PhD Position in Responsible AI

To support advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and data science at the University of Southern Denmark, the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute invites candidates to apply for a 3-year PhD position in Responsible AI. This position is part of the project "Learn to Unlearn: Towards Responsible AI (TRAI)", funded by Novo Nordisk, which focuses on addressing critical challenges in AI, including privacy, fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Job Description 

AI has revolutionized industries, but what happens when AI learns something it shouldn't, be it biased, outdated, or sensitive data? That's where the project TRAI comes in. This research project aims to develop machine unlearning algorithms to selectively erase specific knowledge from trained AI models without affecting overall performance. These algorithms will tackle critical challenges like ensuring compliance with GDPR's "right to be forgotten," removing biases for fairer decision-making and eliminating outdated or copyrighted information for dynamic and ethical AI.

At the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), the successful candidate will join the Applied AI & Data Science (AID) unit at the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute. AID collaborates with leading universities and industry partners across Denmark, Europe, and the United States, driving innovation in artificial intelligence, statistical machine learning, and data science. By developing cutting-edge, data-driven solutions across diverse domains, AID plays a key role in shaping the future of AI.As part of this dynamic environment, the PhD candidate will work closely with other PhD students and postdoctoral researchers specializing in AI. 

Qualifications

We would like to appoint a talented and committed PhD candidate to join our research group and contribute to the advancement of Responsible AI, with a particular emphasis on unlearning, privacy, and fairness. The position is part of our ongoing efforts to develop machine unlearning algorithms that can selectively erase the knowledge of specific training data from AI systems, ensuring compliance with ethical and legal standards while promoting fairness in decision-making.

Required Qualifications:

• A master's degree in data science/AI, Mathematics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong background in machine learning, data science, and optimization theory.

Desired Expertise (experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred):

• Mathematical foundations of AI, such as optimization, generalization, and approximation theory
• Statistical machine learning and its applications in robust AI frameworks
• Distributed machine learning, with a focus on scalability, privacy, and efficiency in decentralized AI systems

The successful candidate will become part of a dynamic research environment at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, and will have opportunities to collaborate with leading research institutions across Europe and the USA. This position offers the chance to develop cutting-edge AI methods that align with ethical and regulatory standards, shaping the future of Responsible AI.

Responsibilities 
Your primary responsibility is to utilize and leverage the broad technical research and to support the long-term vision of AID being a world-class centre in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning addressing the challenges of the most demanding scientific endeavours such as development of responsible AI. This follows the research strategy, which functions as the backbone in one of the first centres of its kind dedicated to working with AI across a large variety of both clinical and technical areas.

Your responsibilities as a PhD candidate will be:

• Conducting research on machine unlearning techniques to enhance privacy, fairness, and accountability in AI systems. 
• Collaborating with international research partners to advance responsible AI and contribute to interdisciplinary projects.
• Providing technical insights and support for ongoing research in responsible AI and establishing new collaborations.
• Contributing to teaching and mentoring activities at SDU, as well as participating in outreach efforts to engage future researchers in the field of AI ethics and fairness. 

For further information about the positions, please contact
Assistant Professor, Vinay Chakravarthi Gogineni  and Head of the unit of Applied AI and Data Science (AID), Esmaeil Nadimi

If you experience technical problems, please contact [email protected].

Conditions of employment

Appointment as a PhD fellow is a 3-year salaried position.

The monthly gross salary incl. pension is 35.707DKR. If you have relevant postgraduate experience, you may be placed on a higher salary step. 

Applicants must hold a master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish master's degree) at the time of enrollment and employment. 

Employment as a PhD fellow governed by the Protocol on PhD Research Fellows signed by the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). Further information about salary and conditions of employment.

The successful candidate will be enrolled at SDU in accordance with Faculty regulations and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities (PhD order). 

The person employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a self-organiser.

Assessment and selection process

Read about the Assessment and selection process. 

Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee or an expert. Shortlisting may be applied. Only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU. 

Interviews and tests may be part of the process.

Application procedure

Before applying the candidates are advised to read the Faculty information for prospective PhD students and the SDU information on how to apply.

Assessment of candidates is based on the application material. Please include the following documents in English: 

• A letter stating the interest, motivation, and relevant qualifications for the position (max 2 pages). 
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Certificates/Diplomas (bachelor’s and master’s degree) – incl. transcripts of grades in Danish and/or English. 
• Completed TEK PhD application form for 5+3 applicants. Find the form at the Faculty website.
• Completed TEK PhD form for calculation grade point average. Find the form at the Faculty website. 
• An official document describing the grading scheme of the awarding universities (if not Danish). 
• Only for applicants from programmes that evaluate thesis/examination project by approved/not approved: Please submit an official and verified written assessment of the thesis or dissertation project from the grade giving institution. The statement must clearly state that the candidate has been among the top 30 pct. in the graduation class for the study programme.
• List of publications and maximum 2 examples of relevant publications (in case you have any publications).
• References may also be included, you're welcome to use the form for reference letter at the Faculty website.

UPLOAD GUIDE: Motivated application shall be uploaded as ‘Cover letter’, Curriculum Vitae shall be uploaded as ‘Resume’. All other documents shall be uploaded as ‘Miscellaneous documents’. 

Documents must not contain a CPR number (civil registration number) – in this case, the CPR number must be crossed out.

The application and CV must not exceed 10 MB. 

The application deadline is April 10, 2025, at 11.59 PM / 23.59 (CET/CEST) 

The University of Southern Denmark wishes our staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, are subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position.

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information

Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.

The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute
The Maersk McKinney Moller Institute (MMMI) is part of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Southern Denmark. MMMI is an internationally recognized research department, which has maintained a leading position in robotics for more than two decades. The team of Applied AI and Data Science is the main driver of activities within artificial intelligence and machine learning at the university of Southern Denmark. The team has close collaboration with various hospitals in Denmark, and runs projects within AI in gastroenterology, neurology, urology, cardiology, and endocrinology. Furthermore, the team has a long history of collaboration with industrial partners within green and renewable energy.

Read more about AID and the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute here