2 Post-Doc / Research Group Leader Positions in AI Incubator Oldenburg

Description

Within the framework of support for the University of Oldenburg through the state program "Strategically Develop Potential," the AI Incubator "Connected Health Nordwest" is to be established. This serves the strategic goal of strengthening cooperation in the field of AI between the University Medicine Oldenburg (UMO) and other actors at the location. The AI Incubator will therefore be developed in the innovation quarter IQON through collaboration of the UMO with the Department of Computer Science of the University of Oldenburg, OFFIS, and the DFKI (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence).

As an essential component of the AI Incubator "Connected Health Nordwest," two research groups are initially to be established at the University of Oldenburg. The leadership of a third research group will soon be advertised by DFKI Oldenburg.

Thematic Focus Areas:
Mental Health: The goal is to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) in combination with neuromodulatory therapy procedures for the care of patients with mental illness. A particular focus lies on developing personalized, adaptive treatment approaches, building a structured database for individualized feedback, and prototypical implementation of systems in long-term inpatient care to demonstrate feasibility. Solution approaches should support the transition from inpatient to outpatient and, if necessary, home-based care settings, thereby enabling sustainable relief for inpatient care facilities. This includes continuous sensor-based monitoring procedures, AI-supported evaluation and control components, as well as interaction-based, patient-centered input options (e.g., voice-based interactions, neuromodulation, apps) to enable individualization of therapy processes in outpatient and home environments. The group is expected to form a scientific bridge between the University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the Karl Jaspers Clinic and the AI Incubator and also ensure close spatial integration into clinical care.

Secure and Trustworthy Infrastructure: The secure and trustworthy digital infrastructure required for digital health concepts for secure data processing and digital networking with actors in health care in the region, and in particular homes, is to be designed and prototypically built. The goal of infrastructure trustworthiness should be interpreted broadly, particularly with regard to the use of AI systems; essential (technical) trust questions may therefore include topics such as reliability, robustness, fairness, explainability, or auditability. Aspects of IT security and digital privacy protection should play a special role due to the high sensitivity of the data to be processed. On the one hand, this can include securing sensitive data (and AI models) through modern protection mechanisms, such as differential privacy or cryptographic procedures; on the other hand, it also involves researching AI-supported methods for attack detection and prevention to counteract advanced attacks, such as targeted data manipulation.

The AI Incubator "Connected Health Nordwest" is organizationally and structurally integrated into the co-innovation and transfer activities of the innovation quarter IQON (https://www.iqon-oldenburg.de/).

Both research groups will be equipped with 2 PhD student positions (E13, 100% full-time) for 4 years each. Extensive laboratories and infrastructure are available at IQON for testing technologies (including https://www.offis.de/en/applications/living-labs.html). Applications must be accompanied by a maximum 5-page description of the scientific concept of the research group (https://cloud.uol.de/s/rPCpHMx65Ybkd7K), concepts for networking with clinical partners and the region, concepts for data acquisition and processing using AI methods, as well as resource planning. These concepts can be oriented toward the focus areas mentioned above, but other concepts are also possible if they contribute to the vision of the UMO (https://universitaetsmedizin-oldenburg.de/forschung).

The positions are limited for 4 years (a cost-neutral extension to 5 years is being pursued).

Your Responsibilities

• Establishment and leadership of independent research groups
• Conception and development of structured databases (Mental Health group) or the necessary infrastructure (Secure and Trustworthy Infrastructure group)
• Development of innovative AI-based solutions for healthcare in the region
• Networking with UMO hospitals as well as actors in the region and on the Dutch side (including concept for structural and spatial integration)
• Supervision of PhD students and student thesis projects
• Development of academic qualification programs in Data Science, Digitalization, and Mobile Health (mHealth) for healthcare professionals
• Further development of the research groups through acquisition of external funding

We Offer

• Compensation according to collective agreement (annual special payment, occupational pension provision, capital-forming benefits) including 30 days annual leave
• Support and guidance during your onboarding phase
• A family-friendly environment with flexible working hours (flexible time) and the option for partial remote work
• Benefits of occupational health promotion
• An extensive free continuing education program as well as dedicated academic career development (https://uol.de/en/school6/early-career)

About Us

The School VI of Medicine and Health Sciences encompasses the fields of Human Medicine, Medical Physics and Acoustics, Neurosciences, Psychology, and Health Services Research. Together with four regional hospitals, School VI forms the University Medicine Oldenburg. Furthermore, there is close collaboration with the University of Groningen. The UMO develops technological innovations and personalized solutions, transferring them into practice to improve people’s health in the northwest — both in urban and rural areas. 

School II – Department of Computer Science has, in recent years and in close cooperation with the affiliated institute OFFIS (led by professors from the department), developed a strong application-oriented and interdisciplinary research profile. Its interdisciplinary research focuses lie in two main areas: “Safety-Critical and Embedded Systems” and “ICT for Energy Efficiency.” 

Out Aspiration

The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increase the percentage of female employees in the field of science. Therefore, female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. In accordance to § 21 Section 3 NHG, female candidates with equal qualifications will be preferentially considered. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification.