Master's Student fellowships - “NextGenAI: Center for Responsible AI”

A Call for four fellowships for Master's Students is open at Fundação D. Anna de Sommer Champalimaud e Dr. Carlos Montez Champalimaud (Champalimaud Foundation) in the context of the project entitled “NextGenAI: Center for Responsible AI”, with reference “PRR” - from the call Nº “crAI 64”, funded by the “Agendas Mobilizadoras para a Inovação Empresarial, Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência, Next Generation EU, IAPMEI”. We are a group of neuroscientists and machine learning experts at the Champalimaud Foundation with scientific partners covering a broad range of domain expertises.

The selected candidate will

Work on the identification of hidden mental states, including emotional and cognitive states, through observable expressions or physiological activity, is crucial. However, scientific understanding of these phenomena are limited. These latent states are thought to provide insight into a person's future behaviour, such as what they will say next. At the same time, Large Language Models (LLMs) have become one of the most exciting frontiers of technological advancement. They provide unprecedented capabilities as tools for everyday language generation tasks. Nevertheless, many unresolved issues must be addressed quickly. For instance, how can we align these generative models with the correct human contexts and objectives to provide maximum benefits to individuals and society? Can we understand the decision-making processes of these complex models to develop more interpretable and explainable human-centered systems? Can they interact with humans in a more positive and fair way such that they remain accessible to non-experts?
We believe that answering these questions will entail the careful identification and interpretation of latent states through advanced methodologies utilising multi-modal data. You can contribute to this endeavour with us.

Aims of Thesis Project

    1.    The design and implementation of more objective and interpretable methods for inferring latent states in humans using cost-effective, non-invasive measurement devices. Those include, but are not limited to, electromyography (EMG), functional near-infared spectroscopy (fNIRS), electroencephalography (EEG), speech/audio, eye-tracking, and video and depth cameras (RGB+D).
    2.    Experimental design and data collection: establish an experimental platform and protocol utilizing one or more data modality to reliably record humans while performing decision making tasks.

Methods

General:Computer Vision, Machine Learning (Deep Learning), Signal Processing, Interpretability in ML
Specific:Large Language Models (LLMs), Transformers, Pose Estimation, Action Recognition, Prompt Engineering, Virtual Reality, probabilistic models of learning and decision-making,  control theory and/or adaptive signal processing

Tools

Python, PyTorch, Scientific Python Stack (Numpy, Pandas, Sci-kit Learn), Data Version Control (DVC), Git, Matplotlib or Other Python-based Visualisation tools, ChatGPT, Unity,  Matlab

Data Modalities

Electromyography (EMG), Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), Electroencephalography (EEG), Video and Depth Sensor (Microsoft Kinects or similar), Speech, Virtual Reality

Department 

Champalimaud Research Programme | Digital Therapeutics Programme |
Website: https://fchampalimaud.org/champalimaud-research#blockResearchGroup

Number and type of fellowships or contracts to be awarded

4 fellowship/s.

Application start date

15th May 2023.

Application closing date

5th of June 2023 or until position is filled.

Expected position starting date

Starting date is negotiable; it will depend on the master programme in which the student is enrolled

Required Education Level

Undergraduate degree; the candidate must be enrolled in a Masters Programme in an University that can provide the degree at the time of the beginning of the fellowship.

Skills/Qualifications

Minimum qualifications

1. Familiarity with some methods, tools, and data modalities from above with measurable experience in key areas (depending on thesis focus);
2. Strong coding skills;
3. A trained scientific mindset;
4. Ability to read and present the latest machine learning, human psychology, or human-computer interaction research to a group of experts;
5. Experimental and task design (depending on thesis focus);
6. Solid experience with data analysis;
7. Excellent level of English.

Benefits

Full immersion into a research excellence ecosystem with highly motivated researchers, supported by state-of-the-art technology and continuous development opportunities. The monthly remuneration will start at 1000€ month. The fellowship will be paid monthly by bank transfer. 

Maximum allowable duration

The Fellowship will have a duration of six months, with the possibility of renewal up to a maximum of 24 months (never surpassing the termination date of the project, expected at 31/12/2025).

Eligibility Criteria

National, Foreign or Stateless candidate(s) who hold an Undergraduate degree in mathematics, physics, neuroscience, computer science, economics, biomedical engineering, or other similar quantitative field with extensive programming experience.

Selection process

Candidates will be screened to determine eligibility based on minimum qualifications listed in call. Candidates meeting minimum requirements will be scored according to the required application materials:  CV 70% weighting, motivation letter 30%. If shortlisted, a data science challenge will be sent and candidates will be interviewed in order to assess basic technical (ML/Stats/CS) knowledge.

If provided, and if shortlisted, candidates’ referees may be contacted and may count towards evaluation. 

Evaluation Committee members

It will consist of 3 members from the following list: Joe Paton, Christian Machens, Daniel McNamee, Eric Lacosse, Memming Park, Zachary Mainen. 

Application materials

- CV and letter of motivation indicating 2 references (one single pdf document). 
- Proof of qualifications (certificates) may be required at a later date for the formalisation of the contract agreement. Degrees obtained abroad may need to be formally recognised in Portugal. 

How to apply

Candidates must complete the standard application form and submit a single annexed PDF document containing the application materials stated in the call. 
The call reference will be asked and not having may invalidate your submission. This call reference is: crAI 64 Mai2023
Applications are also accepted in paper, sent or handed to the Fellows Support Office at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.

Notification of results

All candidates will receive a receipt of acknowledgment within 7-10 business days.The highest scoring candidate will be notified by email or telephone. All other candidates will be notified solely by email of the final outcome of the recruitment process.
After being notified, candidates will have 10 working days to present a claim for redress by email (careers@research.fchampalimaud.org). If no claim is received by the Champalimaud Foundation, the Evaluation Committee's decision will become definitive.

About Us

Research is at the heart of the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, a modern research and clinical facility situated on the waterfront in Lisbon, Portugal. The goal of Champalimaud Research (CR) is to perform world-leading fundamental and translational research. Current research work is focused on the fields of neuroscience, physiology and cancer.  Champalimaud Research comprises a team of over 400 scientists from around the world. English is the official language of the Centre. Lisbon’s sunny Atlantic Mediterranean climate, vibrant culture and high quality of life make this a great place to live and work.

Relevant Institutional Information

In line with our community guidelines and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and Gender Equality Plan, no candidate may be privileged, favoured, prejudiced or deprived of any right or excluded from any duty on the basis of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, disability, chronic illness, language, nationality, territory of origin, family status (marital, pregnancy and maternity, having or not having dependents), socioeconomic situation, education, religion, political or ideological beliefs,  trade union membership, or on any other grounds which are irrelevant to decision-making.

HR Excellence in Research

Legal Notices

The present call has the sole purpose of filling the indicated research position. This call may be canceled at any time on or before the jury’s evaluation of all eligible candidates and the recruitment process shall be concluded on the day of the full execution of the contract between the Champalimaud Foundation and the selected candidate.