Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Validation of AI-based Decision Making

Simula: Solving fundamental problems in ICT that benefit society.

Simula’s vision is to be an excellent research lab, educating future technology leaders and providing independent advice to the government. We want to be an innovator and innovation partner and apply our expertise to problems that matter. We do this by concentrating on five select research areas in ICT. 

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Project/Job description

A 3-year Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is available at Simula Metropolitan Center for Digital Engineering (SimulaMet). 

This position is part of the Norwegian Centre on AI for Decisions (aiD), funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN). The candidate is expected to actively collaborate with other partners in the center and especially the use cases, to develop methods that are relevant and of practical use.

The postdoctoral researcher will be working on the validation of AI-based decision making, involving one or multiple of reinforcement learning, combinatorial and constraint-based optimization, model-predictive control, or agentic AI systems. A specific focus will be on the validation of decisions under the presence of imperfect (world) models and misleading information. We will develop and apply methods for individual and joint validation of the decision making policy and any model used for planning, and ultimately ways to mitigate these shortcomings through post-training or shielding.

The purpose of a postdoctoral position is for the employee to develop a research profile and competence that qualifies them to apply for a Research Scientist or Associate Professor position. SimulaMet shall facilitate the acquisition of such competence during the employment period. A career plan shall be developed for the Postdoctoral Fellow, specifying the competencies the Postdoctoral Fellow should acquire. SimulaMet is responsible for following up on the career plan and ensuring that the Postdoctoral Fellow has access to career guidance throughout the postdoctoral term. The position may also provide other competencies relevant to the postdoctoral fellow's future career. In addition, for the professional career development of postdoctoral researchers, research stays abroad as well as presentation of the research findings at international/national conferences are facilitated and highly encouraged. In addition, training opportunities and support for writing grant proposals are also provided throughout the postdoc period.

 

Candidate Profile

We will consider candidates who have (or will have completed before the start of the position) a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics or other related relevant discipline. The applicant is required to demonstrate how the degree corresponds to the profile of the post. Other required qualifications include:

• A strong background in machine learning, data science, optimization and/or software testing, proven by a high-quality publication record.
• Previous experience in both designing novel data-driven learning and control methods and applying them to real data, as proved by publicly released code and publications.
• Proficiency in a high-level programming language (e.g., Python).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and a record of previous talks at international conferences.
• An open and collaborative mindset, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines and in culturally diverse teams.

 

Simula Offers

• Excellent opportunities for performing high quality research, as part of a highly competent and motivated team of international researchers and engineers;
• An informal and inclusive international working environment;
• Generous support for travel and opportunities to build international networks, through established collaboration with industry, exchange programs and research visits with other universities, and funding to attend conferences.

• Modern office facilities located in downtown Oslo
• A competitive salary. Starting salary from NOK 595 000
• Numerous benefits: access to company cabin, sponsored social events, generous equipment budgets (e.g., computer, phone and subscription), subsidized canteen meals, comprehensive travel/health insurance policy, etc.
• Relocation assistance: accommodation, visas, complimentary Norwegian language courses, etc
• Administrative research support: e.g., quality assurance process for grant proposals (including RCN and EU programs).
• Wellness and work-life balance. Our employees’ health and well-being is a priority and we encourage them to make use of our flexible work arrangements to help balance their work and home lives efficiently. 

 

Application

Interested applicants are requested to submit the following:

• Curriculum vitae showing your educational background, working experience (in particular, any relevant academic or industrial work), a list of scientific publications and talks.
• Transcripts from Master and PhD degrees.
• Copy of your doctoral dissertation
• Contact information of at least two references.

Please note that all documents must be in English language. 

Do not submit other certificates, articles, and the like unless specifically requested. If further documentation is wanted for assessment, you will be asked to submit it later.

Deadline: 07.08.2026

Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview. Expected starting date before End of 2026 (flexible).

 

Contact

Additional enquiries regarding the position can be addressed to 

Helge Spieker, helge@simula.no

 

General Information

Six national research centers for Artificial Intelligence (AI) launched in the Fall of 2025. Each of these centers will foster interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers to address both scientific and societal challenges, develop new technologies, understand the impact of AI, and drive innovation across both the business and public sectors. This initiative is established and financed through the government's significant investment in artificial intelligence over the next five years. aiD is one of these six centres.

 

Employment for this position will be made according to the Security Act and the Act relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and any attachments are considered to be in conflict with these regulations will not qualify for this position.

SimulaMet uses background checks in our recruitment process. All candidates are assessed for affiliation with high-risk countries. This assessment also considers whether the research area involves sensitive technologies, dual-use knowledge, critical infrastructure, or other security-relevant topics.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

If you have been funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN) in a previous position, you cannot apply for this job. RCN funding can only be granted for one period.