[Opt-Net] Open post-doctoral researcher position in Finland in the Multiobjective Optimization Group at the University of Jyvaskyla

[Miettinen, Kaisa]

Dear Recipient,



Are you interested in joining the Multiobjective Optimization Group and solving issues of Climate Smart Forestry and Group Decision Making at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland?



We are looking for a post-doctoral researcher to work in a project funded by the Academy of Finland on developing interactive group decision making methods for multiobjective optimization problems in the field of climate smart forestry. The position is filled preferably starting at the beginning of January 2024 (or as agreed). The contract term ends in December 2025 (when the project ends). The application deadline is September 10, 2023.



About the Group:

The Multiobjective Optimization Group works at the Faculty of Information Technology, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.

The Group (being a part of the Computational Science area) works on multiobjective optimization as well as decision/prescriptive analytics and data-driven optimization. The Group is internationally recognized and active and has vast collaboration networks. The Group develops methods for supporting decision making in the presence of multiple conflicting objective functions. The Group also develops open source software and works with various applications of multiobjective optimization (in a broad range of domains). The research interests include but are not limited to, interactive scalarization-based and evolutionary methods and their hybrids as well as both simulation-based (also computationally expensive) and data-driven problems. The Group also develops visualizations and applies artificial intelligence, machine learning tools and explainability as a part of the decision support processes. The research interests cover supporting a single decision maker as well as groups of decision makers and dealing with both deterministic problems and problems under (deep) uncertainty. For further information of the Multiobjective Optimization Group, see http://www.mit.jyu.fi/optgroup.



The Group develops an open-source software framework DESDEO (desdeo.it.jyu.fi) covering a range of interactive methods (both scalarization-based and evolutionary multiobjective optimization methods) with GUIs and visualizations. DESDEO has a modular structure to enable extensions, applications in various domains, comparisons as well as adding further methods. Furthermore, the Group is actively involved in a thematic research area called Decision Analytics utilizing Causal Models and Multiobjective Optimization (DEMO, jyu.fi/demo), where the objective is to support data-driven decision making.



About the project:

The project's objective is to develop methods to support stakeholders in implementing climate smart forestry, which advances carbon neutrality but also considers financial objectives. In the analysis, a landscape is composed of holdings and holdings are composed of stands. Holdings typically have different owners with different preferences about what kind of management is practiced in their stands. We focus on supporting decision making in this setting and finding the most preferred solution among multiple conflicting objectives and multiple forest owners. The research consortium involves partners with expertise in forest data collection and forest management planning. We now seek a member to the Multiobjective Optimization Group to strengthen our team in working with multiobjective optimization method development for group decision making. Our proposed solution is to enable realistic analyses by refining forest resource data and to develop a prototype of a digital group decision support system (utilizing also elements of DESDEO) to facilitate group decision making (taking also uncertainty aspects into account). We want to support studying trade-offs, visualizing alternatives, eliciting preferences and consensus-seeking between landowners. The emphasis is on interactive methods where the preference information of decision makers is iteratively incorporated in the decision making process.

Resources have been reserved in the project also for research visits to work with dedicated international collaborators.



Expectations and requirements:
Post-doctoral researchers are expected to have good research merits, be active in internationally high-quality research and publications in reputable publication channels. They are also expected collaborate with other people working in the project as well as other members of the Multiobjective Optimization Group and take part in the activities of the Multiobjective Optimization Group.



We expect appropriate knowledge of multiobjective optimization, fluency in Python programming (with willingness to prepare open source code) and good written and spoken English skills. The candidate must be truly interested in the real challenges of climate smart forestry, interactive multiobjective optimization methods and group decision making. Previous experience in such topics is regarded as beneficial but not necessary.



Rather recently graduated researchers with a relevant doctoral degree are most welcome to apply!

At the University of Jyvaskyla, one can have a post-doctoral position for max 4+2 years, so candidates with older doctoral degrees cannot be considered if they have been in academic positions after receiving the degree. However, if the match with the needs of the expectations of the project is exceptionally good, the title of a university researcher can be considered, in which case the doctoral degree can be older, but the merits must also be much stronger with an excellent publication track record.



This position is an excellent opportunity to work with timely real challenges of decision making in the interest of hindering climate change. We offer a vivid and inspiring working environment in a talented and motivated team.



To apply, send your cv (max 4 pages), list of publications and motivation letter (max 2 pages) clarifying how you could contribute to the project's needs to Prof. Kaisa Miettinen at kaisa.miettinen at jyu.fi<mailto:kaisa.miettinen at jyu.fi> by September 10, 2023. Mention also the names and contact information of up to two persons who can provide recommendations (do not send recommendation letters). You may turn to her also for clarification and further information.


Yours, Kaisa Miettinen

************************************
Professor Kaisa Miettinen, PhD
University of Jyvaskyla
Multiobjective Optimization Group: http://www.mit.jyu.fi/optgroup/
Faculty of Information Technology, P.O. Box 35 (Agora)
FI-40014 University of Jyvaskyla, Finland
- - -
* Director of the thematic research area Decision Analytics utilizing Causal Models
and Multiobjective Optimization, http://www.jyu.fi/demo
- - -
tel. +358 50 3732247 (mob.)
email: kaisa.miettinen at jyu.fi
homepage: http://www.mit.jyu.fi/miettine and http://www.mit.jyu.fi/miettine/engl.html
* Developing open source software framework DESDEO for interactive methods: https://desdeo.it.jyu.fi<https://desdeo.it.jyu.fi/>
My book: Nonlinear Multiobjective Optimization, Kluwer (Springer):  http://www.mit.jyu.fi/miettine/book/
* My publications: http://www.mit.jyu.fi/miettine/publ.html




-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.zib.de/pipermail/opt-net/attachments/20230818/74e1fc6c/attachment.html>