PhD - Reliable conversational domain-specific data exploration and analysis

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Computer Science

We are looking for a highly-qualified and motivated individual to pursue a PhD in the area of reliable conversational domain-specific data exploration and analysis. The prospect PhD student will join a research team in KTH led by Professor Aristides Gionis. The position is part of the European project ARMADA funded by the Marie-Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network. 

The ARMADA project operates within the fast-growing field of Conversational AI, aiming to address critical issues related to the reliability and quality of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Gemini. These models are increasingly used in essential sectors like healthcare, education, and law, where inaccurate or misleading responses –- known as "hallucinations" –- can have serious consequences. ARMADA seeks to develop solutions that make these AI systems more trustworthy, coherent, and verifiable by involving users directly in the response validation process and ensuring that every answer is traceable to a clear source and justification. 

The project will focus on interdisciplinary approaches that combine artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, and social sciences. This collaborative and cross-sectoral approach aims to produce robust methods for evaluating AI outputs while also promoting inclusivity and ethical design. 

Supervision: Professor Aristides Gionis

What we offer

• The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
•  In addition to the starting basic salary mentioned in above link, all positions within Marie Curie contains a mobility allowance and possible family allowance. For more info  Basic salary and supplementary allowances are specified pre tax. 
• A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
• Work and study in Stockholm, close to nature and the water.
• Guidance on relocating and settling in at KTH and in Sweden

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge.
• Candidates cannot hold a doctoral degree.   

Mobility: the candidate must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Sweden for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach, 
• analyze and work with complex issues,
• be proficient in communicating in English, spoken and written,
• demonstrate strong implementation skills, and
• experience with managing large-scale data.

The successful candidate holds/or are about to receive a Master of Science degree in computer science, data science, or a related area, and have strong background in algorithmic design, data mining, machine learning, and combinatorial optimization.

Doctoral students are expected to be able to publish high-quality papers and develop research prototypes.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills. 

Target degree: Doctoral degree

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. In the case of studies that are to be completed with a licentiate degree, the total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years.

Union representatives

Contact information for union representatives.

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Contact information for doctoral section.

To apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 1 page long)
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages. Copies of originals must be certified.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.
• Name and contact information to 2 academic referees. 

Other information

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.