Postdoctoral Researcher in Computer Science, High-Quality Synthetic Data

Sapere Aude – dare to know – is our motto. Our students and employees develop important knowledge that enrich both the individual and the community. Our academic environment is characterised by curiosity, courage and openness, with a close connection between people, professional roles, disciplines and research. Gender equality, diversity and a democratic approach form the foundation of our organisation. Located in Värmland, a scenic region with a rich cultural life, we are committed to promoting sustainable development in close collaboration with the wider community. Karlstad University has a total of approximately 1,400 employees and 17,700 students spread across two inspiring campus environments in Karlstad and Arvika. More information at: kau.se/en/work-with-usDescriptionWould you like to conduct research at the exciting intersection of artificial intelligence, data quality, and privacy, together with a dedicated team of researchers and industrial practitioners? We are hiring a Postdoctoral Researcher (PostDoc) to join us in a project on synthetic data funded by the Swedish Knowledge Foundation. The project’s mission is to analyse and evaluate different types of synthetic data with respect to their data quality, utility for their intended purpose, and privacy achieved when based on personal data. Together with our partners from industry, we will assess real-world datasets and extract meaningful estimators for quantifying the utility and the level of privacy protection provided in synthetic data.As a postdoctoral researcher in this position, you will have the opportunity to develop your creative and innovative ideas in the described research context. You will be part working closely with the SQuaD (“Software Quality and Digital Modernization”) as well as the PriSec (“Privacy and Security”) research group. Both are part of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, which provides a vibrant, inspiring, collaborative, and highly international environment for your work.Due to the postdoctoral appointment’s nature as a career-development position for junior researchers, we are looking for candidates who have completed their PhD no more than three years before the application deadline. The position is offered for a period of two years, with the possibility of extension.DutiesIn the project, your task will be to collect and analyse real-world datasets provided by our project partners, apply different data synthetisation approaches to these, and extract meaningful indicators for data quality and data protection achieved on the resulting synthesized datasets. Based on this, you will help define sound quality and privacy estimators and guidance documents for characterizing different data synthetisation approaches. You will monitor the evolution of synthetic data generation approaches, specifically in the fields of artificial intelligence and/or statistical analysis methods, to identify novel approaches of relevance with respect to the project results. You will help documenting, publishing, and presenting these results in appropriate scientific venues, as well as in the required project result documents.For this, you will be closely collaborating with the project team at the university and our partners. You require good English skills as it is the working language in the project consortium.You are expected to collaborate with the wider community for a mutual exchange, as well as work towards ensuring that the knowledge and expertise available at the university is of benefit tosociety. The opportunity to participate in teaching, e.g., through contributions in courses or supervision of student theses and projects on topics relevant to the project, exists.To contribute to a positive work environment and further the department’s activities, you are expected to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace community. Arrangements for part-time remote work can be made under special circumstances upon approval and if the work tasks permit.Qualification requirementsTo be eligible for the postdoctoral appointment, applicants are required to hold a PhD in computer science or a related subject, or have equivalent qualifications from abroad. The PhD must be completed before a decision to appoint an applicant is made. The candidate must have completed the degree no more than three years before the application deadline. Qualifications obtained earlier may be considered if there are special grounds, such as sick leave, parental leave, clinical service, service as a union representative, military service or similar, or service/assignment of relevance to the appointment.Assessment criteriaSpecial weight will be given to the documented expertise to conduct research in the context of the project, i.e., in the areas of synthetic data, data quality, and data protection. Moreover, special weight will be given to the documented ability to publish research results in any of these areas.Considerable weight will be given to the documented knowledge and expertise in artificial intelligence, data & software engineering , and data protection & privacy. Additionally, special weight will be given to the documented experience in collaborating with academic and industrial partners in research projects and other collaborations. Considerable weight will also be given to the the applicants English language skills, both spoken and written.Considerable weight will also be given to personal qualities such as the ability to cooperate, the willingness to take responsibility, and a constructive and professional attitude towards colleagues and students.Weight will be given to the documented experience in software development and programming, the experience in collaborating with, and documenting research results to, the wider society, and experience in working abroad and/or working in national and international networks.Teaching experience in artificial intelligence, software engineering, data science & engineering, or privacy and security is considered a valuable qualification.TermsFixed-term full-time employment of 2 years, with the possibility of extension. Starting at the earliest convenience.ApplicationSubmit the application via the University’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications.The application should include: CV cover letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and research interests in relation to the duties of the position list of publications (in multi-authored publications, the role of the applicant must be specified) copy of PhD degree or information on when it is expected to be completed copy of doctoral thesis and other relevant publications language proficiency certificates if available two references, at least one of which is a current or former supervisorAttach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content.Documents that cannot be submitted electronically, such as books or publications, should be sent to:Karlstads universitetHanna Ljungdahl651 88 KarlstadState the reference number: Rek. 2025/103Application deadline: November 30, 2025We look forward to your application!Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies.HR Excellence in ResearchKarlstad University received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research award September 2020. The award is issued to employers with a stimulating work environment and good conditions for researchers and its continuous improvement. The award also conveys the university’s commitment to fair and transparent recruitment as well as favorable professional development for researchers. Read more: kau.se/hrs4rAnställningsform: tidsbegränsad anställning | Anställningens omfattning: heltid | Antal lediga befattningar: 1 | Sysselsättningsgrad: 100% | Ort: Karlstad | Län: Värmlands län | Land: Sweden | Referensnummer: REK2025/103 | Kontakt: Sebastian Herold +46547002104, Sebastian Herold +46547002104, Stefan Alfredsson +46547001668, Stefan Alfredsson +46547001668, | Facklig företrädare: Thomas Bragefors, SACO +4654-7001714, Thomas Bragefors, SACO 054-7001714, Denita Gustavsson, OFR +4654-7001434, OFR/S Fackförbundet ST Denita Gustavsson 054-7001434, OFR/S Sveriges lärare Madeleine Wiker 054-7002113, | Publicerat: 2025-10-29 | Sista ansökningsdag: 2025-11-30