Postdoc position in Artificial Intelligence

Join the HAICu project at the University of Groningen and help transform how we engage with history. As a Postdoc in Artificial Intelligence, you will advance continual machine learning and human-in-the-loop systems to analyze diverse digital heritage collections. This multidisciplinary position offers opportunities to collaborate with leading researchers and major Dutch cultural institutions, with a focus on developing algorithms for deep, multimodal understanding of historical documents. If you are a motivated researcher eager to connect AI and the Humanities in a renowned research environment, we encourage you to apply to help make cultural heritage more accessible and advance AI research.

What are you going to do?

In this role, you will lead the development of machine learning and deep learning algorithms with continual learning capabilities to improve the analysis of complex historical manuscripts. As part of the HAICu research project, you will collaborate with PhD researchers and digital humanities experts to design systems that integrate human labeling and machine-based clustering. Your work will address multimodal challenges, including layout analysis, logical reading order, and the detection of specialized textual and graphic patterns. In addition to research, you will publish your findings in international journals and make your algorithms available to project partners under open-access conditions.

• a PhD degree in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or Computer Science (or a related discipline with specialisation in machine learning or continual learning)
• a proven publication record showcasing your ability to produce high-quality research published in international, peer-reviewed journals
• good programming skills and hands-on experience with machine learning techniques and deep neural networks
• excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
• high motivation to work in multidisciplinary contexts
• an integrative and cooperative personality with excellent communication and social skills
• Fluent proficiency in English – written and oral. Knowing Dutch is beneficial. (Standard English proficiency test might be required by the University of Groningen)
• Experience supervising BSc/MSc/PhD students is an advantage.

• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.

At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) provides teaching and research across a wide range of disciplines, from physics and biology to artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, and pharmacy. In close collaboration with partners from industry, healthcare, and society, we contribute to the urgent challenges of our time, such as energy, sustainability, digitization, and medical technology. Our community is open and informal, with more than 7,000 students, 1,000 PhD students, and 1,400 staff members from all over the world. If you would like to learn more about the Faculty of Science and Engineering, visit rug.nl/fse. 

You will be based at the University of Groningen, an internationally recognized institution founded in 1614. You will join the Department of Artificial Intelligence within the Bernoulli Institute, part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. As a member of the HAICu project (Work Package 2), you will work in a multidisciplinary environment under the supervision of Dr. Maruf Dhali, Prof. Jilles Dibangoye, and Prof. (Emeritus) Lambert Schomaker. Your role includes collaborating with PhDs and postdocs from both the University of Groningen and the University of Twente. You will also engage with digital humanities researchers and partners from leading Dutch cultural heritage institutions, such as the Nationaal Archief, Collectie Overijssel, and Groninger Archieven.

Do you have any questions or need more information?

Questions about the content of the job?
Maruf Dhali (Assistant Professor): M.A.Dhali@rug.nl

Questions about your application process?
Kimberley ter Voorde - Speelman (Human Resources Assistant): k.m.ter.voorde-speelman@rug.nl