Postdoctoral Positions in Rational Machine Learning: The Rational Intelligence Lab at the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security in Saarbrücken, Germany, invites applications for Postdoctoral Research Fellowships under the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) 2025 call. The position offers a unique opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of machine learning, statistics, and economic theory with a strong emphasis on enhancing the rationality, safety, and reliability of AI systems.
📌 Quick Summary Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Position Title | Postdoctoral Researcher (MSCA Fellow) |
| Designation | Postdoctoral Research Fellow |
| Research Area | Rational Machine Learning, AI Safety, Game Theory, Causality, GenAI |
| Location | Saarbrücken, Germany |
| Institution | CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security |
| Application Deadline | September 10, 2025 |
| Working Language | English |
| Contact Email | muandet@cispa.de |
| Lab Website | https://ri-lab.org |
| Eligibility | MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship criteria + relevant PhD |
🎓 Eligibility / Qualifications
- A Ph.D. (at time of application) in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Physics, or related fields.
- Strong academic publication record, ideally in venues like ICML, NeurIPS, ICLR, AAAI, JMLR, etc.
- Solid mathematical foundation and/or strong empirical programming skills.
- Demonstrated interest in studying the behavior of advanced AI systems such as Generative AI, LLMs, recommendation systems, etc.
- Must meet MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship eligibility requirements. Check here
📘 Job Description
Selected candidates will explore groundbreaking topics to build mathematical frameworks and empirical tools for understanding and improving complex AI systems. Key focus areas include:
- Abstraction and Concept Learning in AI
- Causal and Counterfactual Inference in AI Models
- Game-Theoretic Models of Human-AI Collaboration
- Incentive Alignment in Autonomous AI Systems
- Quantification of Uncertainty in Safety-Critical AI
Other original ideas aligned with the lab’s mission are welcome and will be developed jointly with the PI.
🌍 Research Environment & Collaborations
- Access to CISPA’s world-class infrastructure and collaborative network including:
- Saarland University, MPI-INF, MPI-SWS, DFKI, HIPS
- Helmholtz AI Cooperation Unit
- Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems
- Participation in ELLIS Unit Saarbrücken
- International and diverse work culture
- No German language requirement
📥 How to Apply
- Check your MSCA eligibility:
MSCA Eligibility Guide - Send the following to muandet@cispa.de:
- A Cover Letter explaining:
- Why the Rational Intelligence Lab is the right fit for you.
- How your research experience aligns with this position.
- An up-to-date CV with publication record.
- A Cover Letter explaining:
- If there is a mutual research interest, you will collaborate on proposal development ahead of the MSCA deadline.
⏰ Important Dates
- Application Deadline: September 10, 2025 (MSCA deadline)
- Start Date: Flexible, subject to funding outcome
🌈 Diversity & Inclusion
We actively encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds including women, LGBTQ+, people of color, persons with disabilities, and those from economically disadvantaged communities.
🔗 More Info:
🔍 Lab: https://ri-lab.org
📚 Publications: https://ri-lab.org/pubs
🎯 Values: https://ri-lab.org/values
🏢 Institute: https://cispa.de/en
📬 Start preparing early and take your next big step in research with one of Europe’s most dynamic AI labs!
