Ph3PhD Position on Geometry and Physics-Based Inductive Bias for Robust and Explainable Foundational Models /h3 pJoin to apply for the bPhD Position on Geometry and Physics-Based Inductive Bias for Robust and Explainable Foundational Models /b role at bAI4I /b. /p h3Deadline /h3 pDecember 17th 2025 at 12 (noon – CET) /p h3Hosting Institution /h3 pAI4I – The Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence /p h3Department /h3 pPHI Lab /p h3Funding Scheme /h3 pThis doctorate grant is fully funded by the Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AI4I) in collaboration with bUniversità degli Studi di Genova /b. /p h3Position Description /h3 pThe Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AI4I), in collaboration with Università degli Studi di Genova, invites applications for a PhD position in bGeometry and physics-based inductive bias /b as part of the PhD Programme in Hostile and Unstructured Environments. /p pRecent research highlights the promising potential of geometry-aware and physics-informed attention mechanisms, as well as the power of differential geometry in the analysis and refinement of foundational models. In this PhD thesis, we will study the properties of Riemannian embeddings in large multimodal models, and the role of different curvatures for accommodating and associating inter-connected tokens. We will design geometry-, physics- and control-based attention mechanisms to capture complex underlying perception-action interactions. These advancements may help develop new models that leverage physics-aware and curved spaces to better abstract and disentangle the information coming from multimodal perception systems in foundational models. The developed methods will be applied to general foundational models, vision-action large models for robotics, among others. /p h3Requirements /h3 pbMust have skills: /b /p ul liExcellent Master’s degree in computer science, physics, mathematics, electrical or mechatronics engineering, or a related field /li liStrong background in machine learning and robotics /li liGood programming skills in Python /li liFluent in spoken and written English /li liA team player, but also can work autonomously /li liExperience with scientific writing /li /ul pbGood to have skills: /b /p ul liBackground on (applied) differential geometry /li liPublication of peer-reviewed research papers /li /ul h3References /h3 ul liA. Testa et al. “Geometric Contact Flows: Contactomorphisms for Dynamics and Control”, ICML, 2025. /li liN. He, et al. “Beyond Euclidean: Foundation Models Should Embrace Non-Euclidean Geometries”, arXiv, 2025. /li liH. Ding et al. “Fast and Robust Visuomotor Riemannian Flow Matching Policy”, Transactions on Robotics, 2025. /li /ul h3Number of Positions Available /h3 p1 /p h3Application Documents /h3 ul liOne-page cover letter including a short (two-paragraph) research proposal related to the PhD topic and aligned with your professional interests. /li liBachelor’s and Master’s diplomas with transcripts and grades. /li /ul h3Main Research Site /h3 pAI4I – The Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence /p h3What We Offer /h3 ul liAccess to high-performance computing resources and advanced research infrastructure. /li liOpportunities for international collaboration and contributions to high-impact publications. /li liA dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment. /li liFinancial support for attending international conferences and Winter/Summer schools. /li /ul h3Start Date /h3 p1st March 2026 /p h3How to Apply /h3 pPlease apply via the university’s official PhD admissions portal. /p h3For More Information /h3 h3About AI4I /h3 pAI4I – The Italian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence has been founded to perform transformative, application-oriented research in Artificial Intelligence. /p pAI4I is set to engage and empower gifted, entrepreneurial, young researchers who commit to producing an impact at the intersection of science, innovation, and industrial transformation. /p pHighly competitive pay, bonus incentives, access to dedicated high-performance computing, state-of-the-art laboratories, industrial collaborations, and an ecosystem tailored to support the initiation and growth of startups stand out as some of the distinctive features of AI4I, bringing together people in a dynamic international environment. /p pAI4I is an Institute that aims to enhance scientific research, technological transfer, and, more generally, the innovation capacity of the Country, promoting its positive impact on industry, services, and public administration. To this end, the Institute contributes to creating a research and innovation infrastructure that employs artificial intelligence methods, with particular reference to manufacturing processes, within the framework of the Industry 4.0 process and its entire value chain. The Institute establishes relationships with similar entities and organizations in Italy and abroad, including Competence Centers and European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), so that the center may become an attractive place for researchers, companies, and start-ups. /p /p #J-18808-Ljbffr