Prospective members

My group designs systems to extract, process, and act on information using tools from optimization, signal processing, control, learning, and probability (not always all of them, not necessarily all at once). If this is something you're interested in, consider joining us in one of the following ways:

• Postdoc
• PhD student
• Master thesis  

 

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Postdoc

I do not have open calls for postdoc positions at the moment. But feel free to reach out to discuss potential opportunities if you are interested in working with me. Include [App postdoc] in the subject line.

 

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PhD student

Requirements

Consider applying if you

• have obtained or will soon obtain a master degree* in electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field (applied math, operations research, etc.)
  *If you have a 5-year bachelor degree (as is the case, e.g., in South America) and an amazing CV, you can still apply. We'll find a way to make it work.

• have reading, writing, and oral proficiency in technical English
  (Do you need to speak French? No, the official and working language of the group is English)

• have experience with at least one of the usual suspects: Python, MATLAB, Python, Julia, R, Python
  (I'm not a Python fanboy and you don't have to be a super programmer, but since I know Python, so should you)

• are familiar with at least one "deep learning" (autodiff) framework, e.g., PyTorch, Tensorflow, PyTorch, Jax, PyTorch
  (again, not a fanboy, but the coin flip did land on PyTorch so...)

If in addition you

• are creative and able to come up with fresh solutions to technical challenges;

• are collaborative and appreciate working with peers and junior (undergraduate) students;

• enjoy presenting to and discussing your work with academic and non-academic audiences; and

• are motivated to do high-level research in a demanding, but supportive environment,

then you should not only consider, but make sure you apply!

How to apply

Interested candidate should submit their applications via email starting the subject line with [App PhD] and including:

• Short motivation statement describing background and research interests (2–5 paragraphs)
  Your statement must outline your prior work and the research you are interested in. Make sure to relate your interests to the publications and research topics of my group. Also, point to papers, reports, anything that showcases your English writing, mathematical, and/or coding proficiency. You do NOT need to write an extensive essay.

• CV (including a list of publications and research/coding projects, if you have any)

• Full transcripts of completed academic degrees

Prior to applying, candidates are expected to review the requirements and recent publications.

Additional information

Why pursue your PhD here?

At the École Polytechnique (also known as "X") and the CMAP, you have access to a world-class research infrastructure and support, including high performance computing clusters. You also have the opportunity (and means) to interact with leading scientists from a variety of fields; sit on seminars from noteworthy researchers from around the world; and attend major conferences. X is part of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris, among the 50 best universities world-wide and #2 in France (QS rank). Located on the Plateau de Saclay, it is surrounded by world-class institutions (such as INRIA, Telecom Paris, CentraleSupélec, ENSAE, HEC), industrial research centers (such as Danone, Thales), and a vibrant start-up community.

You can find more information about the French doctorate system at Campus France. If you have any questions about the positions, the PhD in general, and/or life in France, do not hesitate to reach out.

Do I need to speak French?

The answer is NO. The official and working language of the group is English. I take this point seriously: having been a foreigner for half of my life, I appreciate the difficulties involved in navigating a new country, culture, and language. Additionally, many courses are offered in English and the majority of university business can be conducted in English.

Now, should you speak French? Probably eventually. Even if Paris is a very international city, speaking French will definitely make your life easier and more fun outside of the university. And if you are going to spend multiple years in a country, you might as well learn the local language. If you do decide to give French a try, there are plenty of French language courses and resources at and around the university, many of them free of charge.

 

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Master thesis

The group has a few open master thesis topics, particularly in the areas of generative modeling, inverse design, and reinforcement learning. Master projects typically combine the use of a novel optimization, control, or statistics tool with a practical machine learning or signal processing application. Interested students are expected to have a strong theoretical background and/or be good programmers as well as being able to come up with fresh ideas for challenging research problems.

If you are interested in working with us on any of these topics or other research topic from my group, feel free to send us an email starting the subject line with [App master] and including:

• Short motivation statement describing background and research interests (1 paragraph)
  Do NOT write an extensive essay, but do outline your background and research interests as they relate to research topics and publications of my group.

• CV (including a list of research/coding projects, if you have any)

• Transcripts