Ph.D. and Postdoc Recruitment in 2024 (中文版本)

I will join the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) as an Assistant Professor in the Thrust of Artificial Intelligence, Information Hub, from August 2024. As the Principal Investigator, I will be establishing the Laboratory for Safe, Secure, and Smart Cyber-Physical Systems. The vision of the laboratory is to construct modern Cyber-Physical Systems that are safe, secure, and smart by developing and integrating theories from fields including artificial intelligence, control, robotics, formal methods, data science, and communication science in practice. In its initial phase, the research directions of the laboratory include (but are not limited to):

  1. Designing secure-by-construction sandbox mechanisms for AI-based controllers.

  2. Synthesis of computation-aware and hardware-aware controllers.

  3. Formal verification of deep neural networks.

  4. Online safe reinforcement learning under run-time assurance architectures.

  5. Application of the above research outcomes in intelligent systems such as autonomous drones and unmanned vessels.

Requirements and Salary for Ph.D. Students and Research Assistants

The research group is involved in interdisciplinary fields including artificial intelligence, formal methods, control theory, robotics, and communication science. Therefore, we sincerely invite students with backgrounds in formal methods and automata theory, machine learning, automation and control theory, operations research, and game theory to join our group. Here are the specific requirements for applicants:

  1. Possessing (but not limited to) a bachelor's or master's degree in fields such as Computer Science, Automation, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Mechanics, Electrical Engineering (students who are about to graduate can also contact in advance).

  2. Excellent in academics, passionate about scientific research, possessing team spirit, and aspiring to make original theoretical and practical contributions in the field of safe and trustworthy artificial intelligence.

  3. Having a strong mathematical foundation, proficient programming skills, and strong English writing and communication abilities to meet the English language admission requirements of HKUST (Guangzhou).

  4. Preference will be given to applicants who:

    1. Have some research experience and publications in journals and conferences in fields such as AI, formal methods, control, etc.

    2. Have research or internship experience related to unmanned systems like drones and unmanned vessels.

The doctoral program duration is 3 years (for applicants with a relevant research-based master's degree) or 4 years (for those without such a degree). The tuition fee is 40,000 RMB/year. All admitted PhD students will receive a full scholarship (about 15,000 RMB/month). Those interested in our research group but lacking experience can consider applying for a Research Assistant (RA) position. The group offers competitive stipends and will prioritize outstanding performers for PhD applications.

Requirements and Salary for Postdoctoral Researchers

  1. Candidates who have obtained (within the last 3 years) or are about to obtain a PhD degree from domestic or international universities or research institutions in Computer Science or related fields are eligible.

  2. Candidates with a solid research foundation and the ability to independently explore are welcome, especially those whose research during their doctoral studies is relevant to the research areas of our group. The postdoctoral appointment is for a period of 2 years, offering a comprehensive annual salary of 400,000 to 600,000 RMB.

  3. Various levels of government provide up to 450,000 RMB in research funding.

  4. Postdocs are supported in applying for research project funding from all levels of government during their term, and assistance is provided in applying for city/district-level talent titles and benefits.

  5. Postdocs who choose to work in Guangdong after their term can apply for a settling-in allowance of up to 700,000 RMB.

  6. Post-doctoral personnel entering the station can choose to settle in Guangzhou City, and their spouses and minor children can move in with them, and their children can attend nurseries and schools according to relevant regulations in Guangzhou City.

Application

Please send your resume (either in Chinese or English), transcripts of all degrees, representative papers or projects (if any), and a research summary (in English) to: bingzhuo[dot]zhong[at]berkeley[dot]edu. The subject of the email should be formatted as “PhD/RA/PostDoc Application + Your Name”. In the research summary, please briefly introduce:

  1. The background of your research and its connection to the research of our lab.

  2. Your ideas for future research.

All applications will be carefully evaluated within two weeks. If your resume is shortlisted, you will be notified via email regarding the interview details. If you do not receive any response within one month after submitting your application, it means that your application did not proceed to the next round of review. Due to limited resources, it is not guaranteed that there will be individual replies to all applications.

Brief Introduction to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)

Since its establishment in 1991, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has rapidly risen among global universities due to its innovative spirit and progressive philosophy, developing into a research university of international repute. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST(GZ)), an independent legal entity formed through collaboration between Mainland China and Hong Kong, is located in the Nansha District of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. Founded in 2022, HKUST(GZ) together with HKUST constitute “HKUST 2.0”. Under the strategic framework of “HKUST 2.0”, HKUST(GZ) has adopted a new academic structure integrating various disciplines. This structure replaces the traditional model of “faculties” and “departments” with “Hubs” and “Thrusts”, aimed at fostering interdisciplinary integration. It complements the deep academic foundation of HKUST's Clear Water Bay campus, facilitating resource sharing and synergistic benefits to address complex challenges faced by the world and human society.

In terms of student cultivation, HKUST(GZ) employs English as the medium of instruction, aiming to nurture high-end talent with international perspectives and innovative capabilities, serving the technological innovation and industrial upgrading in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Guided by the principle of “One HKUST, complementary campuses”, the two campuses collaborate closely, with mutual access to teaching and research facilities, credit recognition for courses, and ensuring consistency in degree certificates and student treatment. Masters and doctoral students at HKUST(GZ) will receive their respective degree certificates from HKUST.