Siegfried Nijssen

This PhD opening at KU Leuven is hosted in the DTAI section of the Department of Computer Science, within the lab of Prof. Siegfried Nijssen. The project sits at the intersection of machine learning, symbolic AI, and combinatorial search, with a strong emphasis on neuro-symbolic approaches. The research aims to develop foundation models for search problems. Inspired by recent progress in large language models, vision models, and other specialized foundation models, the project will explore neural networks that can solve combinatorial search problems using relatively small amounts of data or input at inference time. The envisioned system combines a neural network component with a search component, where the neural model guides the search process. The research will progressively address larger classes of search problems. Application areas mentioned in the posting include planning and scheduling, explainable machine learning, and computer programming. These are all problems that can be framed as combinatorial search tasks requiring symbolic expressions or solutions that satisfy precise criteria. The project also emphasizes theoretical and applied research in the context of the Flanders AI program. Applicants should have an excellent Master degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related discipline. A background in neural networks and/or search algorithms is expected, together with strong programming skills and the ability to conduct independent research. Proficiency in English is required. The position is a 4-year PhD researcher role at the KU Leuven campus in Leuven, Belgium. Interested candidates should apply through the official KU Leuven application link. The deadline is 2026-08-12 23:59 Brussels time. For further information, contact Prof. dr. Siegfried Nijssen at siegfried.nijssen@kuleuven.be.