Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) has a vacancy in the Machine Learning research group for a talented
PHD-studenT iN NeuroAI of Developmental vision (m/f/x)
Job description
A PHD-studenT iN NeuroAI of Developmental vision (m/f/x)
to work on:
The Curriculum of Sight - How Visual Processing Develops in Brains and Machines.
For animals, it is imperative to learn as quickly as possible. To do this, we know that the mammalian visual system utilizes "inductive biases"—inherent assumptions that streamline learning for specific environments. In this project, we aim to investigate how rapid learning in mammals is facilitated by the learning curriculum shaped in the developmental stages of human infants. By comprehensively measuring and documenting these developmental stages and the associated inductive biases, we aim to identify key mechanisms that drive rapid learning in the visual system. The goal is to create a robust mechanistic neural network model of the visual system that not only mimics its processing capabilities but also its adaptability, leveraging early developmental data and ecological validity. Infant data will be acquired in collaboration with Dr. Tessa Dekker (University College London) and Dr. Ingmar Visser at UvA. The project thus aims to quantify and model the remarkable learning efficiency of the human visual system.
The project is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the the Machine Learning group at CWI in Amsterdam (Prof.dr Sander Bohte) and the Brain & Cognition group (Dr. Steven Scholte) at the UvA, where the PhD at CWI will focus on developing detailed and large-scale neural models of the early visual system.
Requirements
The successful applicants will have:
- A solid computational background, an interest in cognitive neuroscience and strong deep learning programming skills.
- Ability to work in an international, interdisciplinary team.
- Preferable qualifications for candidates include proven research talent, an excellent command of English and good academic writing and presentation skills.
At the start of the PhD, having obtained a Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as AI, mathematics, physics, (computational) neuroscience, etc..
Terms and conditions
The terms of employment are in accordance with the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Research Centres ("CAO-onderzoeksinstellingen"). The initial labour agreement will be for a period of 18 months. After a positive evaluation, the agreement will be extended by 30 months. The gross monthly salary, for a PhD student on a full time basis, is € 2,968 during the first year and increases to €3,801 over the four year period. Employees are also entitled to a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.33%. CWI offers attractive working conditions, including flexible scheduling and help with housing for expat employees.
Please visit our websites for more information about our terms of employment:
https://www.cwi.nl/jobs/terms-of-employment and
https://www.nwo-i.nl/en/working-at-nwo-i/jobsatnwoi/
Information and application
Please include a detailed CV, a motivation letter, an overview of your MSc courses and grades, a copy of your Master’s thesis (or your expected graduation date), two references, and preferably a list of publications.
The position involves a temporary appointment for 4 years. We offer a competitive salary with excellent secondary benefits and friendly taxes, and also an extremely friendly, interactive and international working environment. Amsterdam is one of Europe's most beautiful and livable cities where almost everybody speaks and understands English, so that candidates need not be afraid of the language barrier.
The evaluation of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Promising candidates will be contacted by email. We aim to fill the position between September and December 2025.
For more information about the vacancy, please contact Prof.dr. Sander Bohte, email [email protected], telephone +31 20 592 4074.
For more information about CWI, please visit www.cwi.nl or watch our video about working at CWI
Diversity code
CWI encourages a diverse workforce: we endeavour to develop talent and creativity by bringing people from different backgrounds and cultures together. We recruit and select based on capabilities and talent. We strongly encourage everyone with the appropriate qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation or physical abilities.
About CWI
Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) is the Dutch national research institute for mathematics and computer science and is part of the Institutes Organisation of the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The mission of CWI is to conduct pioneering research in mathematics and computer science, generating new knowledge in these fields and conveying it to trade, industry, and society at large.
CWI is an internationally oriented institute, with 160 scientists from approximately 27 countries, an informal atmosphere and short lines of communication. We have an activity committee that organizes after-work activities and an informal women’s network.
CWI is located at Amsterdam Science Park, which is a major location for scientific research in the Netherlands. Next to CWI, Science Park houses several other national research institutes, many startups and scale-ups, the Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX), and the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam.
About Research group
https://www.cwi.nl/en/research/machine-learning/
