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Dear colleagues,</div>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I am pleased to share an open call for <b>one fully funded research position</b> in a research project, carried out within the Multiobjective Optimization Group (</span><span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><a href="https://optgroup.it.jyu.fi/" id="OWAf4ab2c62-50aa-8533-b587-a2fbd4e4edff" class="OWAAutoLink" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><u>https://optgroup.it.jyu.fi/</u></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">)
at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience, the position will be offered
<b>either as a fully funded four-year PhD position</b> or <b>a fully funded postdoctoral position of up to 3.5 years</b>. The expected start date is 1 September 2026, or as mutually agreed.</span></div>
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The project is funded by the KONE Foundation and brings together expertise in decision analytics, human-centered artificial intelligence, and environmental modeling, with a strong emphasis on societal relevance, openness, and real-world impact.</div>
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<b>Project Title: </b>MetsäGPT: AI-Powered Decision Support for Finnish Forests</div>
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<b>Project Summary: </b>MetsäGPT is an interdisciplinary research project that develops AI-powered decision support tools for participatory and sustainable forest management in Finland. The project combines large language models (LLMs) with interactive multiobjective
optimization to enable inclusive decision making that reflects ecological, economic, social, and cultural perspectives.</div>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The research aims to lower the barrier for non-expert stakeholders, including citizens, indigenous communities, forest owners, and policymakers, to engage meaningfully in complex forest management decisions. Natural language
interaction is used to elicit objectives, decision options, and constraints, which are formalized into multiobjective optimization models. In addition, decision makers can express their preferences in natural language, which are converted into structured preference
information guiding interactive multiobjective optimization and decision making.<br>
More information about the project is available at: </span><span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><a href="https://koneensaatio.fi/en/grants-and-residencies/metsagpt-ai-powered-decision-support-for-finnish-forests-2/" target="_blank" id="OWAf6f9b7f3-606e-01fa-1a1b-74ce967231f2" class="OWAAutoLink" title="Original URL: https://koneensaatio.fi/en/grants-and-residencies/metsagpt-ai-powered-decision-support-for-finnish-forests-2/. Click or tap if you trust this link." style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><u>https://koneensaatio.fi/en/grants-and-residencies/metsagpt-ai-powered-decision-support-for-finnish-forests-2/</u></a></span></div>
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<b><br>
Candidate profile for PhD applicants (if applying for the PhD position): </b>We are seeking a motivated doctoral student with a background in quantitative or computational disciplines such as computer science, artificial intelligence, applied mathematics, data
science, or environmental sciences. The candidate should have an interest in artificial intelligence, interactive multiobjective optimization, and data-driven decision support, with a particular interest in LLMs, AI agents, and human-centered AI. Experience
with Python is expected. Prior experience with LLMs or interactive multiobjective optimization is an advantage.</div>
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Candidate profile for postdoctoral applicants (if applying for the postdoctoral position):
</b>We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher with experience in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, or decision support systems. Prior knowledge of (interactive) multiobjective optimization is required. The candidate will work on LLM-enhanced
problem and preference agents and natural language interfaces for interactive multiobjective optimization. Strong Python skills are required. Experience with LLMs or human-centered AI is an advantage.</div>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b><br>
How to apply: </b>Please send your application by email to </span><span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><a href="mailto:bekir.b.afsar@jyu.fi" id="OWA135509c6-eb01-ace5-e202-44413ae747e3" class="OWAAutoLink" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><u>bekir.b.afsar@jyu.fi</u></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <b> </b></span></div>
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<b>The application should include:</b></div>
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A motivation letter (maximum two pages, including research interests and reasons for applying),</li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
A curriculum vitae (maximum three pages),</li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
Relevant certificates or diplomas, or expected date of completion of the MSc or PhD,</li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
A numbered list of publications, if any.</li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
A list of at least two academic or professional references, including contact details. References will be contacted only for shortlisted candidates.</li></ul>
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Please attach all application documents as a single PDF file to your email.<br>
Please name the file as: <i>Firstname_Lastname_PhD.pdf</i> or <i>Firstname_Lastname_Postdoc.pdf</i>.<br>
Please use the subject line:<b> </b>“MetsäGPT PhD Application” or “MetsäGPT Postdoc Application”<br>
<b><br>
Application deadline:</b> 31 July 2026<br>
<b>Project start date:</b> 1 September 2026 (or as mutually agreed)</div>
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Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Shortlisted candidates may be contacted for interviews before the application deadline.<br>
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<b>Funding and employment: </b>The position will be offered either as a fully funded four year PhD position or a fully funded postdoctoral position of up to 3.5 years, depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience. The funding is provided through
a research grant from the KONE Foundation and will be paid directly to the recruited researcher. Grant holders are responsible for arranging their own pension, insurance, and related social security matters in accordance with Finnish regulations.</div>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Additional note for PhD applicants: </b>The applicant selected for the PhD position must apply separately for the permission to conduct doctoral studies at the University of Jyväskylä. The requirements and qualification
criteria are available at: </span><span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><a href="https://www.jyu.fi/en/doctoral-education/apply-to-doctoral-studies" id="OWA4c2e32e5-5f09-6bc1-cb61-45b91a48903f" class="OWAAutoLink" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><u>https://www.jyu.fi/en/doctoral-education/apply-to-doctoral-studies</u></a></span></div>
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I would be grateful if you could circulate this opportunity to suitable candidates or share it within relevant networks.<br>
<br>
Best regards,<br>
Bekir.<span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bekir Afsar, Ph.D. </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Senior Lecturer</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">+358 40 4809214</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="mailto:bekir.b.afsar@jyu.fi" class="x_x_OWAAutoLink" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">bekir.b.afsar@jyu.fi</a></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://linkedin.com/in/bekirafsar" title="linkedin.com/in/bekirafsar" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">LinkedIn</a> |
<a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3643-2342" title="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3643-2342" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
ORCID</a><br>
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Multiobjective Optimization Group<br>
Faculty of Information Technology</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">P.O. Box 35 (Agora)</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">FI-40014 University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.</span></p>
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