Machine Learning Researcher

Postdoctoral Positions in Audiovisual Learning and Audio Processing

Location:
Genoa + Remote Work

For the
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)
, we are looking for
PhDs with expertise and experience in audio signal processing, computer vision, and multimodal machine learning
, to join a European project focused on developing mixed reality solutions for art and culture.

Spoiler

Keep reading this ad if:

• During your PhD you carried out research in areas such as audio signal processing, computer vision, and (multimodal) machine learning or related fields
• You wish to continue your professional path in research
• You are excited by the idea of being part of a European project, aware of the professional growth it offers and the impact it may have on your career

This is not for you if:

• You're tired of research and looking for a more static job
• You have general machine learning skills, but not in the audio-video domain
• You dislike working in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams

Who you will work for

Selected candidates will join the
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)
, founded with the goal of promoting technological development and higher education in technology, thereby supporting the growth of the national industrial system.

The institute is deeply committed to addressing major social challenges through science, technology, research, and innovation, while keeping the human being at the center of its mission.

IIT's core values are:

•
Courage
, to overcome limits and barriers and to create innovative and advanced solutions

•
Social responsibility
, ensuring that research and innovation contribute to building a sustainable future and promoting societal well-being

•
Inclusion
, by fostering a fair, diverse, and open-minded working environment

•
Integrity
, as all actions are guided by honesty, authenticity, sincerity, and transparency

Headquartered in
Genoa
, IIT is part of a network of
11 research centers in Italy
and
two in the United States
, enabling continuous knowledge exchange and cross-disciplinary innovation. Over time, this has led to significant advances where fields such as neuroscience, physics, artificial intelligence, humanoid robotics, nanotechnologies, and materials science converge to achieve shared goals.

Your role and what you will do

The selected researchers will join the
Pattern Analysis and Computer Vision (PAVIS)
team, led by
Dr. Pietro Morerio, Prof. Vittorio Murino, and Dr. Alessio Del Bue
.

The group develops
AI infrastructures
designed to understand physical spaces and the human behaviors within them, with the goal of creating intelligent systems capable of achieving both:

• Spatial AI
  , focused on perceiving and autonomously understanding the static and dynamic aspects of the real physical world and its spatial semantics; and
• Social AI
  , focused on perceiving and interpreting human behavior as observed through cameras in relation to the physical spaces people interact with.

The positions are part of the European project
XTREME – Mixed Reality Environment for Immersive Experience of Art and Culture (RIA Horizon Europe, GA n
, which fully reflects IIT's multidisciplinary approach by involving close collaboration with 14 international partners.

The project, launched in January 2024 and running until December 2026, aims to
enable new ways of accessing artistic and musical experiences
by developing mixed reality (MR) solutions that provide immersive, hybrid real-and-virtual environments.

More details about the project can be found here:

Within this project, selected candidates will:

• Map and analyze
multichannel sound
through acoustic imaging and
beamforming
techniques

• Develop
audio-visual multimodal fusion
methods for scene representation

• Integrate
2D audio-visual reconstructions
with
3D scene representations

Who we are looking for

We will consider only candidates holding a
PhD in fields related to the project
, such as Computer Science, Machine Learning, Physics, or Engineering, with a research focus aligned to the project topics.

Previous
publications in relevant research domains
are required.

Key technical skills:

• Experience in
acoustics and audio signal processing
and
computer vision
, with particular focus on
microphone arrays
and
multimodal machine learning (e.g., audio-video)

• Strong programming skills, especially in
Python
, and good command of
AI/Deep Learning frameworks
such as
PyTorch
,
TensorFlow
, or similar

• Proven ability to organize, document, and publish scientific research

• Excellent command of English

Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience in
national or international projects
, including proposal writing and reporting.

Additional qualities:

Ability to work effectively in
multidisciplinary and multicultural teams
, strong innovation drive, creativity combined with goal orientation, and excellent time and priority management.

What we offer

The selected researchers will be hired under a
Collaborazione Coordinata e Continuativa (Co.Co.Co.) contract
, for
one year (renewable)
, with a
gross annual compensation between 35–45K
, benefiting from Italy's tax incentives for research contracts.

The final amount will be determined based on the candidate's experience and qualifications.

Beyond compensation, joining the
PAVIS team at IIT
means becoming part of a
multicultural, multidisciplinary research environment
that encourages cross-fertilization between disciplines and continuous professional growth.

IIT also offers administrative and logistical support for practical needs (e.g., relocation or entrepreneurship initiatives).

The team values
flexibility and work-life balance
, with the possibility of working remotely several days per week, while maintaining a strong in-person team collaboration (full remote is not foreseen).

Selection process

1. Fill out and submit the application form at the end of this announcement (it takes about 5 minutes).
2. We will evaluate your application based on the match between your skills/experience and the role requirements. Please make sure to highlight information that can help us understand your fit right away.
3. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by email (please check your spam folder), to receive further details and confirm their interest in the position.
4. Upon confirmation, the application will be forwarded to the IIT team to arrange the first interview.

This position is open to applicants of all genders in accordance with Italian Legislative Decree 198/2006 and subsequent amendments, and Legislative Decrees 215 and 216 of 2003 on equal opportunities.