ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Would you like to join us in our endeavours to deepen our understanding of adaptive embodied intelligence, create compelling demonstrators, and publish in leading academic venues?

Your function

Do you want to do push the frontiers of AI and robotics in an inspired team and educate the next generation of AI professionals? Then please apply as Associate Professor in Computational Intelligence at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).

Job description

The Computational Intelligence Group (https://cs.vu.nl/ci/) is dedicated to advancing the science and technology of adaptive embodied intelligence. Our research addresses fundamental issues in designing, using, and understanding autonomous machines that can evolve, learn and self-organise. We are interested in embodied intelligence capable of autonomously acting in the world and adapting to unknown or changing circumstances. 

Our facilities (used for research as well teaching) include a well-equipped Bio-Inspired Robotics Lab with different hardware platforms, such as our custom-made evolvable robots, Thymio II, Robobo, Crazyflie 2.0 and a Unitree robot dog. Furthermore, we have several 3D-printers, an advanced OptiTrack system, a cluster of powerful Linux workstations for simulations and our designated research software package to experiment with robots that can evolve and learn (https://ci-group.github.io/revolve2/).

To strengthen our team, we are seeking a colleague with demonstrated expertise and substantial experience. The main aim is to advance a research line regarding novel algorithms and models that enable autonomy and adaptivity, validating them in a range of scenarios involving physical or simulated robots. Specific areas of interest include cross-disciplinary fields encompassing AI and robotics, soft robotics, robot learning, evolutionary intelligence and swarm intelligence.

Our ideal candidate is a mid-career academic who can either be appointed directly as an associate professor or as an assistant professor with a strong potential for promotion to associate professor in the near future.

Your duties

The position includes research, education and management (40%:40%:20%). Key responsibilities include:

  • shaping and leading a pioneering research program into adaptive intelligence in robots
  • acquisition of research funding, personal grants or projects with a consortium 
  • supervising PhD students
  • teaching courses in the AI program, supervising AI Bachelor and Master student projects
  • outreach, including collaboration on (inter)national level and engagement with the general public
  • being a valuable ‘departmental citizen’ and contributing to management tasks

Your profile

  • a PhD degree in a relevant field, e.g., AI, robotics, Computer Science 
  • several years of scientific experience and a good international research profile 
  • experience with grant acquisition and PhD supervision 
  • experience in teaching and academic management tasks
  • experience with robots, especially soft robots, is a plus that will be positively recognized
  • proficiency in Dutch or a strong willingness to learn it is highly valued

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer?

We offer a Career Track position at the level of Associate Professor. A career plan to grow from Associate Professor lv. 2 (profile Universitair Hoofddocent 2, salary scale 13) to Associate Professor lv. 1 (profile Universitair Hoofdocent 1, salary scale 14) will be made and formalized in a tailored Career Track agreement. (with specific performance indicators).

  • a salary of minimum € 6.286 (Scale 13) and maximum €  7.651 (Scale 13) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor 2 The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
  • a position for 0.8-1.0 FTE.
  • the initial appointment will be for a period of 1.5 years including a two months probationary period, which will be turned into a tenured position after satisfactory evaluation.  

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

  • A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
  • 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
  • solid pension scheme (ABP)
  • contribution to commuting expenses
  • optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

Do not hesitate to contact us if you want to discuss whether your qualifications are satisfactory for applying to the position. We strongly encourage women to apply for this position.

About us

About the AI section
The AI section belongs to the department of Computer Science. Much of the AI research with the department is embedded in the Network Institute of Vrije Universiteit, covering disciplines such as Social sciences, Humanities, and Economics. The Department also actively participates in Amsterdam Data Science, a collaboration between more than 600 data science researchers from different institutions in Amsterdam.
The department explicitly encourages inter- and cross disciplinary research, and expects successful candidates to collaborate with colleagues in other fields of Computer Science, as well as with colleagues from other disciplines such as those participating in the Network Institute and in Amsterdam Data Science.

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility.  Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Interested

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae and cover letter before March 15, 2025. 

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:

Name: Agoston Eiben
Position: Full Professor
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: +31 (20) 59 87758

Relocation support
If you have any questions regarding moving to Amsterdam, and working at VU Amsterdam, you may contact: 

Name: Jenny Hornikx
E-mail: [email protected]

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

Your function

Do you want to do push the frontiers of AI and robotics in an inspired team and educate the next generation of AI professionals? Then please apply as Associate Professor in Computational Intelligence at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).

Job description

The Computational Intelligence Group (https://cs.vu.nl/ci/) is dedicated to advancing the science and technology of adaptive embodied intelligence. Our research addresses fundamental issues in designing, using, and understanding autonomous machines that can evolve, learn and self-organise. We are interested in embodied intelligence capable of autonomously acting in the world and adapting to unknown or changing circumstances. 

Our facilities (used for research as well teaching) include a well-equipped Bio-Inspired Robotics Lab with different hardware platforms, such as our custom-made evolvable robots, Thymio II, Robobo, Crazyflie 2.0 and a Unitree robot dog. Furthermore, we have several 3D-printers, an advanced OptiTrack system, a cluster of powerful Linux workstations for simulations and our designated research software package to experiment with robots that can evolve and learn (https://ci-group.github.io/revolve2/).

To strengthen our team, we are seeking a colleague with demonstrated expertise and substantial experience. The main aim is to advance a research line regarding novel algorithms and models that enable autonomy and adaptivity, validating them in a range of scenarios involving physical or simulated robots. Specific areas of interest include cross-disciplinary fields encompassing AI and robotics, soft robotics, robot learning, evolutionary intelligence and swarm intelligence.

Our ideal candidate is a mid-career academic who can either be appointed directly as an associate professor or as an assistant professor with a strong potential for promotion to associate professor in the near future.

Your duties

The position includes research, education and management (40%:40%:20%). Key responsibilities include:

  • shaping and leading a pioneering research program into adaptive intelligence in robots
  • acquisition of research funding, personal grants or projects with a consortium 
  • supervising PhD students
  • teaching courses in the AI program, supervising AI Bachelor and Master student projects
  • outreach, including collaboration on (inter)national level and engagement with the general public
  • being a valuable ‘departmental citizen’ and contributing to management tasks

Your profile

  • a PhD degree in a relevant field, e.g., AI, robotics, Computer Science 
  • several years of scientific experience and a good international research profile 
  • experience with grant acquisition and PhD supervision 
  • experience in teaching and academic management tasks
  • experience with robots, especially soft robots, is a plus that will be positively recognized
  • proficiency in Dutch or a strong willingness to learn it is highly valued

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer?

We offer a Career Track position at the level of Associate Professor. A career plan to grow from Associate Professor lv. 2 (profile Universitair Hoofddocent 2, salary scale 13) to Associate Professor lv. 1 (profile Universitair Hoofdocent 1, salary scale 14) will be made and formalized in a tailored Career Track agreement. (with specific performance indicators).

  • a salary of minimum € 6.286 (Scale 13) and maximum €  7.651 (Scale 13) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor 2 The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
  • a position for 0.8-1.0 FTE.
  • the initial appointment will be for a period of 1.5 years including a two months probationary period, which will be turned into a tenured position after satisfactory evaluation.  

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

  • A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
  • 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
  • solid pension scheme (ABP)
  • contribution to commuting expenses
  • optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

Do not hesitate to contact us if you want to discuss whether your qualifications are satisfactory for applying to the position. We strongly encourage women to apply for this position.

About us

About the AI section
The AI section belongs to the department of Computer Science. Much of the AI research with the department is embedded in the Network Institute of Vrije Universiteit, covering disciplines such as Social sciences, Humanities, and Economics. The Department also actively participates in Amsterdam Data Science, a collaboration between more than 600 data science researchers from different institutions in Amsterdam.
The department explicitly encourages inter- and cross disciplinary research, and expects successful candidates to collaborate with colleagues in other fields of Computer Science, as well as with colleagues from other disciplines such as those participating in the Network Institute and in Amsterdam Data Science.

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility.  Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Questions about the vacancy?

Please contact

Guszti Eiben

Head Computational Intelligence research group

Interested

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae and cover letter before March 15, 2025. 

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:

Name: Agoston Eiben
Position: Full Professor
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: +31 (20) 59 87758

Relocation support
If you have any questions regarding moving to Amsterdam, and working at VU Amsterdam, you may contact: 

Name: Jenny Hornikx
E-mail: [email protected]

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

Questions about the vacancy?

Please contact

Guszti Eiben

Head Computational Intelligence research group

Application procedure

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