Stilling:

MSCA Fellow - Towards the Emergence of Artificial General Intelligence: an Artificial Life and Complex Systems approach

Deadline for applications: March 7th, 2019

OsloMet

OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet er landets tredje største universitet, med over 20 000 studenter og mer enn 2000 ansatte. OsloMet har studiesteder i Pilestredet, på Kjeller og i Sandvika. OsloMet er et attraktivt studie- og arbeidssted og en aktiv del av storbyregionens samfunns-, arbeids- og kulturliv.

Call for Expression of Interest for mutual application under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship scheme

We hereby invite for top-class researchers of any nationality (at any stage in their career) in the study of Integrated pathways into work or Integrating employers in the work inclusion efforts or Organizing integrated service provision or Enabling individuals to manage illness or impairment or Integrating users in co- creation of service to apply for a EU-funded Marie Sklodowska Curie Action Individual Fellowship (MSCA-IF) to conduct research at OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University for a period of 1-2 years.

Areas of research

Research group for Applied Artificial Intelligence (AAI) at the Department of Computer Science. Research group for Applied Artificial Intelligence (AAI) at the Department of Computer Science. This work will be carried out at the Living Technology Lab, hosted by the OsloMet Artificial Intelligence Lab.

Machines are becoming more and more alive, by incorporating functions of living systems such as intelligence, evolution, emergence, adaptation, self-repair, self-reproduction, and learning. Artificial life multi-agent systems are considered a stepping stone towards Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), and in particular the emergence of the ability to learn. How can artificial agents be able to acquire the general skill of learning, in order to continuously adapt throughout their lifetime?

Living organisms are complex systems that exhibit such adaptation and general learning skills through three main levels of self-organization:

  • Phylogeny, which includes evolution of genetic representations;
  • Ontogeny, which takes care of the morphogenetic process (growth) from a single cell to a multicellular machine, by following the genotype instructions;
  • Epigenesis, which allows the emergence of a learning system through an indirect encoding between genotype and phenotype, and the phenotype is subject to modifications (learning) through the lifetime while interacting with the environment.

This project will carry out research towards the Emergence of Artificial General Intelligence by using an Artificial Life and Complex Systems approach, e.g. multi-agent systems / environments including some of the properties found in living systems (phylogeny, ontogeny, epigenesis). We invite applicants to propose more detailed topics within the scope of this research as a part of their application. We encourage applicants with background in artificial intelligence, artificial life, and complex systems. Successful candidates will be supervised by Associate Prof. Stefano Nichele will be working as team member of the OsloMet research group of the Department of Information Technology

Important information about lab descriptions and project descriptions HERE.

With this call for Expression of Interest, we invite researchers to submit their resumé in ERC format (including publication list) and a short project description, that will be the basis for selecting a maximum of three candidates with which we will collaborate in developing competitive MSCA-IF proposals. In this first phase, the cooperation will be carried out remotely, but with regular email and Skype communication, and one physical meeting, if convenient. If applicants are successful, the place of work will be at the main campus in the center of Oslo.

Starting Date

The EU informs the results on the MSCA-IF applications in January/February 2020. Successful candidate(s) are expected to be available to start within the following 2 months. The candidates must be assessed as in principle eligible for a Marie Curie Individual Fellowship.

Main duties of the position

The successful candidate will primarily work on the Marie Curie funded project, but will be integrated at the research group and the department in general, by taking part in regular meetings and discussion groups, but will specifically be introduced with Stefano Nichele national and international network. If agreed with the candidate, he/she may also be included in other ongoing projects or in proposal processes.

Research Experience:

  • Good individual scientific research capabilities;
  • Preferably already the first author of several scientific journal research papers;

Language skills: English

We are looking for applicants who have

  • An excellent track record in research, necessary for being able to develop a competitive Marie Curie Fellowship application
  • An open and cooperation oriented nature, but with strong abilities for independent academic work

It is important for OsloMet to reflect the population of our region, and all qualified candidates are welcome to apply. We make active efforts to further develop as an inclusive workplace and to adapt the workplace if required.

Evaluation Committee

Interested candidates should upload their resume and a 1 page note describing the project for which a Marie Curie grant will be applied.

Proposals will be pre-selected based on internal evaluation and the availability of suitable supervision. Candidates will be informed of the results of the pre-selection by March 8th, 2019.

Selected candidates may be invited to Master classes to meet the supervisor and visit the research environment at OsloMet to further develop the proposal organised by OsloMet 29.04 -30.04.2019.

The candidate(s) selected to proceed with a full Marie Curie Application will be supported by the OsloMet EU team and the leader of the research group. Deadline for submission of Application is September 11th, 2019.

Originals must be presented if you are invited for an interview. OsloMet performs document inspections in order to give you as a candidate a proper evaluation and ensure fair competition.

We can offer you

Initially, we offer assistance in developing competitive Marie Curie Individual Fellowship proposals. For successful applicants to the Marie Curie program, we offer;

  • An exciting job opportunity at Norway’s third largest and most urban university
  • Flexible working conditions
  • An inclusive and friendly work environment
  • Unique academic network the possibility for the right candidate(s) to pursue his/her academic goals under the Associate Professor Stefano Nichele
  • Free Norwegian language classes for both staff and partners
  • Several staff sports and cultural benefits
  • Location in the center of Oslo
  • Onboarding assistance and other services

OsloMet has implemented the Charter & Code for researchers and been granted HR Excellence in Research the by the EU Commission.

The Euraxess Norway and OsloMet’s International Career Site gives information on living and working in Oslo.

Other information

If you would like more information about the positon, feel free to contact:

  • Pavan K Sriram, Senior Adviser, R&D Department, pavan.sriram@oslomet.no, phone +47 4767235599
  • Stefano Nichele, Associate Professor, Dept of Information Technology, Stefano.nichele@oslomet.no

Remuneration

The competitive fellowship opportunities are 100% funded and include living and mobility allowances.

If you wish to apply for the position, please apply electronically by clicking the button at the bottom of the page.

Deadline for applications: March 7th, 2019

Ref.: 19/02116

OsloMet has implemented the Charter & Code and been certified by the EU Commission with HR Excellence in Research (HRS4R) and is part of the EU network for mobility of Researchers Euraxess.

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