Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor in Emotion and Cognition AI Based on Computer vision and Machine Learning - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

We are now looking for

Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor in emotion and cognition AI based on computer vision and machine learning

to join us in Hybrid Intelligence (HI) Research Programme at the University of Oulu (Finland).

The University has recently launched a new multi-faculty strategic research program, “Hybrid Intelligence: Human-AI Co-evolution and Learning in Multi-realities" (HI). The program is part of our national profiling actions supported by the Academy of Finland. HI stands on the fundamental research on emotion AI, learning processes, and perception engineering for AI-based solutions, e.g., in education and nursing. HI research combines the strengths of humans and machines, emphasizing mutual understanding and learning from each other in their co-evolution. We propose to build the idea of a metaverse by combining our physical and virtual realities towards a multi-reality. The program focuses on international top-level collaborative and multidisciplinary research, supported by LeaF, a unique learning and interaction research infrastructure, and its new Ethics Forum and Data Forum, which will establish a further deep cross-cutting HI discussion in ethical and responsible ways. HI aspires to scientific leadership in solving global challenges by facilitating human-human and human-technology interaction, understanding, and collaboration for the human capital behind AI. With its international networks, HI will pave the way toward breakthroughs in how humans and machines interact, understand, and learn from each other. HI will recruit new talented international researchers to bolster the scientific profile at the University of Oulu and initiate new collaborations with companies.

Position

Digital platforms are increasingly part of everyday human life. However, current data-driven AI is too narrow to help humans and lacks social and emotional intelligence. Research in this tenure track aims to develop advanced data processing and computing technology for assisting humans and machines to understand each other. The research topics include, but are not limited, to:

• Exploring new machine learning methods to reinforce machines' understanding of humans by interpreting human emotions, intentions, preferences, and decision-making by analyzing facial and body behaviors and physiological signals.
• Investigating new advanced interactive behavior synthesis algorithms for endowing machines' capability of expressing emotions.
• Studying novel approaches to visualize and explain internal states and status of data, algorithms, and models with multi-modality for mixed-reality interfaces to help humans understand machines.
• Collaborating with multi-disciplinary experts from psychology, learning sciences, and education toward multidisciplinary cognitive computing direction.

We expect collaboration with other sub-themes aiming for HI in interactions under multiple realities.

About the job

As an Assistant/Associate Professor, you will:

• Develop and sustain research, scholarly and creative activities leading to academic publications and public-facing outreach initiatives
• Establish research partnerships across disciplinary boundaries in Finland and internationally
• Collaborate with program leaders to further progress the aims of Hybrid Intelligence
• Participate in administrative (e.g., university or faculty level) service duties
• Take part in national and international academic networks and scientific organizations
• Design education and provide teaching for undergraduate and graduate-level courses
• Supervise undergraduate and graduate students
• Act inter-sectorally to develop the impact of research

What we offer?

We offer you a supportive academic environment in a community of committed scholars and the possibility to use funding opportunities to generate new research ideas and build an innovative program that will attract international scholars. The University of Oulu offers flexible working hours, an excellent work-life balance, and a range of occupational healthcare services. Our competitive salaries include paid leave and an additional holiday bonus in the summer. You can read more about working with us and our other staff benefits.

This position includes a generous start-up package with funding for research expenses and hiring, e.g., postdoctoral researchers (4 years) and/or Ph.D. students (4 years). The start-up package details are based on negotiations with appointable candidates. If you are moving from abroad, we offer comprehensive relocation packages to support your smooth relocation to Oulu.
Finland is one of the most liveable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, an excellent education system, and a competitive economy. Oulu is a city known for its stunning natural surroundings, vibrant cultural life, and friendly, easy-going atmosphere. Residents of Oulu enjoy Finland’s high standard of living combined with affordable housing. Read more about living in Oulu.

Who are you?

Our tenure track (Assistant and Associate Professor) is positioned for exceptionally talented researchers with a high potential to advance in their careers. The top candidates will undergo an evaluation by external, international experts. To qualify for the position, they must reach top scores (5-6 on a scale from 1 to 6 for scientific activity and as the overall score).

You are expected to hold a Ph.D. in learning sciences, data sciences, learning analytics, or related fields with a particular orientation in understanding learning. Because this is a transdisciplinary position, depending on the position level, we value vision (assistant) or demonstrated experience (associate professor) in transdisciplinary approaches in research. Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills are necessary. The working language of the HI program is English.

The general criteria for each career level are as follows:

Qualifications for a tenure track Assistant Professor position: You must demonstrate the ability to work independently and have proven teaching skills. To be eligible for a position as Assistant Professor, you must have received your doctoral degree at most ten years ago (at or later than 2013).

Qualifications for a tenure track Associate Professor position: You must demonstrate evidence of scholarly research work and relevant teaching skills. You must be able to lead research and have experience in acquiring external research funding. We also expect you to have sufficient relevant experience in international scientific work and evidence of international cooperation.

Salary

Those hired at the Assistant or Associate level will be tenure track positions with five-year terms at each level. The Professor position will be a permanent, tenured position.

In Assistant or Associate Professor positions, the salary is based on levels 5-7 of the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (a maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). In EUR terms, the salary will likely be between 3500-5500 for an Assistant or Associate. A trial period of 6 months is applied for the position.

How to apply and evaluation process

Interested? If yes, please apply by 16.4.2023 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

The application should be written in English and include the following:

1. A letter of motivation with contact information stating the career level (assistant/associate/full professor) at which you would like to be evaluated.
2. CV following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
3. List of publications following the guidelines of the Academy of Finland (with the ten most important ones marked)
4. Brief account of research merits (max 2 p.)
5. Brief account of teaching merits or teaching portfolio (max 2 p.)
   1. Teaching philosophy, teaching strategies, and methods
   2. Practical experience in teaching and efforts to improve teaching
   3. Description of educational material (curricula, handouts, assignments, workbooks)
   4. Professional development as a teacher
   5. Evaluation from teaching (student evaluations, peer evaluations, awards, and assessed test lectures)
   6. Future teaching goals and development plans, especially about teaching.
6. Details regarding the acquisition of research funds
7. A brief research and action plan (max 5 p.)
8. Contact information of 2–4 persons available for recommendation

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including people of different ages, genders, and linguistic, cultural, or minority groups.

The selection process follows the University of Oulu´s recruitment guidelines. A recruitment committee carries out the process, and the candidates are subjected to publication analyses based on their publication lists. The candidates that are considered most suitable by the recruitment committee will also undergo an expert evaluation assessing the following merits:

• Research activities and their reflection in the candidate’s publication record, scientific presentations, and other recognitions, e.g., awards and patents
• Teaching activities and their evaluation (teaching portfolio; including students’ evaluation)
• Supervision of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students
• Successful acquisition of competitive research funds
• International scientific activities (research, keynotes, workshops, conferences) and networks
• Academic community and administrative services
• Academic and public relevance of research activities

The eligible candidates fitting best in the profile expected for the position will be invited to an on-site or remote interview. All applicants will be notified during the selection process.

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please get in touch with the HI coordinator, Satu Kaleva; satu.kaleva(at)oulu.fi, Mobile:+358 50 4787744 (Mon - Fri at 14:00 – 15:00 EET) or HI Vice-director Academy Professor Guoying Zhao only by email: guoying.zhao (at)oulu.fi

Edited 21.3.2023: Application time extended from 24.3.2023 to 10.4.2023

Edited 6.4.2023: Application time extended from 10.4.2023 to 16.4.2023.