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
• Student assistant

 

 

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Postdoc

I do not have postdoc position calls open at the moment. But feel free to reach out to discuss potential opportunities if you are interested in working with me. Include [App Postdoc] 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 (1 page max.)
  Your letter must outline your prior work and the kind of research you are excited to conduct in the future. Make sure to relate your interests and goals to the publications and research topics of the group. Also, point to papers, reports, personal projects, anything that showcases your English writing, mathematical, and/or coding proficiency.

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

• Full transcripts of completed academic degrees

• Name and contact of (up to three) references

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

Additional information

Why pursue your PhD here?

At the École Polytechnique (also known as X) and 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.

So how much is my salary exactly?

PhD student minimal salaries are defined nationally by the government. You can easily find gross values in the law. Net salaries are harder to determine as they depend on your tax situation. In an informal poll of net salaries among PhD students, I got to something in the range of 1700–1800 € (which is consistent with what you get on this website). These are unofficial estimates and therefore come with the typical caveat on internet sources. It is worth noting that PhD students in France are contracted, full-time employees entitled to the all social benefits of traditional public sector employment, including sick days and paid time-off (holidays).

Again, if you have any questions about the positions, the PhD in general, and/or life in Paris, do not hesitate to reach out.

Do I need to speak French?

The answer is a resounding NO. The official and working language of the group is English. Additionally, many courses are offered in English and most of the university staff speaks English.

Now, should you speak French? Probably eventually. Even if Paris is a highly 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

My group does not have Master project calls open at the moment. However, feel free to get in touch if you are interested in writing your Master thesis with us (include [App Master] in your subject line). We work on a variety of exciting topics upon which your Master project can be based.

Master projects typically combine the use of a novel optimization, control, or statistics tool with a practical machine learning or signal processing application. We expect interested students 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. Thesis topics are primarily for students currently enrolled at École Polytechnique.

 

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Student assistant

My group does not currently have student assistants calls open. However, we are always looking for motivated students interested in collaborating in our projects. Feel free to reach out to discuss if you are interested in working with us (include [App SA] in your subject line). Student assistant positions are primarily for students currently enrolled at École Polytechnique.