Funded MSc and PhD Positions in Machine Learning Available jointly at the

Vector Institute & Dalhousie University

Applications are invited for MSc and PhD positions in Machine Learning at the Vector Institute and Dalhousie University (Faculty of Computer Science), to work with Dr. Sageev Oore (Research Faculty Member @ Vector, Associate Professor @ Dalhousie).

About the Research

We have multiple ongoing research projects. Within deep learning and machine learning, central themes that are important to us include:

• music and creative applications (ongoing)

• e.g. ICCC 2019

• music, audio, and speech generation and analysis (ongoing)

• e.g. ICLR 2019

• robustness, adversarial detection (ongoing)

• e.g. ICML 2020, NeurIPS 2019 Workshop 

• positive global impact (ongoing)

• e.g. marine animal identification (new!)

• health applications (ongoing)

• e.g. speech analysis for mental health applications (new!)
• e.g. music and neurorehabilitation (new! see also CIFAR AI Catalyst Postdoctoral Fellowship opportunity for this new project!)

• many other new projects starting up
• bring your own theme of interest that you are passionate about! :)

Fun fact: many of the projects are interdisciplinary.

About the Research Lab

As a graduate student in this lab, you will automatically be affiliated with both the Vector Institute and Dalhousie University. This includes the following benefits (among many others):

• a friendly, collaborative and supportive research environment
• access to seminars, slack channels, and research supports at both Vector and Dalhousie
• access to significant GPU compute power at Vector
• funding opportunities
• internship opportunities
• opportunities to collaborate with lab members on existing research projects, and to initiate your own projects
• a committed inclusive environment
• mentorship opportunities: both to mentor others and be mentored
• flexibility to work remotely, and to work at both Vector (Toronto) and Dalhousie (Halifax, Nova Scotia) spaces

We all expect each other to contribute positively to the lab environment, collaborate with others in the lab, engage in state-of-the-art research, and publish internationally.

The lab includes undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, as well as a diverse and expanding group of collaborators.

About the Research Lab Funding

The lab is well-funded by CIFAR (Canada Institute for Advanced Research), NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada), CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research), SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), MITACS, and industrial partners (e.g. NovaResp, Lucid).

While we enjoy collaboration with industry, we are committed to continuing to pursue pure, publishable research where data and algorithms can ultimately be made available to the research community. We actively engage in collaborations that enable this.

Requirements & Background

To apply for these positions, an undergraduate degree with a strong GPA is required. For example, many of the current graduate students in the lab had undergraduate GPAs of 4.0/4.3 or higher. This is not essential, but it does indicate attention to detail, which is important in machine learning research. For admission to PhD, strong sample publications are usually required as well. Candidates who have excelled in a closely-related area (e.g. math), have demonstrated programming skills, and are looking to move into deep learning or machine learning are also encouraged to apply.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of many projects, we welcome applicants who---in addition to machine learning---have experience in one (or more) of the related areas, including, but not limited to: music, biomechanics, kinesiology, audio processing, arts.  

We are especially interested in researchers who approach problem solving with creativity, initiative and commitment.

About the Principal Investigator

Sageev Oore is a faculty member at the Vector Institute and at Dalhousie University, and is a Canada CIFAR AI Chair. Prior to moving back to Canada in 2018, he was a Visiting Scientist at Google Brain (California), where he worked on the Magenta team. He has performed internationally as an award-winning musician. Sageev studied piano with teachers from Dalhousie, Juilliard, and UBC, and completed his BSc in Math at Dalhousie University, and MSc and PhD in Computer Science at U of Toronto, working with Geoff Hinton.

How to apply

If you are interested, please send the following materials to Sageev Oore at  sageev@vectorinstitute.ai in an email with “Vector/Dalhousie Graduate Position Inquiry” as the subject line:

• a CV
• a brief note of interest (email or pdf)
• an (unofficial) transcript.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

We accept and review applications on an ongoing basis. Due to volume of inquiries and limited number of positions, we may not be able to reply to all emails.