PhD in Semantic Web and Artificial Intelligence
Explore neuro-symbolic AI and knowledge graphs to model and predict user analytical behavior.
Best for:Best for computer science graduates with a strong background in knowledge graphs, semantic web technologies, and artificial intelligence.
Overview
This PhD position is hosted by the I3S laboratory at CNRS and Université Côte d'Azur, specifically within the Wimmics team. The research focuses on semantic modeling and knowledge graph representation of user analytical activities, combining machine learning and symbolic reasoning. The successful candidate will develop unified frameworks for multimodal user data, investigate exploratory behavior prediction, and contribute to explainable visualizations. The position offers a salaried contract with comprehensive benefits in Valbonne, France.
What you'll do
- Develop a unified semantic framework using RDF vocabularies to model multimodal user activity as knowledge graphs.
- Design and implement pipelines for constructing and enriching knowledge graphs from heterogeneous user interaction data.
- Investigate neuro-symbolic methods to discover and predict exploratory user behaviors by combining machine learning and symbolic reasoning.
- Study incremental refinement methods for behavioral models and rules during interactive exploration.
- Evaluate the quality, interpretability, and predictive capabilities of proposed models on real-world datasets.
- Publish research findings in scientific venues and contribute to open-source resources.
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree in Computer Science or equivalent
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English or French proficiency for academic work and publication
Instruction: English / French
Publications: None specified initially, but research output in scientific venues is expected as part of the thesis deliverables.
- Strong background in semantic web technologies and knowledge representation (RDF, RDFS, OWL)
- Experience with machine learning or neuro-symbolic artificial intelligence approaches
- Programming skills for building data processing pipelines and graph construction
- Analytical skills for evaluating experimental models and working with heterogeneous data
- Hold or be about to complete a Master's degree or equivalent qualification allowing enrollment in a doctoral programme
- Meets general eligibility requirements for doctoral candidates at Université Côte d'Azur and CNRS
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-11-06
Interested candidates should review the official CNRS job portal listing and submit their application documents through the provided platform before the deadline.
- CV
- Cover letter
- Transcripts
Contact
Create a free profile to unlock your personal match score, the full requirements, funding details and how to apply — in English or Persian.