项目介绍

2026年3月9日

All positions are in the Machine Learning subgroup of the Section for Declarative Languages and Artificial Intelligence (DTAI), which is part of the Department of Computer Science at KU Leuven. The DTAI lab is one of the leading research groups for machine learning, artificial intelligence and data mining. DTAI’s machine learning group currently has six faculty members located in Leuven (Hendrik Blockeel, Jesse Davis, Luc De Raedt, Tias Guns, Giuseppe Marra, Siegfried Nijssen), two research managers (Wannes Meert and Jessa Bekker) and more than 10 post-docs and 35 doctoral students.

The Machine Learning group follows an artificial intelligence approach to data analysis and decision making. It investigates a wide variety of machine learning and data science problems. It mostly concentrates on problems that involve complex and structured data and background knowledge. It has expertise in areas such as Learning and Reasoning, Automated Data Science, Learning Constraints and Optimisation Criteria, (Constrained) Clustering, Statistical Relational Artificial Intelligence, Supervised Learning, Verification and Machine Learning. The group is applying its expertise in areas such as Sports Analytics, Anomaly Detection, Sensor data, and Action and Activity Learning (see https://dtai.cs.kuleuven.be/ for more information).

Website van de eenheid

Project

 We are currently looking to hire people to work on the following topics: 

1) 1 PhD working with Prof. Jesse Davis on safe AI where the goal is to develop verification and reasoning techniques for tree ensembles with applications in planning. This is a joint project in conjunction with Prof. Joerg Hoffmann at University of Saarland. 

2) 1-2 PhD students working with Prof. Hendrik Blockeel and/or Prof. Jesse Davis on the topic of developing novel approaches for learning, compressing, and reasoning about tree ensembles. This work will be undertaken in the context of Flanders AI Research Program (https://www.flandersairesearch.be/en )

3) 1-2 PhD students working with Prof. Jesse Davis on developing the next generation of approaches for analyzing spatiotemporal data arising from sports matches (e.g., tactcal analyses, player/team evaluation, …). See https://dtai.cs.kuleuven.be/sports

4) 1-2 PhD working with Prof. Hendrik Blockeel and/or Prof. Jesse Davis on analysis of time series data. The goal is to develop algorithms for detecting anomalies, discovering “motifs” (repeating patterns), incorpoating constraints, integrating domain knowledge, etc. This work will be performed in the context of Flanders AI Research Program (https://www.flandersairesearch.be/en )You will work under the supervision of and be mentored by one (or combination of) Prof. Jesse Davis, Prof. Hendrik Blockeel, and Dr. Wannes Meert. You will be part of a dynamic team that performs cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science. You will play an active role in the research team, publish papers, take part in workshops, public events and other activities. 

Profile

The candidates should have a Master’s degree in Computer Science or Artificial Intelligence. Candidates must have advanced theoretical and programming skills, be proficient in oral and written English, possess great communication and multi-tasking skills, and be team-oriented, proactive and result driven. The positions can start immediately, and positions will be filled as soon as suitable candidates are found.  

Interested candidates should send their résumé, contact information of 2 or 3 referees, your latest BSc and MSc transcripts (or documentation of achievements in current program) and a motivation letter using the KU Leuven system. The motivation letter should clearly identify the topic(s) the candidate wants to work on, your motivation for those topics and why you are a good fit for them. Please do NOT upload publications or theses to the system.  

Offer

A PhD position, initially for one year, but extendible until max. 4 years. A stimulating environment at a European top university in a well-equipped, experienced and internationally oriented research unit.

The research will be based at the Department of Computer Science at the Arenberg Campus in Heverlee (close to the center of Leuven).

Overview of the research on sports analytics

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Jesse Davis, mail: jesse.davis@kuleuven.be or Prof. dr. ir. Hendrik Blockeel, mail: hendrik.blockeel@kuleuven.be.You can apply for this job no later than May 08, 2026 via the online application tool

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