Postdoctoral Researcher in Reinforcement Learning for Epidemic Mitigation, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

Summary

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to work on reinforcement learning methods for public health decision-making during epidemic emergencies. The project aims to develop and evaluate learning-based approaches for controlling the spread of infectious diseases under realistic epidemiological, operational, and societal constraints.

Postdoctoral Researcher in Reinforcement Learning for Epidemic Mitigation, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

Designation

Postdoctoral Researcher

Key Job Details

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Research Area

The intersection of reinforcement learning and computational epidemiology. Methodological focuses include multi-objective, hierarchical, and explainable reinforcement learning, as well as uncertainty-aware decision-making using spatial and individual-based models.

Location

Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene), Brussels, Belgium.

Eligibility/Qualification

• Education: A PhD in machine learning, artificial intelligence, computer science, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• Experience: Prior experience with reinforcement learning, sequential decision-making, or closely related machine learning methods, as well as simulation-based or quantitative research.
• Technical Skills: Strong programming skills, preferably in Python. Experience with JAX is considered a plus.
• Soft Skills: Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, with strong written and oral communication skills in English.
• Other: Non-EEA nationals must meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with residence requirements.

Job Description

• Develop and implement reinforcement learning approaches for epidemic mitigation (with a primary focus on research).
• Work alongside epidemic simulation models and formulate control problems as sequential decision-making tasks.
• Contribute to scientific publications, open-source software, and reproducible research workflows.
• Present research findings at project meetings, conferences, and workshops.

How to Apply

Apply online via the VUB Jobs Portal by uploading the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Motivation letter
• Contact information for references
• Up to three representative publications or preprints
• Relevant code repositories or software project links (optional but recommended)
• A copy of your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni)

Last Date for Apply

30 September 2027

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