1. Vacancies
  2. PhD position on deep symbolic AI for microfabricated fluidic sensors

PhD position on deep symbolic AI for microfabricated fluidic sensors

Do you want to work at the forefront of research and development in a highly relevant area of deep symbolic AI for tiny sensors? Would you like to collaborate with researchers with expertise in a scientific field outside of deep learning to build AI systems that can perform previously impossible tasks? Do you like to work together with leading industry and make your scientific work turn into real systems? Then this might be the vacancy you have been looking for!

Apply now
  • Hi! Are you my
    new colleague?
    Stephan Maathuis
  • Hi! Are you my
    new colleague?
    Jeroen Blok
  • Hi! Are you my
    new colleague?
    Kuan Chen
  • Hi! Are you my
    new colleague?
    Eline Meijerink
  • Hi! Are you my
    new colleague?
    Stefano Stramigioli
  • Hi! Are you my
    new colleague?
    Ying Wang
  • Hi! Are you my
    new colleague?
    Britt Büter
  • Hi! Are you my
    new colleague?
    Clara Stegehuis

Key takeaways

  • Hours
    40 hr.
  • Salary indication
    Salary gross/monthly
    based on full-time
    € 2,770 - € 3,539
  • Deadline
    20 Oct 2023

For many medical and industrial applications, there is a need for versatile microfluidic sensing systems that are able to extract more information from fluid mixtures than currently possible. By using microfabrication technologies, multiple sensors – e.g. for flow rate, pressure and density – can be integrated into a single chip. To calculate e.g. the viscosity from the flow rate and pressure, conventional data processing methods involve filtering the raw sensor signals, and calibration of the individual sensors and physical models. These methods are time-consuming, not always applicable, and leave potentially relevant information undiscovered. Therefore, it is now a necessity to explore recent work in symbolic Artificial Intelligence (AI) to overcome these limitations and allow for real-time fluid data processing by using a combination of deep neural networks and physics in flow sensing.

The goal of this project is the realization of a demonstrator system containing multiple sensing structures together with a trained neural network, which outperforms the state-of-the-art multiparameter systems for real-time quality control of products made in chemical or pharmaceutical microreactors, or in the food industry.

The Pervasive Systems research group at the University of Twente is looking for a PhD candidate to perform research and development on a multidisciplinary project involving deep symbolic AI and microfabricated fluidic sensors.

The main research activities are:

The candidate is expected to collaborate with project partners including the Integrated Devices and Systems (IDS) group, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS), at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.

Your profile

  • The PhD position is a fully funded position which has a focus on scientific research in a multi-disciplinary context.
  • The ideal candidate has a Master’s degree in either Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, or Mathematics.
  • You have experience in relevant areas such as signal processing, symbolic reasoning, embedded systems, data analysis, machine learning and deep learning.
  • Candidates should be interested in solving analytical tasks and developing prototypes, combined with intermediate programming skills (e.g. in R, Python or C-something)
  • Prior experience in generative models, neuro-symbolic AI, causal learning, and efficient deep learning for embedded devices is a plus (with frameworks such as TensorFlow and Keras).
  • Moreover, we are looking for a strong personality to defend your research ideas not only at conferences or in academic settings but also in an industrial context.
  • You have good communication skills and you have a strong interest in operating at the crossroads of different disciplines

Our offer

  • As a PhD student at UT, you will be appointed to a full-time position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year, within a very stimulating and exciting scientific environment;
  • The University offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues;
  • Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU);
  • You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from € 2.770,- (first year) to € 3.539,- (fourth year);
  • There are excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme;
  • A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
  • Free access to sports facilities on campus
  • A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid);
  • You will have a training programme as part of the Twente Graduate School where you and your supervisors will determine a plan for a suitable education and supervision;
  • We encourage a high degree of responsibility and independence while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other staff.

