Visiting Professor Program

Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence FCAI hosts a Visiting Professor Program for leading researchers who wish to contribute to high-impact, cutting-edge research. We welcome professors to join FCAI’s spearhead research programs and impact actions and our excellent team of AI researchers.

FCAI is built on the decades’ long tradition and track record of pioneering machine learning research, and we are now launching a set of new high-impact, grand challenge-type initiatives. FCAI research covers a broad range of machine learning and multidisciplinary AI research fields, including probabilistic programming, simulator-based inference, deep learning, privacy and security research, and interactive machine learning, all united by the goal of developing AI systems that are both able to learn and plan.

Come and join us for a sabbatical or a research visit to create the next generation of AI that is data-efficient, trustworthy, and understandable! You can also read more about the experiences of past visiting professors Timo Koski, Andrew Howes and Ievgen Redko.

What is FCAI?

FCAI is a vibrant research center for Artificial Intelligence in the Helsinki, bringing together the expertise in AI research from both academia and industry. Hundreds of researchers are involved in various research and educational activities, and dozens of industrial actors collaborate on joint initiatives. Moreover, as the birthplace of Linux, and the home base of Nokia Bell Labs, F-Secure, Rovio, Supercell, Slush (the biggest annual start-up event in Europe), Helsinki is the largest ecosystem of high-tech companies and R&D centers in Northern Europe.

FCAI is initiated by Aalto University, University of Helsinki, and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. It was recently selected to host one of the first ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems) units that assemble European top talent in machine learning. In early 2019, FCAI was selected as one of the prestigious Flagships of the Academy of Finland, a status granted to very few selected centers of excellence with high societal impact. The total budget of FCAI is 250 M€ over the first 8 years.

What do we offer?

FCAI Visiting Professor Program is designed for outstanding senior researchers wishing to contribute to FCAI’s research spearhead programs and impact. We offer you a 2–12 month research visit in a dynamic environment and the possibility to work with an highly-competent team of AI researchers and industry partners in ambitious research projects with strong economic and societal impact. Find out more about what you can do in FCAI, our researchers, research programs and impact here.

Visiting professors are expected to collaborate and form networks with FCAI researchers leading to the preparation and execution of joint activities such as research projects, publications in top journals, and high-level talks. One of the goals of the research visit program is to establish long-term collaborations.

Visiting positions are tailored for each visiting professor and may include:

  • Remuneration depending on your individual situation (0–1 FTE)

  • Reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses

  • Facilities, equipment, and consumables

  • Research assistance from our pool of software developers and research assistants

Exact terms of the visit and possible compensation will be negotiated individually with each visiting professor.

How to apply?

This call is continuous. You can send your application anytime to contact at fcai.fi. The applications are processed in batches. Please include in your application:

  • Motivation letter (max. 2 pages): including a research plan outlining 1) what you wish to research and achieve during your visit as well as 2) who would be your collaborators in FCAI. Ideally you have already been in contact with the FCAI professor who you plan to collaborate with, and you have come up with the research plan together.

  • CV (preferably a short version e.g. 4 pages)

  • A list of ten selected key publications

We want to offer everyone an inclusive and non-discriminating working environment. We warmly welcome qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply and particularly encourage applications from women and other underrepresented groups in the field.

Further information

  • contact at fcai.fi

About the host institutions

Aalto University and the University of Helsinki form a globally top-ranked fundamental research cluster in AI with both universities being ranked e.g. in the top-20 of THE impact rankings, 2019. Moreover, VTT brings to FCAI its strong track record and networks for the application of AI technologies to industrial and societal problems. Together we have a decades’ long tradition and track record of pioneering machine learning research, with no counterparts in the Nordic countries.

Aalto University is a community of bold thinkers where science and art meet technology and business.  We are committed to high-quality research with significant impact on the international scientific community, industry, and business, as well as society at large. Aalto is an international community: more than 30% of our academic personnel are non-Finns. Aalto University has six schools with nearly 20 000 students; it is in world’s top-10 of young universities (QS Top 50 under 50). For more information, see https://www.aalto.fi/en/.

The University of Helsinki, established in 1640, is one of the world’s leading universities for multi-disciplinary research. The University of Helsinki is an international academic community of 40 000 students and staff members. The university places special emphasis on the quality of its education and research, and it is a member of the League of the European Research Universities (LERU). For more information, see https://www.helsinki.fi/en.

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is a visionary research, development, and innovation partner. We drive sustainable growth and tackle the biggest global challenges of our time, turning them into growth opportunities. We go beyond the obvious to help society and companies grow through technological innovations. We have over 75 years of experience of top-level research and science-based results. VTT´s turnover and other operating income is 258 M€. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together. For more information, see https://www.vttresearch.com/en.

About Finland

Finland is a great place for living with or without family – it is a safe, politically stable, and well-organized Nordic society. Finland is consistently ranked high in quality-of-life and has been listed as the happiest country in the world. For more information about living in Finland: https://www.aalto.fi/services/about-finland