SINTEF

SINTEF is one of Europe's largest research organisations, with multidisciplinary expertise in the fields of technology, the natural sciences and the social sciences. SINTEF is an independent foundation and has conducted contract research and development projects for the private and public sectors since 1950. SINTEF has 2000 employees from 75 countries and annual revenues of three billion Norwegian kroner.

Vision: Teknologi for a better society.

Job summary

We invite applications for a PhD position in the context of the Norwegian research project ANALYST: Advanced Analytics on Smart Data. The applicants are encouraged to submit their application before June 20, 2018. The position has a duration of 36 months and is expected to be filled by September 1, 2018 (starting date can be as early as July 1). PhD positions in Norway are paid a competitive salary.

Working at SINTEF in Oslo and enrolled in the PhD programme at the University of Oslo, the position will allow the researcher to work towards a PhD on the topic of the combination of Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Geometric Modelling.

PhD project topic

Locally Refined (LR-) splines are piecewise polynomials in several variables that were developed in the context of geometric modelling. Recently their use has been extended to data modelling, in particular for Big Data Analytics and Visualization. They have proved useful in the modelling of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) data, in areas such as terrain modelling (3D maps), shape optimization, and visualization of Finite Element simulation results.

In its general form, LR-splines are incredibly versatile. However, to match the needs of specific applications we make strategic choices to ensure prioritized properties, such as requiring linear independence of the B-splines when the model is used as a basis for numerical simulations. Currently this is managed through restrictive rules of thumb for the refinement process, such as avoiding overloaded elements or B-splines, and avoiding B-splines with nested support. Using Machine Learning, more advanced refinement strategies can be developed.

On the other hand, LR-splines can be used as a pre-process for Machine Learning, regularizing large unstructured STEM datasets. They can also be used to extract the smooth component of a dataset, isolating non-smooth features which can then be used as input to AI feature classification algorithms.

Both of these aspects – AI improving the approximation power of LR-splines and LR-splines improving the performance of AI – will be part of the PhD topic. It may also include other challenges, such as tiling-and-stitching for distributed LR-spline approximation of large datasets.

The focus of ANALYST will be on STEM data from ocean floor surveys, large simulation data and medical imaging (CT and MR).

The project will take place at the Department of Applied Mathematics, SINTEF, under the supervision of Dr. Tor Dokken. The PhD-fellow will be enrolled at the University of Oslo.

Requirements

We are looking for a mathematically mature candidate with an affinity for problem solving. We require a strong background geometric and scientific modelling, as well as scientific programming in a collaborative setting. The candidate will develop theory and algorithms for LR-splines and machine learning, and contribute to our existing code bases. As the candidate will interact with the project's user partners, good communication skills are required.

Benefits

The gross annual salary (before deductions and taxes) will be approximately 440 000 NOK. The employment contract has a maximum length of 36 months and includes social security coverage. All amounts are subject to deductions and taxes.

Comment 1

At the date of recruitment (starting date), the applicant must have a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics or Engineering (or any equivalent diploma). Students at the end of their master studies can apply as long as the master is expected to be completed before the date of a recruitment.

Comment 2

The application must include:

• Application letter
• Master thesis (if finished at the time of application)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, and academic work/scientific publications)
• Copies of educational certificates, transcript of records and letters of recommendation
• List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Information on English proficiency and other language skills
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

Applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University’s grading system.

Please remember that all documents should be in English.

Comment 3

For more details on ANALYST see http:/www.sintet.no/analyst

Apply for position

Søknadsfrist: 25.06.2018

Web: www.sintef.no

Kontakt: Tor Dokken (Chief Scientist)

Telefon: +47 930 58 710

E-post : tor.dokken@sintef.no