Dear all,

I am currently considering applications for fully funded PhD positions in Lifelong Machine (Reinforcement) Learning. The projects aim to advance SoTA lifelong learning AI algorithms towards better knowledge reuse, composability, scalability and transparency. Application areas include Robotics, Cybersecurity and medical data.

Some specific projects with application links (more to come soon):

• Lifelong Learning for cybersecurity systems: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/compsci/research-degrees/darktrace-studentships/
• Lifelong machine learning for medical data and personalised medicine https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/phd-opportunities/lifelong-machine-learning-for-medical-data/

The following recent papers can be helpful to get an overview of our research focus:

• Ben-Iwhiwhu, E., Nath, S., Pilly, P. K., Kolouri, S., & Soltoggio, A. (2023). Lifelong reinforcement learning with modulating masks. Transactions on Machine Learning Research https://openreview.net/pdf?id=V7tahqGrOq
• Nath, S., Peridis, C., Ben-Iwhiwhu, E., Liu, X., Dora, S., Liu, C., Kolouri, S. and Soltoggio, A., (2023). Sharing Lifelong Reinforcement Learning Knowledge via Modulating Masks. Second Conference on Lifelong Learning Agents (CoLLAs) https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.10997
• Ben-Iwhiwhu, E., Dick, J., Ketz, N. A., Pilly, P. K., & Soltoggio, A. (2022). Context meta-reinforcement learning via neuromodulation. Neural Networks, 152, 70-79. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0893608022001368
• Kudithipudi, Dhireesha, et al. (2022). Biological underpinnings for lifelong learning machines. Nature Machine Intelligence 4.3 (2022): 196-210.

The positions will be at Loughborough, UK. Loughborough University is renowned for its strong emphasis on practical innovation and industry collaboration.  In REF 2021, 94% of the work submitted was judged to be top-rated as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'. The Computer Science Department has a growing research team dedicated to various AI themes and robotics, as well as theoretical Computer Science, cybersecurity and networks.

The student will have access to state-of-the-art machine learning servers equipped with A100 GPUs and connected to the Loughborough University high-speed network facilities. Opportunities for exchanges and short visits to world-leading AI laboratories within our extensive collaboration network will be encouraged. The collaborative environment ensures exposure to diverse perspectives and facilitates knowledge exchange.

Interested candidates are invited to contact me for further information at a.soltoggio@lboro.ac.uk

Best regards,

Andrea

-- 

Dr.  Andrea Soltoggio (he/him or they/them)

Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Artificial Intelligence 

Department of Computer Science, School of Science

& Intelligent Automation Centre 

https://www.intelligent-automation.org.uk/about-us/centre-staff

& Centre for Information Management

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/sbe/cim/

Haslegrave Building, N.2.03

Loughborough University

LE11 3TU, UK

Email: a.soltoggio@lboro.ac.uk

Web: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/compsci/staff/dr-andrea-soltoggio.html