Temporary contract | 24 months | Full-time/40h | Belval

Are you passionate about research? So are we! Come and join us

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment, and IT. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data, and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions, and businesses in their strategies.

In 2024, LIST and GOODYEAR signed the second phase of their partnership, 2024-2029, building on the outcomes of their previous collaboration and entering new technological areas as well. GOODYEAR-LIST Partnership 2.0 embraces Luxembourg's National priorities, such as Sustainability, Digital transformation and Circular economy, through the execution of six Strategic Research Programs: Data Science, Tire as a Sensor, End-of-Life Tire Valorization, Sustainable Materials for Non-Pneumatic Tires, Sustainable Materials for Next Generation of Pneumatic Tires, Structure-Process-Properties Relationships.

As part of our Data Science strategic research program, we are looking for a Post Doctoral researcher with expertise in Knowledge Graph Engineering and explainable hybrid Artificial Intelligence, i.e., the mix of formal knowledge representation and reasoning with sub-symbolic data-driven machine learning approaches, to work on car-driver digital twins together with two PhD students, especially to propose new models and algorithms for complex maneuvers, and building a parametric autonomous model of drivers reproducing a close to reality human behavior in simulation. The work is part of a project comprising experts from LIST and Goodyear with external experts from leading universities. The research team spams Luxembourg, Europe and the USA and will make use of world-leading car simulator facilities. Work in the project comprises human-factors research, artificial intelligence and data analytics.

Do you want to know more about LIST? Check our website: https://www.list.lu/

How will you contribute?

Do you want to shape the driver experience of the future?

Measuring how drivers perceive changes in tire designs using subjective and objective techniques is a key part of the tire development process and its marketability. Furthermore, to improve sustainability within the design process there is a need to reduce the number of iterations of physical tires along with the use of real-world test track facilities and instead make greater use of virtual testing using state-of-the-art car simulators.

As a part of a team, you will work alongside several PhD students and Postdocs who are developing new techniques to assess tire performance. The Postdoc position connects more specifically with PhD students to build driver digital twins from ontological models and data-driven models, mixing knowledge about human modelling, the driver-car-tire system and its environment, with telemetric and physiological data gathered from a world-leading car simulator. Your role will be to support them in the combination of the knowledge-based and data driven approaches, analyzing more deeply data and knowledge linked to non-classical maneuvers and behaviors, working on explainability of observed subjective car handling and evaluation by test drivers and finally implementing a prototype of a driver digital twin that can be tuned to simulate human drivers. You will work alongside senior researchers from LIST and Goodyear as part of a leading international team, with the opportunity to visit Goodyear USA.

Activities:

·         Conduct extensive background literature analysis.

·         Support PhD students in their work, focusing on the combination of knowledge-based and data-driven approaches

·         Develop new hybrid AI models and algorithms

·         Implement a prototype of a parametric Driver Digital Twin

·         Publish in peer-reviewed journals and conferences;

·         Organise events, including workshops at conferences;

·         Present papers at scientific conferences;

·         Take part in the relevant training.

Is your profile described below? Are you our future colleague?

Apply now!

Education

·         PhD in topics related to Knowledge Graph Engineering, Hybrid Artificial Intelligence or Human Digital Twin including hybrid knowledge-based and data-driven approaches or related to car driver modelling.

Experience and skills

·         Excellent skills in knowledge representation and reasoning and sub-symbolic AI;

·         Experience in explainable AI

·         Experience with the modelling of human factors and understanding of human behavior;

·         Excellent skills for handling complex problems involving uncertainties and subjectivity arising from human actors;

·         Experience with human modelling or human digital twins

·         Experience in the driving domain and more specifically in car driver modelling is an asset.

Language skills

·         Proficiency in English (written and spoken). Knowledge of French is an asset but not mandatory.

Your LIST benefits

·         An organization with a passion for impact and strong RDI partnerships in Luxembourg and Europe that works on responsible and independent research projects

·         Sustainable by design, empowering our belief that we play an essential role in paving the way to a green society

·         Innovative infrastructures and exceptional labs occupying more than 5,000 square metres, including innovations in all that we do

·         An environment encouraging curiosity, innovation and entrepreneurship in all areas

·         Personalized learning programme to foster our staff’s soft and technical skills

·         Multicultural and international work environment with more than 50 nationalities represented in our workforce

·         Diverse and inclusive work environment empowering our people to fulfil their personal and professional ambitions

·         Gender-friendly environment with multiple actions to attract, develop and retain women in science

·         32 days’ paid annual leave, 11 public holidays, 13-month salary, statutory health insurance

·         Flexible working hours, home working policy and access to lunch vouchers

Apply online

Your application must include:

·         A motivation letter oriented towards the position and detailing your experience;

·         A scientific CV with contact details;

·         List of publications (and patents, if applicable);

·         Contact details of 2 references (optional).

Application procedure and conditions:

·         LIST is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring and retaining diverse personnel. We value all applicants and will consider all competent candidates for employment without regard to national origin, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, religion, age or disability;

·         Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled;

·         An assessment committee will review the applications and select candidates based on guidelines that aim to ensure equal opportunities; 

·         The main criteria for selection will be the correspondence of the existing skills and expertise of the applicant with the requirements mentioned above.

·         Please note that by applying you consent to share your application with Goodyear partners: Dr. Mirko LEDDA, Principal Data Scientist, Dr. Christine BOYLAND, Senior Data Scientist, Dr. Adam BIRDSALL, Senior Data Scientist and Dr. Véronique MARTIN-LANG, Chief Engineer AI and Advanced Analytics.

Postdoc additional conditions:

·         Supervisor at LIST: Dr. Yannick Naudet (yannick.naudet@list.lu), Dr. Alexandru Tantar (Alexandru.tantar@list.lu)

·         Work location: Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Belval, Luxembourg

Candidates shall be available for starting their position in 2026 Q1 Q2 at the latest. The position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found. Information regarding your application will be shared with Goodyear.