Postdoctoral Research Fellow with focus on Learning Theory problems related to Algorithms at Computer Science, Aarhus University

This is a full-time (37 hours/week) on-site role located in Aarhus, Denmark for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Computer Science, Aarhus University. This position is for 2 years (24 months) but can be renewed for (up to) an additional year. Startdate is June 15, 2025 or soon thereafter.

The postdoctoral fellow will conduct research on learning theory problems related to algorithms with actionable performance guarantees. More specifically, the research will revolve around one of the following streams:

• Convergence with high probability in stochastic optimization:

Going beyond the canonical sub-Gaussian noise models, the objective is to prove tight convergence rates for first-order or zeroth-order methods. This allows us to reliably use the algorithms in practice, when little to no assumptions can be made on the data.

• Data dependent generalization error bounds:

The objective is to derive generalization error bounds for robust variants of ML algorithms featuring only data-dependent quantity. These bounds, in comparison with their distribution dependent counterparts, can be easily computed from the sample at hand, and then used in practice for model verification and selection.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in computer science, mathematics, statistics, or related fields (by the start date).
• Strong background in stochastic optimization, machine learning, or mathematical statistics.
• Track record of publications in relevant journals/conferences (e.g., ICML/NeurIPS/AISTATS/AAAI, COLT, Siam Journals, JMLR).
• Ability to work both in cooperation and independently as well as to formulate, verify and execute new ideas.
• Plus: Ability to implement and test algorithms, code and design statistical experiments (preferably with Python).

Application procedure
Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference
If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline. Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

If you wish to add a referee after you have submitted your application, you must send this person’s details (name, job title, place of work, and email address) as well as the name of the position you have applied for to: HR.Nattech@au.dk

Formalities and salary range
Natural Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.

At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development. We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent. On our website, you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates. You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

Department: Datalogi, Institut for/Computer Science, Dept. of

Deadline: 05 May 2025

Location: Aarhus N Åbogade 34