Postdoc on Machine Learning: Information Geometry (Mathematical Statistics and Differential Geometr

Job Description
Information Geometry of dually-flat Hessian Manifolds
The postdoctoral researcher will focus on the characterization of first and second-order Riemannian and affine geometries of statistical models, or more in general Hessian manifolds, aimed at the study of optimization methods over statistical manifolds. Neural Networks can be modeled as statistical manifolds, or manifolds of Neural Networks, and the training of the network can be studied as an optimization problem over a non-linear manifold, where the weights of the network are the parameters of the model and thus the variables of the function to be optimized. The purpose of the analysis is to introduce alternative second-order approximations of a function over a statistical manifold, depending on the choice of the connection and thus how parallel transport is implemented, which are at the basis of the design of second-order optimization methods.

Keywords: information geometry, geometry of statistical models, natural gradient, dually-flat manifolds, Hessian geometries.

The position will be part of the new Machine Learning and Optimization group, which will be performing research at the intersection of Machine Learning, Stochastic Optimization, Deep Learning, and Optimization over Manifolds, from the unifying perspective of Information Geometry. The group is one of two newly-formed groups in Machine Learning at RIST, where about 20 new postdoctoral research associates and research software developers will be hired in the next year.

Desired Qualifications

• PhD in machine learning, theoretical computer science, stochastic optimization, statistics, applied mathematics, including fields such as manifold optimization, differential geometry, statistical mechanics, and related fields
• Strong publication record
• Strong analytical skills, such as problem solving and logical thinking
• Enthusiasm to work in a multidisciplinary and international research environment
• Good written and oral communication skills in English

Knowledge in machine learning is helpful, but not strictly mandatory. Doctoral students close to the competition of their thesis will also be considered. 
The positions are to start as early as December 2016 or at any agreed later date. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. 
The official job announcement can be seen here:http://rist.ro/en/details/news/postdoc-positions-in-machine-learning-opt...

RIST offers competitive salaries and top-level working conditions. The net salary for these positions will be around 2.000 euro per month, with a possible increase up to 2.200 euro, based on new tax incentives for research and development activities in Romania. Positions are endowed with travel resources. The cost of living in Cluj is significantly lower than in Western Europe or the USA (e.g., it is 1/3 of the cost of living in London, UK).

About the Institute

The Romanian Institute of Science and Technology is a non-governmental, not-for-profit, independent research institute, founded in 2009, with the purpose of offering scientists a place to conduct research in Romania with top working conditions, comparable to those you can find in Western Europe. RIST currently performs research on computational and experimental neuroscience, computational intelligence, machine learning, and dynamical systems. The institute is currently undergoing a phase of significant and sustained growth supported by European and Romanian structural funds, with plans for hiring around 20 new scientists and researchers in the next year. The institute has close contacts with the Babeș-Bolyai University, which is the largest university in Romania, and with the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. 

The institute is located in Cluj-Napoca, in the heart of Transylvania, which has been named by Lonely Planet as the top region to visit in 2016. Cluj is a welcoming and innovative city, recently listed as one of the major tech hubs (with a 9% growth per year for IT industry). Cluj has 12 universities, over 70k students every year, and an extremely vibrant startup scene, which has recently named the Silicon Valley of Transylvania.

Cluj is Europe's friendliest city for foreigners, according to a study by the UK Office of National Statistics, and Romania is no. 16 in the Internations best expat destinations of 2016. About 1100 French citizens, 800 Italian citizens and 500 German citizens live in Cluj (source). The city has an international airport, only 8km away from the city center, with flights to more than 30 European destinations. 

More information about Cluj:

https://vimeo.com/171864331
https://vimeo.com/166021527