University assistant predoctoral (all genders welcome)

The University of Klagenfurt, with approximately 1,500 employees and over 12,000 students, is located in the Alps-Adriatic region and consistently achieves excellent placements in rankings. The motto “per aspera ad astra” underscores our firm commitment to the pursuit of excellence in all activities in research, teaching and university management. The principles of equality, diversity, health, sustainability and compatibility of work and family life serve as the foundation for our work at the university.

The University of Klagenfurt is pleased to announce the following open position at the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, Semantic Systems group, at the Faculty of Technical Sciences with a negotiable starting date, commencing on April 15, 2025, at the latest:

University assistant predoctoral (all genders welcome)

Level of employment: 100 % (40 hours/week)

Minimum salary: € 52,007.20 per annum (gross); classification according to collective agreement: B1

Limited to: 4 years

Application deadline: March 12, 2025

Reference code: 851/24

• Autonomous scientific work including the publication of research articles in the field of semantic systems, with a specific emphasis on symbolic AI, in particular logic, logic programming, planning, and related areas
  • Conduct theoretical and practical (empirical) research
  • Aim to submit a dissertation and acquire a doctoral degree
• Independent teaching and assessment, usually
  • Teaching practical courses
  • Assessment of student work
• Contribution to organisational and administrative tasks
• Participation in public relations activities

The successful candidate is expected to pursue a PhD within the thematic doctoral programme Informatics at the University of Klagenfurt. This position serves the purposes of the vocational and scientific education of graduates of Master’s or Diploma degree programmes with the goal of completing a doctoral degree in Technical Sciences. Applications by persons who have already completed a subject-specific doctoral degree can therefore not be considered.

In research and teaching, the research group Semantic Systems works on knowledge representation in intelligent systems. The research group focuses on logic-based, declarative languages. The spectrum of the research activities ranges from the development and formal analysis of new and existing declarative languages, over implementation of systems supporting such languages, to their applications.

• Completed Master’s degree in computer science or a related field at a domestic or foreign higher education institution. This requirement has an extended deadline and must be fulfilled two weeks before the starting date at the latest; hence, the latest possible deadline for meeting this requirement is April 1, 2025
• Proven knowledge in at least one of the following areas: symbolic artificial intelligence, logic-based languages, theoretical computer science. Please note: experience with artificial neural networks and other subsymbolic areas of artificial intelligence is neither required nor sufficient. Proof of knowledge has to be provided via some of the following indicators: completed courses or projects in the degree programme in the specified areas, academic theses in one of the specified areas, tutoring or teaching assistance in the specified areas, developed prototypes in the specified areas, published open source code in the specified areas, or first relevant publications in conference proceedings or journals in the specified areas.
• Proven programming skills in at least one of the following languages: C, C++, Python
• English language skills (both written and spoken)

• Good scientific communication and presentation skills
• Social skills and ability to work in heterogeneous teams
• Knowledge of logic programming, in particular answer set programming
• First experience in university teaching and research (for example through tutorials or teaching assistance)

German language skills are not a requirement, but successful applicants will be expected to acquire German language skills during their employment.

Our offer:

The employment contract is concluded for the position as university assistant (predoctoral) and stipulates a starting salary of € 3,714.80 gross per month (14 times a year; previous experience deemed relevant to the job can be recognized).

 The University of Klagenfurt also offers:

• Personal and professional advanced training courses, management and career coaching, including bespoke training for women in science
• Numerous attractive additional benefits, see also https://jobs.aau.at/en/the-university-as-employer/
• Diversity- and family-friendly university culture
• The opportunity to live and work in the attractive Alps-Adriatic region with a wide range of leisure activities in the spheres of culture, nature and sports

The application:

If you are interested in this position, please apply in English providing the following documents:

• Letter of application explaining the motivation and including a statement of interest in research (indicating an idea for the research for your own doctoral degree)
• Curriculum vitae (please do not include a photo)
• Copies of degree certificates (Bachelor and Master)
• Copies of official transcripts (Bachelor and Master) containing the list of all courses and grades
• Master’s thesis. If the thesis is not available, the candidate should provide an explanation
• Three references (contact details of persons who the university may contact by email or telephone for information purposes)
• If an applicant has not received the Master’s degree by the application deadline, the applicant should provide a declaration, written either by a supervisor or by the candidate themselves, on the feasibility of finishing the Master’s degree before April 1, 2025.

To apply, please select the position with the reference code 851/24 in the category “Scientific Staff” using the link “Apply for this position”.

Candidates must provide proof that they meet the required qualifications by March 12, 2025, at the latest. However, candidates who fulfil the required qualifications but do not yet possess the required master degree can apply, provided they are able to meet this requirement at least two weeks before the starting date. Therefore, the latest possible deadline for meeting this requirement is April 1, 2025.

For further information on this specific vacancy, please contact Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Faber (wolfgang.faber@aau.at). General information about the university as an employer can be found at https://jobs.aau.at/en/the-university-as-employer/. At the University of Klagenfurt, recruitment and staff matters are accompanied not only by the authority responsible for the recruitment procedure but also by the Equal Opportunities Working Group and, if applicable, by the Representative for Disabled Persons.

The University of Klagenfurt aims to increase the proportion of women and therefore specifically invites qualified women to apply for the position. Where the qualification is equivalent, women will be given preferential consideration.

People with disabilities or chronic diseases, who fulfil the requirements, are particularly encouraged to apply.

Travel and accommodation costs incurred during the application process will not be refunded.

Translations into other languages shall serve informational purposes only. Solely the version advertised in the University Bulletin (Mitteilungsblatt) shall be legally binding.