PhD position (funded) in AI- Synthetic Data Generation

PhD position

There is a vacancy for a PhD position at the Centre for the Science of Learning & Technology (SLATE), Faculty of Psychology, in Artificial intelligence – synthetic data generation, with a particular focus on privacy, data protection, and trustworthiness. The position is financed by Akademiaavtalen between University of Bergen and Equinor, and is connected to the project “Accelerating Privacy and Data Protection Measures Using Synthetic Data Generation” (ASPIRE). The PhD position is for a fixed term of 3 years, starting in Q1 2025.

The Centre for the Science of Learning & Technology (SLATE) located at the Faculty of Psychology is a learning sciences research centre that carries out interdisciplinary research on the technological, pedagogical, cultural, ethical, and legal aspects of learning analytics (LA) and artificial intelligence in education (AIED), and promote the responsible use of technology in education.

About the project/work tasks:

Advancements in data-driven models across various fields such as education (learning analytics and Artificial Intelligence in Education) and healthcare have been fuelled by a breadth of large datasets. However, the growing demand for large volumes of data comes with significant challenges, with privacy concerns being among the most critical. Traditional methods such as anonymisation and de-identification have become increasingly vulnerable to attacks, which increases the risk of personal information exposure. In response, synthetic data is emerging as a promising and novel solution providing scientists and researchers with an alternative to real data without compromising privacy or exposing sensitive information.

You will participate in the ASPIRE project (Accelerating Privacy and Data Protection Measures Using Synthetic Data Generation), which aims to develop novel methods for privacy and data protection by leveraging Artificial Intelligence in synthetic data generation. ASPIRE seeks to contribute to a trustworthy framework for secure data exchange and ASPIRE outcomes expect to impact education, healthcare, and artificial intelligence research.

Synthetic data generation is a key driver for the PhD position. You, together with the ASPIRE team, is expected to offer novel perspectives on proposing rigorous privacy guarantees by integrating differential privacy and federated learning with synthetic data. Additionally, an evaluation of the utility of synthetic data to ensure that it remains functional while adding an extra layer of data protection will be carried out.

Your are also expected to:

• be involved in both research and social collaborative work within SLATE
• participate in SLATE activities and contribute to the life of the Centre

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• You must at the time of application hold a master’s degree or the equivalent in either Information Science, Computer Science, Information Security, or related fields

Special requirements for the position:

• Possess solid programming skills (e.g., Python, R, GIT)
• Familiarity with machine learning, data analytics, or deep learning
• Keen interest in privacy-preserving technologies
• Experience in synthetic data generation, differential privacy, anonymisation, and/or federated learning is an advantage
• Experience with AI in general (for example IOT), AI in Education, Learning Analytics, or AI and health is an advantage
• You must have the ability to work in a structured manner in close collaboration with the supervisor and have the ability to collaborate with others
• For admission to the ph.d.-programme, grade B or above is normally required on your master’s thesis
• Proficiency in both written and oral English
• You must be highly motivated, keen to teamwork and research collaboration

We can offer:

• Exciting development opportunities as part of your role in a strong professional environment
• An annual salary of NOK 540 500 (~46,000 euros/ 49,000 USD). Further promotions are made according to length of service.
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Good welfare benefits

Supervision is by Dr. Mohammad Khalil

If you are interested, please apply using the following link: Jobbnorge