The Section for Software Engineering and Computing Systems, at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), invites applicants for a three-year postdoctoral position within the area of Empirical Software Engineering (EMSE).

This position is funded by Aarhus University Research Foundation’s Recruiting grant (AUFF Grant). This grant aims to significantly expand our understanding of the use of Generative AI in Agile software development and is to be carried out in collaboration with a large industrial partner.

Join us as a Post Doctoral Researcher in Empirical Software Engineering and dive into cutting-edge research, harnessing Generative AI for Agile software project management. Shape the future of Software Engineering with us!
Expected start date and duration of employment
This is a three-year fixed-term position with employment start date is 1 January 2025, or shortly afterwards.
The research to be addressed
AI has been applied to Software Engineering for some time, and in areas such as software effort estimation, defect prediction, and project management in general. And more recently, the proposal of Large Language Models opened a wider range of opportunities to explore its use for Software Engineering (LLM4SE). This is the main goal of this research, i.e., to apply LLMs within the context of large-scale agile software project management, and in collaboration with industry.
The applicant will work in the Software Engineering Research group, which is one of several Research Groups part of the Software Engineering and Computing Systems Section at AU-ECE.
Job description
The applicant will work in the Software Engineering Group, which is one of several Research groups part of the Software Engineering and Computing Systems Section at the department. The use of AI4SE is already being investigated within this research group, via another research project. This means that the applicant with immediately engage in a wider collaboration within the Software Engineering group, and potentially across other research groups in the SECS Section.
Your profile
Applicants should hold a Ph D degree in Computer Science or related field.

Required qualifications:

• A Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering or related field.
• Solid research experience in applied AI, and in particular with Large Language Models.
• Solid programming expertise in Python.
• Be the main author in at least one journal publication in the area of AI4SE, published at a high impact journal.
• Experience with publishing in journals and conferences.
• Fast learner with interests in multidisciplinary research.
• Be the main author in at least one journal publication published at a high impact journal. This journal does not need to be in the field of Software Engineering but needs to be of high impact.
• Experience with publishing in journals and conferences.
• Fast learner with interests in multidisciplinary research.
• Excellent English skills, both orally and written.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.
• Inclusive and open minded.

(Optional) Prior research experience in software defect prediction is a plus.
Who we are
Further details about the Software Engineering and Computing Systems Section can be found here: https://ece.au.dk/en/research/key-areas-in-research-and-development/software-engineering-computing-systems

Further details about the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering can be found here: https://ece.au.dk/en/about-the-department

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What we offer
The department offers:

• a well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment.
• an exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international and industrial collaborators.
• a research climate encouraging lively, open and critical discussion within and across different fields of research.
• a work environment with close working relationships, networking and social activities.
• a workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

Place of work and area of employment
The place of work is Helsingforsgade 10, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.
Contact information
Additional information relating to this job opening position can be obtained by contacting the project leader, Professor Emilia Mendes (eme@ece.au.dk).
Deadline
Applications must be received no later than 18 October 2024.

Application procedure
Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.
Letter of reference
If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.
Formalities and salary range
Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.