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Leiden University
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Postdoctoral Researcher Human-Centered Interpretable Machine Learning (1.0fte) Leiden University in Netherlands
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Salary between €3,706 and €5,760 gross per month based on a full-time 38-hour appointment, with 8% holiday allowance, 8.3% end-of-year bonus, pension scheme, commuting reimbursement, and standard university employment benefits.
Deadline
Dec 11, 2026
Country
Netherlands
University
Leiden University
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About this position
This postdoctoral project focuses on human-centered interpretable machine learning, with an emphasis on learning from background knowledge and expert feedback. The work addresses a central challenge in high-stakes domains such as health care: many models may fit the same data almost equally well, but only some are understandable, plausible, or genuinely useful to domain experts.
You will work on developing models that are interpretable by construction, including probabilistic rule sets, subgroup sets, and histogram trees. Rather than relying on post-hoc explanations, the project aims to make the structure, predictions, and uncertainty of the model directly inspectable. A key conceptual foundation is the minimum description length (MDL) principle, used here to balance model fit and complexity in a principled way and to support knowledge-aware learning.
The research agenda includes theory and algorithms for knowledge-informed model selection, characterising and navigating the Rashomon set, and interactive learning approaches in which experts can steer, constrain, or reject proposed models. The scope is broad enough to let you shape the direction based on your own expertise and ideas, while keeping a strong focus on fundamental methods and real-world relevance.
You will be embedded in the Explanatory Data Analysis (EDA) group at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS). The group works on algorithms and theory for discovering what matters in complex data, understanding cause and effect, and making trustworthy predictions and decisions, drawing on machine learning, statistics, and information theory. The wider institute is a leading computer science department in the Netherlands and is located in Leiden University’s Bio Science Park environment.
The position is closely connected to collaboration with domain experts, especially in health care, and includes publishing, presenting, co-supervising students, and contributing to teaching.
Funding details
Salary between €3,706 and €5,760 gross per month based on a full-time 38-hour appointment, with 8% holiday allowance, 8.3% end-of-year bonus, pension scheme, commuting reimbursement, and standard university employment benefits.
What's required
A PhD degree or near completion in Computer Science, Statistics, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or a related field is required. Applicants should have excellent knowledge and experience in machine learning and statistics, particularly probabilistic modelling, and a strong plus is knowledge of information-theoretic learning such as the MDL principle, interpretable models such as rule sets, trees, and subgroups, or Bayesian model selection. The role also requires motivation to do fundamental and applied research, a creative and independent mindset, strong communication skills, a publication record in leading machine learning or data mining venues, excellent academic writing skills, strong programming skills preferably in Python, and excellent English proficiency in speaking and writing.
How to apply
Apply online via the blue button in the vacancy. Attach a CV, a one-page motivation letter, a draft PhD thesis, and contact details for two or three referees. Applications must be received by 11 December 2026.
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Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.