and robotics. Over 100 researchers work and study in the Department of Advanced Computing Sciences, whose roots trace back to 1987. The department’s staff teaches approximately 800 bachelor’s and master’s students in 3 specialized study programmes in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. 

https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/dacs