The Artificial Intelligence and Information Analysis Laboratory (AIIA Lab, AIIA.CVML R&D group) of the School of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (AUTH) has two open postdoctoral research positions. The interested applicant must have strong theoretical and/or applied/programming background in Machine Learning and Computer Vision, with an emphasis on Deep Learning. A strong publication record is desirable. Potential (not exclusive) application domains include big data analysis, robotics/autonomous systems and digital media. A very competitive salary is offered.

This PhD subject focuses on the association between attention and spiking neural networks for defining new efficient AI models for embedded systems such as drones, robots and more generally autonomous systems. The thesis will take place between the LEAT research lab in Sophia-Antipolis and the INT institute in Marseille which both develop complementary approaches on bio-inspired AI from neuroscience to embedded systems design.

Gaze shifts in humans serve to direct high-resolution vision provided by the fovea towards areas in the environment. Gaze can be considered a proxy for attention or indicator of the relative importance of different parts of the environment. In this talk, we discuss the development of generative models of human gaze in response to visual input. We discuss how such models can be learned, both using supervised learning and using implicit feedback as an agent interacts with the environment, the latter being more plausible in biological agents. We also discuss two ways such models can be used. First, they can be used to improve the performance of artificial autonomous systems, in applications such as autonomous navigation. Second, because these models are contingent on the human’s task, goals, and/or state in the context of the environment, observations of gaze can be used to infer information about user intent. This information can be used to improve human-machine and human robot interaction, by making interfaces more anticipative. We discuss example applications in gaze-typing, robotic tele-operation and human-robot interaction.