Information and application

Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the 'Apply now' button below before 21 October 2023, and include:

For more information regarding this position, you are welcome to contact Dr. Le Viet Duc (v.d.le@utwente.nl)

Interviews are scheduled on the 20th of November.

Share this vacancy

About the department

The candidate will work at the Pervasive Systems Research group, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.

Pervasive Systems are systems composed of a network of collaborative sensing, computational, and reasoning components that are highly embedded in and actively – yet unobtrusively – interact with the environment. Our system-oriented research is inspired by real problems, which makes multi-disciplinary collaboration natural. Our research has high societal and economic impacts in various applications in the area of Smart Urban, Smart Life, and Smart Industry such as environmental monitoring, ecology, ambient assisted living, agriculture, transport and mobility, smart industry, supply chain management, health, sports, asset management, predictive maintenance, and smart cities.

The candidate is expected to collaborate with project partners including the Integrated Devices and Systems (IDS) group, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS), at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.

About the organisation

The faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) uses mathematics, electronics and computer technology to contribute to the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). With ICT present in almost every device and product we use nowadays, we embrace our role as contributors to a broad range of societal activities and as pioneers of tomorrow's digital society. As part of a people-first tech university that aims to shape society, individuals and connections, our faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad, and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. Our research has a high profile both in the Netherlands and internationally. It has been accommodated in three multidisciplinary UT research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centre and Digital Society Institute.

Want to know more?

Le Viet Duc, D.V. (Duc)

Le Viet Duc, D.V. (Duc)
Assistant Professor

Le Viet Duc, D.V. (Duc)
Assistant Professor

Do you have questions about this vacancy? Then you can contact Duc for all substantive questions about this position and the application procedure. For general questions about working for the UT, please refer to the chatbot.

How to apply

Step 1

Apply.
When you see a vacancy that appeals to you, you can apply online. We ask you to upload a CV and motivation letter and/or list of publications. You will receive a confirmation of receipt by e-mail.

Apply now

Step 2

Selection.
The selection committee will review your application and you will receive a response within 2 weeks after the vacancy has been closed.

Step 3

1st interview.
The 1st (online or in person) meeting serves as an introduction where we introduce ourselves to you and you to us. You may be asked to give a short presentation. This will be further explained in the invitation.

Step 4

2nd interview.
In the second interview, we will further discuss the job content, your skills and your talents.

Step 5

The offer.
If the conversations are positive, you will be made a suitable offer.

Your Colleagues

About the faculty EEMCS

Curious about what the faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) stands for? Check out the EEMCS website for more information.

A job that matters

Create new opportunities for yourself, your colleagues and our society. Scientist or teacher, administrator or facilitator, thinker or doer, energetic leader or silent support – your work at the University of Twente matters. And you too!

  • Our mission
    Human Touch

    At the UT it’s all about people, in line with our university’s High Tech Human Touch philosophy. In everything we do, the well-being and future of our students and staff are paramount. From research and teaching to personnel management, campus management and the use of new technologies.

  • Our mission
    We are a university of technology

    Our university is a public institution that serves society. We are accountable to society for the ways in which we use our academic freedom. We are responsible for ensuring that the power of science and technology is harnessed to achieve the best possible impact in a changing world. We cherish our rich tradition of combining technical and social sciences in our five profiling themes: Improving healthcare by personalized technologies; Creating intelligent manufacturing systems; Shaping our world with smart materials; Engineering our digital society; and Engineering for a resilient world.

  • Our mission
    We help to strengthen society

    We help society meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. But we are also transparent about what science and technology can and cannot do in finding sustainable solutions. And help translate these solutions into everyday life.

  • Our mission
    We are sustainable

    We want our communities to flourish and show resilience, so we seize opportunities for innovation. We are knowledgeable and have an eye for what society needs. Our students and staff receive all the guidance they need in their quest for ecological, social and economic sustainability.
    “The University of Twente is all about people. Our sustainable technologies help to strengthen society.”

Browse all jobs