Sören Auer

German National Library of Science and Technology (TIB) in Hannover is offering a Research Associate / Doctoral Researcher position in Natural Language Processing and Causal AI for Scientific Reasoning within the Open Research Knowledge Graph (ORKG) and the Data Science and Digital Libraries Research Group led by Prof. Dr. Sören Auer . The project is part of the Leibniz Collaborative Excellence project EcoAIRE , which combines computational NLP expertise at TIB, ecology at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), and causal modeling expertise at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). The research aims to support AI-assisted hypothesis assessment in invasion biology and the restoration of freshwater ecosystems using heterogeneous scientific evidence. The doctoral topic focuses on NLP for scientific and causal information extraction . The successful candidate will develop methods to transform scientific publications and other research artifacts into structured, machine-actionable representations of hypotheses, variables, context, uncertainty, and causal relationships. The work extends beyond fact extraction to modeling how evidence fits together and under which conditions claims hold. A key part of the position is exploring causal and world-model-inspired approaches to scientific reasoning, including simulation, intervention-based reasoning, and hypothesis assessment under changing conditions. Tasks include building a multimodal, provenance-aware framework that integrates publications, images, supplementary information, datasets, and related artifacts into structured representations for hypothesis assessment; developing language-model and agentic methods for extracting, normalizing, aligning, and synthesizing scientific claims and evidence; investigating causal reasoning methods for interventions and generalization; and creating evaluation frameworks using expert-grounded assessment and LLM-as-a-judge paradigms. The role also involves publishing in peer-reviewed NLP, Semantic Web, AI, and machine learning venues and contributing to project reporting and dissemination. The profile requires a completed Master’s degree or equivalent in computer science or a closely related field such as AI, NLP, machine learning, data science, or computational linguistics. Applicants should have practical experience with Python and modern software engineering practices, hands-on work with transformer-based models and large language models, and experience with agentic or multi-agent AI workflows. A very good command of English at C1 level is required. Desirable experience includes LLM fine-tuning, advanced RAG pipelines, causal graphs or structural causal models, Semantic Web technologies, and domain knowledge in ecology, especially freshwater ecology, invasion biology, or restoration ecology. The position is fixed-term for three years , full-time at 39.8 hours per week , and generally suitable for part-time work. Remuneration is based on TV-L E13 . Mobile work is possible to a certain extent. TIB notes that the appointment is subject to final funding approval by the Leibniz Association. The post includes a scientifically and intellectually inspiring environment, a modern workplace in Hannover, flexible working options, training opportunities, supplementary pension coverage, and support for equipment, conference travel, and research visits. Applications are open until 2026-11-14 . Candidates should apply online via the application link or send a complete paper application / PDF with subject 44/2026 . For foreign degrees, a Statement of Comparability from ZAB is required unless the degree is already recognized in ANABIN. Questions can be directed to Dr. Jennifer D’Souza by email.

Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB) – Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology in Hannover, Germany is recruiting a Postdoctoral Researcher in Neurosymbolic AI for the Data Science and Digital Libraries Research Group led by Prof. Dr. Sören Auer . The position focuses on Neurosymbolic AI , Large Language Models (LLMs) , and Knowledge Graphs , with a strong connection to the Open Research Knowledge Graph (ORKG) and the future of AI-driven scientific communication. The successful candidate will design and evaluate neurosymbolic AI architectures, integrate LLMs into scientific workflows, and contribute to research publications and conference presentations. Eligibility highlights: a PhD in Computer Science, AI, Data Science, or a related field; research experience in LLMs, Knowledge Graphs, or Neurosymbolic AI; strong Python skills; and solid experimental methodology. The post is aimed at candidates who enjoy interdisciplinary, collaborative research environments. Funding and conditions: this is a paid postdoctoral role in the German public service on the TV-L E13 pay scale. The contract is initially for 2 years with a possible extension. Additional benefits include mobile/remote work options, flexible hours, 30 days of vacation, and support for conference travel and research visits. Application deadline: 12 June 2026. Applicants can apply through the provided link or send a PDF application by email to [email protected] , quoting Ref No. 15/2026 . For questions, contact Dr. Gollam Rabby via LinkedIn or email.

The Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB) – Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology, Germany’s National Library of Science and Technology, is offering a PhD position for a Software Developer focused on building an Aerospace Knowledge Base. This opportunity is part of the Data Science & Digital Libraries Research Group led by Prof. Dr. Sören Auer, within Program Area D, Open Research Knowledge Graph (ORKG). The position is contingent on final approval of third-party funding and is initially limited to two years, with the possibility of extension. The successful candidate will contribute to the 'Aerospace Knowledge Base: Linked (Semi-)Open Data for AeroSpace Engineering' project, funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK). The project aims to develop a knowledge base for the aerospace engineering domain, combining practical software development with independent scientific research in knowledge engineering and semantic technologies. The work will ensure that research data in aerospace engineering is findable, accessible, and reusable, addressing challenges related to heterogeneous data protection requirements from open research data to security-sensitive industry data. Key responsibilities include supporting ontology development for aerospace engineering, creating programmatic and graphical user interfaces, establishing security protocols, setting up CI/CD pipelines, developing software for knowledge extraction from research data and publications, integrating with external infrastructures like ORKG and Wikidata, collaborating with aerospace engineers from TU Braunschweig, and contributing to scientific publications. Applicants should hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in software engineering, computer science, information systems, or a related field. Essential skills include strong English proficiency, experience in Python and web application development, DevOps, and teamwork in distributed environments. Desirable qualifications are motivation for doctoral research, familiarity with RDF, OWL, SPARQL, Semantic Web technologies (GraphDB, Neo4j, RDFLib, owlready2, Protégé), NLP methods, and scientific writing. The position offers a salary according to pay scale group 13 TV-L (public service), part-time (75%), with special annual payment, 30 days of vacation, supplementary pension scheme, and funding for necessary equipment and travel. TIB provides a flexible, modern workplace in Hannover, with options for remote work, professional development, and a collegial, innovative environment. The research group collaborates closely with the L3S Research Center at Leibniz University Hannover and TU Braunschweig, offering exposure to national and international research projects. TIB is committed to equal opportunity and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. Severely disabled candidates and those with equivalent status will be given preferential consideration. For questions, contact Dr. Ildar Baimuratov at [email protected]. Applications should be submitted online or as a single PDF to [email protected], or by post, including the subject 1/2026 and annual salary expectations, before February 8, 2026. For more information, visit TIB’s website .