Assistant Professor in Machine Learning for Nutritional Informatics and lifestyle-factors analysis - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Biosciences and Nutrition performs research and education in several areas of medical sciences including cancer biology, aging, molecular endocrinology, functional genomics, systems biology, structural biology, protein biochemistry, immunology, and nutrition. It offers an excellent international research and working environment, including around 200 scientists, students, administrative and technical personnel. The Department resides in Neo at Campus Flemingsberg, a biomedical research building, aimed at being a creative and open environment that enables meetings, synergies, and exploration of areas of mutual interest across disciplines

Do you want to contribute to better health for all?

We are looking for an Assistant Professor in Machine Learning for Nutritional Informatics and AI-assisted analysis of lifestyle factors in children and adults to work within the IMPACT research group (Innovative use of Mobile Phones to promote physical activity and nutrition across the life span) that is led by Professor Marie Löf. The group has a wide research interest, spanning from clinical studies to real world data analytics, focusing on the use of novel technologies and sophisticated analytics to monitor and analyse health-related behaviours, relevant to key elements of humans’ lifestyles to support behavioural change. For the current position the successful applicant will be working within the Work Unit of Researcher Ioannis Ioakeimidis, within the scope of five recently funded EU research projects. The position requires a technical profile that combines knowledge in machine learning, signal processing, development, testing and deployment of data collection tools in real-world and controlled settings, and data analysis and extraction of existing and novel behavioural indicators, using new AI methodologies.

Your mission

As an Assistant Professor you will be leading, coordinating, and conducting health/technology efforts on: i) developing and deploying cutting edge data collection tools (e.g., in smartphones, smartwatches, and/or novel prototype sensors), ii) designing and evaluating new machine learning based algorithms for automatic extraction of behavioural indicators, and iii) developing methodologies for aggregate analysis of indicators both on the individual and population level. The expected efforts will require you to help: i) develop smartphone data collection software and tools (e.g., for the Android and iOS operating systems), ii) design and implement algorithms (using signal processing and machine learning) for extracting behavioural indicators as well as perform evaluation on challenging datasets. Additionally, you will be required to participate in the Research Group’s administration, management, research, and technical reporting activities for EU projects. Furthermore, you will be responsible for supervising doctoral and master students’ projects. This position also includes pedagogical responsibilities in the form of leading and teaching in Bachelor, Master’s, and Doctoral courses in KI, focusing on thematic subjects relevant to Nutritional Informatics and Machine Learning/AI developments (both on a theoretical and applied level).

The employment as Assistant Professor is time limited for 4 years with the right to apply for promotion to Senior Lecturer.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible, you must have:

• A solid background in electrical engineering, computer science, or similar knowledge fields.
• A PhD degree in Nutritional Informatics or similar domain, focusing on human behavioural analysis.
• Experience performing and supporting health-related studies using novel sensors and/or wearable technology in humans.
• Some experience/knowledge across one or more of the following fields:
  -  analysis of Big Data
  -  technical validation of algorithms for automated behavioural monitoring
  -  knowledge of more than one programming languages
  -  mobile app development
• Some experience in teaching and supervision in the domain of Health and Technology.
• Excellent writing and communication skills (English).

Those eligible for employment as an Assistant Professor are individuals who have been awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence. Preference should be given to those who were awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence no more than five years prior to the expiry of the application period for the position as assistant professor.

Those who have been awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence earlier may however be considered if special grounds exist. 

Special grounds refer to:

• parental leave,
• positions of trust in trade union organizations
• mandatory service in the total defense forces
• long-term illness
• general medical internship (maximum 24 months)
• specialist medical residency for clinically active professionals (maximum 24 months).

Ground, dates and extent must be clearly specified in the application and verified with relevant documentation.

Bases of assessment

Scientific and technical expertise in the previously described knowledge areas will be most important when assessing candidates. A greatly appreciated quality for the successful applicant will also be documented prior experience in working and managing EU funded projects or other multidisciplinary and international efforts will be greatly appreciated. All skills will be assessed through evaluation of the applicant’s research experience, publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and conferences, and established international collaborations. Finally, pedagogic training and skills, together with teaching experience will also be of great importance when assessing candidates.

What do we offer?

A creative, international and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Here, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. At KI, you get to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisms and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. Several of the people you meet in healthcare are educated at KI. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top quality education and research. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several good benefits through our collective agreement. 

Location: Flemingsberg 

Links https://ki.se/en/bionut/department-of-biosciences-and-nutrition
          https://ki.se/en/bionut/the-impact-research-group-marie-lof
          Choose to work at KI – Ten reasons why

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Application

We prefer that Your application is written in English, but You can also apply in Swedish. An application must contain the following documents: Resumé, qualifications and description of planned research, presented in accordance with Karolinska Institutet’s qualifications portfolio.

Welcome to apply at the latest by 6 September 2023.

The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system

Particular assessment for promotion to Senior Lecturer

An Assistant Professor employed in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 4 Section 12a shall be promoted to Senior Lecturer if he or she is eligible for an employment as Senior Lecturer in accordance with the Instructions regarding the Appointment Procedure for Teachers at Karolinska Institutet and is assessed to be suitable for such employment in accordance with the assessment criteria that KI has decided should be applied when being promoted to Senior Lecturer. The assessment criteria stated in the Instructions regarding the Appointment Procedure for Teachers at Karolinska Institutet that was valid at the time of appointment as Assistant Professor will be applied when applying for promotion to Senior Lecturer. Current assessment criteria is found here. Such promotion results in a permanent position as Senior Lecturer.

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