About us:

The Institute for Assyriology and Hittitology is a leading center for cutting-edge research in Digital Assyriology, with a strong focus on the digital preservation and analysis of cuneiform sources. The Munich Center for Machine Learning (MCML) is a leading center for AI in Germany and worldwide. This unique opportunity is a joint position between the Institute for Assyriology and Hittitology, and the muniq.ai group as well as Machine Learning Consulting Unit of the MCML.

The ERC-funded project “Rewriting the End of Cuneiform Civilization” (RECC) aims to revolutionize our understanding of the final centuries of cuneiform culture through cutting-edge digital humanities and machine learning techniques. The project, based on the previous work of the group (see here and here) will develop tools for paleographic analysis, automatic dating of cuneiform tablets, and the study of scribal practices in Hellenistic and Parthian Babylonia.

We are looking for you:

PhD or Postdoctoral Researcher in AI for Science / Machine Learning at the ERC Project: “Rewriting the End of Cuneiform Civilization” (m/f/x)

in Munich

Your tasks and responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the Signarium platform, a comprehensive paleographic database for cuneiform signs.
• Apply Machine Learning techniques (e.g., CNNs, generative AI) to analyze and classify cuneiform signs, enabling automatic dating of tablets.
• Collaborate with the Machine Learning Consulting Unit (MLCU) and interdisciplinary teams to refine models and ensure interpretability of results.
• Publish articles in journals or Machine Learning conference proceedings.
• Write a dissertation in the muniq.ai Group.
• Supervise a student assistant in Machine Learning to support tool development and annotation tasks.

Your qualifications:

• PhD or Master degree in a relevant field (Statistics, Machine Learning, Data Science, Computer Science, etc.)
• Very good academic performance
• Very good coding skills in Python and proficiency with collaborative tools (Git/GitHub).
• Experience with Deep Learning, particularly computer vision (ideally 3D data), segmentation, etc.
• Familiarity with different Deep Learning frameworks (e.g. Keras, Pytorch, Tensorflow)
• Fluency in English
• Experience with NLP and interest in digital humanities or cultural heritage projects is a plus.

Benefits:

• Doktorat degree (Dr. rer. nat.) from LMU
• The opportunity to be part of a dynamic, internationally connected team working at the forefront of several disciplines.
• Career development through the LMU qualification program.
• A stimulating working environment at one of Germany’s top-ranked universities. Our institute is located in the heart of the vibrant and internationally diverse city of Munich with excellent public transportation links.
• Organizational assistance from the LMU Gateway service for relocation to Munich.
• Collaboration with Assyriologists, ML experts, and international partners.
• Affiliation with the Munich Center for Machine Learning (MCML), one of the leading AI centers in Germany and worldwide.
• Flexible working hours.

Also possible in a part-time capacity.

Contact:

If you have any questions, please contact: Prof. Enrique Jiménez: enrique.jimenez@lmu.de

Submit your CV, transcripts, motivation letter (one to two pages), and one publication or code sample (e.g., GitHub link) as a single PDF to: sekretariat.jimenez@assyr.fak12.uni-muenchen.de

Subject:** Application for PD1 (RECC Project)**

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