Doctoral Research Position (m/f/x)

Universität des Saarlandes seeks a doctoral researcher for the ASPIRE project to develop machine learning and data science models integrating athletes' subjective experiences with physiological data. The role involves backend/API design, athlete state prediction, and recommendation engine development.

• Design and implement backend infrastructure and APIs for acquiring and storing heterogeneous multi-modal data in compliance with data-protection regulations
• Develop methods that predict future athlete states using interpretable machine learning
• Build a recommendation engine that delivers adaptive, explainable training and feedback suggestions
• Integrate computational models with user interfaces, support in-the-wild data collection, and train/refine models on resulting data
• Publish and present results at leading international conferences and contribute to open datasets and dissemination

• Completed scientific university studies in computer science, data science, or a closely related field (Master's degree or equivalent)
• Solid background in machine learning and data science
• Experience with interpretable models (e.g. regression, random forests, gradient boosting, case-based reasoning) is an advantage
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken
• Basic knowledge of German (preferred but not required)
• Willingness to travel for project meetings with Dutch partner
• Contribution to supervision of student assistants and project dissemination

• Opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree within the project
• Secure and future-oriented employment with attractive conditions
• Broad range of further education and professional development programmes (e.g. language courses)
• Occupational health management model with numerous options (e.g. university sports programme)
• Supplementary pension scheme (RZVK)
• Discounted tickets on local public transport services (Job-Ticket saarVV)
• Job bike leasing (JobRad)
• Flexible work schedule including possibility of teleworking