The Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS) is an institute of the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. (FVB). The FVB comprises seven non-university research institutes in Berlin which are funded by the federal and state governments. The research institutes belong to the Leibniz Association.

WIAS invites applications for a

PhD student position (f/m/d)

(Head: Prof. Dr. Clemens Heitzinger) to be filled at the earliest possible date.

This position offers the opportunity for independent scientific research aimed at advancing your own academic qualifications.

Key Areas of Focus:

A successful candidate will contribute to research in reinforcement learning and data-driven mathematical modeling regarding theoretical foundations and/or scientifically significant applications. Sought research directions include:

• Theory of reinforcement learning, including convergence analysis of learning algorithms, development of new reinforcement-learning methods, and rigorous policy evaluation with particular emphasis on off-policy learning.
• Reinforcement learning for systems governed by ordinary or partial differential equations, possibly under uncertainty.
• Reasoning models and large language models, including the use of reinforcement learning for formal reasoning, theorem proving, hypothesis generation, and mathematically structured learning tasks.
• Automation, robotics, and physical AI, including reinforcement-learning approaches for sequential decision-making, optimal control, perception-driven behavior, and the integration of physical models.

Key Responsibilities:

A successful candidate is expected to contribute to the research program through responsibilities such as:

• Conducting original research.
• Implementing and testing algorithms.
• Preparing research results for publication in leading peer-reviewed journals and presentations at international conferences.
• Collaborating with researchers from mathematics and application areas.
• Contributing to grant proposals, project reports, and research documentation.
• Participating in the supervision of students and in the broader academic activities of the research group.

We are looking for candidates with:

Master’s degree according to the regulations of TU Berlin for PhD students in mathematics.

• Strong background in at least one of the following areas: reinforcement learning, partial differential equations, optimization, machine learning, and numerical analysis.
• Programming experience in Julia or a comparable language.
• Programming Experience in Lean~4 (and Mathlib) and/or Rocq.
• Strong analytical skills, independence, and motivation to conduct original research.
• Ability and willingness to work on applications of mathematics. Ability to collaborate in an interdisciplinary environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• A strong publication record appropriate to the career stage.

What we offer:

• WIAS Berlin is a premier research institution known for its strength in partial differential equations, mathematical modeling, nonlinear optimization, and applied mathematics in general.
• Mobile working.
• A certified (Audit berufundfamilie) family-friendly work environment.
• Berlin is one of the most culture-rich and diverse international cities in the world. It offers endless opportunities to enjoy life outside work, while being very affordable compared to other major cities. Neither the job nor living in Berlin requires German language (although WIAS offers free German courses). We highly welcome international applications. Scientifically, Berlin offers a rich landscape with numerous opportunities for research, as well as job prospects in academia and industry.
• The successful candidate will receive careful mentorship both from the supervisor and from other peers through a dedicated mentorship program.
  

Please direct scientific queries to Prof. Dr. Clemens Heitzinger (clemens.heitzinger@wias-berlin.de).

The appointment is limited to three years. The reduced work schedule is 29.25 hours per week, and the salary is according to the German TVoeD Bund scale.

The Weierstrass Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We explicitly encourage female researchers to apply for the offered position. Among equally qualified applicants, disabled candidates will be given preference.

How to apply:

Please upload your complete application documents (motivation letter, detailed CV, certificates, copy of the master thesis, etc.) via our applicant portal using the button "Apply online”.

The application period opens immediately and remains open until the position is filled.

We are looking forward to your application!