Research Assistant in the research group „Safety and Explainability of Learning Systems“

About us

The research tasks of the position holder are embedded in a collaborative research initiative investigating how neural-symbolic approaches can be utilized to enhance the trustworthiness of generative AI models. While recent advances in generative AI have led to promising applications, challenges remain in ensuring their safety, explainability, and alignment with human values. The project aims to explore methods for integrating structured knowledge into fine-tuning processes, systematic testing methods for generative AI, and designing monitoring mechanisms capable of filtering inappropriate model outputs. The application domain will be intelligent system engineering and service robotics.

Your tasks

• Conduct research in trustworthy generative AI, with applications in (1) intelligent & automated methods for systems engineering and (2) service robotics
• Support teaching activities within the department with an expected load of 2.5 SWS
• Publish scientific results in top-ranked CS conferences (CORE A/A*)
• Supervise master's and bachelor's students

Your profile

Employment requirements

• A completed university degree (master's or diploma (university)) in mathematics, computer science, business informatics, or other related engineering sciences

We welcome / Advantageous are

• Ability to work in a team, organizational skills, strong communication skills, and good written and spoken English.
• Demonstration of early research potential in the area of trustworthy generative AI, formal methods, or software engineering, evidenced through publication(s), ArXiv preprints, or a strong master's thesis.
• In-depth knowledge of machine learning techniques, such as fine-tuning, adversarial perturbation, or OoD detection.
• Industrial experience (e.g., as a software or AI engineer, internship or full-time) is a plus.
• Ability to speak German is a strong plus, although the daily working language within the team is English.

We offer

• A pleasant, exciting, and international work environment
• A research-oriented department for exchange and joint research in the field of AI safety and formal methods
• Active participation in national and international conferences
• Opportunities to be engaged with the industry
• Annual team events
• The opportunity for mobile work

Our standards

The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increase the percentage of female employees in the field of science. Therefore, female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. In accordance to § 21 Section 3 NHG, female candidates with equal qualifications will be preferentially considered. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification.

Further information

Opportunities for promotion will be provided. The applicant must enroll in the doctoral program at the University of Oldenburg within 6 months of employment.

Apply now

Please send your application via e-mail by 01.07.2025 to

chih-hong.cheng@uni-oldenburg.de

Please send your application with the usual documents (CV, copies of degree certificates, two names of references, and optionally your scientific publications), quoting the reference " SELS-Staff-001 ” in a single PDF document to Dr. Chih-Hong Cheng. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Please note that applications and submitted documents will not be returned, and applicants are therefore asked not to send in folders or other bound materials.

Please also note that the University of Oldenburg cannot refund any costs for travel and accommodation incurred for the job interview.