Adel Daoud

Chalmers University of Technology invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Data Science and Statistics, focusing on AI-driven poverty estimation and causal inference. This position is based in the Data Science and AI (DSAI) division within the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, a joint department with the University of Gothenburg. The successful candidate will join the AI and Global Development Lab, funded by the Swedish Research Council, which advances the use of artificial intelligence for social good and sustainable development goals. The research project, Observatory of Poverty, aims to develop new methods for producing geo-temporal poverty data by training deep learning algorithms on satellite images of African communities, spanning quarterly data from 1984 to 2025. The project also contributes to the creation of the ObservatoryOfPoverty statistical package, enabling scholars to generate poverty estimates for policy evaluation. The research integrates causal inference techniques to assess the effectiveness of development interventions and prediction-assisted estimation methods, such as prediction-powered inference and conformal prediction, to ensure robust statistical reasoning. The lab is highly interdisciplinary, collaborating with institutions including Harvard University, the University of Texas at Austin, Linköping University, and Karlstad University. The team meets weekly, both remotely and in-person, and offers a dynamic, international environment. Mentorship is provided by Professor Adel Daoud, a computational social scientist with affiliations at Linköping University and Chalmers, alongside senior lab members and collaborators such as Connor Jerzak, Mohammad Kakooei, Devdatt Dubhashi, and Xiao-Li Meng. The lab is committed to high-quality mentorship and encourages candidates to explore the Journeys of Scholars podcast for insights into academic careers. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in a relevant field (computational social science, statistics, computer science, mathematics, information technology, engineering, signal processing, or physics) and demonstrate strong English communication skills, excellent coding abilities in Python or R, and experience in deep learning and image processing (preferably satellite images). Teaching experience and research potential are expected. Additional desirable skills include remote sensing, Google Earth Engine, causal inference, prediction-assisted estimation, modeling geo-temporal data, and multiple imputation for missing data. Candidates are encouraged to tailor their application to their research interests and track record, and spin-off research objectives are welcomed. The position is a full-time, temporary employment for two years, with the possibility of a one-year extension. Physical presence in Sweden is required, and a valid residence permit must be presented by the start date. The role includes research (90%) and teaching (10%), with opportunities to supervise master’s and PhD students and engage in undergraduate/master’s teaching (up to 20% of time). The position offers strong preparation for future roles in academia, industry, or the public sector. Chalmers provides a dynamic and inspiring work environment in Gothenburg, with generous employee benefits, including parental leave, subsidized day care, free schools, and healthcare. The university is committed to gender balance, equality, and inclusion, and offers Swedish language courses for international staff. Applications must be submitted online in English as PDF files, including a comprehensive CV, publication list, teaching experience, and a personal letter outlining research interests and goals. The deadline for applications is May 27, 2026. For questions, contact Professor Adel Daoud at [email protected]. For more information about the lab and project, visit www.aidevlab.org and www.adeldaoud.com . Apply using the provided link. We look forward to your application!