Doctoral student in Computer Science: Data-driven product development, evolution and management

Malmo

Reference number P 2025/568

Malmö University is an innovative, urban, and internationally-oriented academic institution that, thanks to its committed and experienced staff, contributes to societal development. Here, teachers, researchers, and other employees with various competencies work together to conduct high-quality education and research. All professional categories and roles are important. You are welcome to apply for a job with us!

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We are looking for
Doctoral student in Computer Science: Data-driven product development, evolution and management at Faculty of Technology and Society.

Work duties
Those appointed to doctoral studentships shall primarily devote themselves to their studies. Those appointed to doctoral studentships may, however, work to a limited extent with educational tasks, research, artistic research and administration, however, duties of this kind may not comprise more than 20 per cent of a full-time post (Chapter 5, Section 2 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

Background: Industrializing data and artificial intelligence (AI)
Our experience over the last years has shown that although the industrial partners in Software Center are making progress on the software engineering practices, significant challenges remain around integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in products and allowing for dynamic adjustment of behavior in products, e.g. using reinforcement learning.

The challenges that many companies face when adopting AI in products are in part caused by concerns associated with data. Often, companies struggle with what data to collect from their product in the field, where to process this data, where to store it and for how long. In addition, many companies are not certain to what extent the data they have collected can be trusted for training machine learning (ML) models and run-time interference. Both the use of AI in products, as well as the collection of data, assume fast iterations that allow for rapid and continuous change to the software and to the models deployed in systems, as well as to the data that is collected from the field. Although some companies have systematic continuous deployment in place for their systems, most companies are struggling with the implementation of continuous practices beyond the team level. Hence, we are looking to study this topic as an enabler for the previous ones.

Finally, we need to integrate product management and R&D much more to ensure that we focus our energy on properly deciding what to build and why we build it. Digital product management is concerned with exploiting the capabilities provided by DevOps, data and AI to maximize the effectiveness of R&D in terms of value created per unit of R&D effort.

To address these challenges, we are looking to recruit a PhD student for the following project:

Data-driven product development, evolution and management
The project is focused on identifying the key enablers that allow for effective adoption and use of data-driven approaches in the development, evolution and management of software-intensive embedded systems. The main research questions include (i) what is the role and use of data in R&D of software-intensive embedded systems (ii) what approaches, as well as architectural enablers, are required to support data-driven evolution of software-intensive embedded systems, and (iii) how are continuous practices (DevOps), as well as digital technologies such as data and artificial intelligence (AI), challenging and rapidly changing current roles and practices by replacing, reshaping and/or reinventing these.

The research will be empirical in nature, employing action research and case studies for exploring real-world challenges experienced by our industrial partners. The project will identify key challenges and develop solutions to these, as well as validate these solutions in industrial contexts.

Qualifications
To be admitted to third-cycle studies, the applicant must meet the general and specific entry requirements of the subject in question. Moreover, the applicant must be deemed capable of assimilating the education.

General entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes (HEO Chapter 7 Section 39) have those who:

• have been awarded a second-cycle qualification
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Specific entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes have those who:

• have knowledge and skills equivalent to a second-cycle degree in computer science or in another subject that has relevance for computer science, or
• have acquired essentially equivalent knowledge in or outside Sweden
• are proficient in English to the extent required for conducting postgraduate studies in computer science

Selection criteria
Selection among applicants who meet the general and specific entry requirements shall be made with regard to their capacity to assimilate the education (HEO Chapter 7 Section 41).

The following general criteria will be used:

• Subject competence
• Scientific quality in previous work
• Methodological and scientific maturity
• Communication and collaborative skills

Meritorious:

• Good language and writing skills in English are meritorious.
• The research is conducted in close collaboration with a large number of companies nationally and internationally. The doctoral student is expected to conduct, coordinate and validate his/her research in this environment. Previous experience from industry is advantageous (especially experience in areas such as software, data, AI/ML/DL).

Faculty, Department and Research environment
The Faculty of Technology and Society conducts education and research with a focus on technology and natural sciences at the two departments of Computer Science and Media Technology and Materials Science and Applied Mathematics. The faculty collaborates with companies and other organizations with the aim of raising the level of expertise, creating new products, developing businesses and giving students an early connection to their future working life. Our research collaborations and employees from a large number of countries give the activities an international character. More information about the faculty can be found here: Link

The Department of Computer Science and Media Technology offers research-linked education at first-cycle, second-cycle and doctoral levels. The department conducts research in computer science, information systems, software engineering and media technology. We are interested in research and education areas such as artificial intelligence, digital media, e-health, internet of things and game development. Link

This PhD position is part of Software Center. Software Center is a collaboration between companies in the software-intensive systems domain and five Swedish universities The mission of Software Center is to significantly improve the digitalization capabilities in the member companies. For more information please visit: Link

Further information
Bahtijar Vogel, Head of Department of Computer Science and Media Technology, bahtijar.vogel@mau.se, 040 – 665 70 12,

Helena Holmström Olsson, intended supervisor, helena.holmstrom.olsson@mau.se, 040 – 665 73 19

In our recruitment work, Malmö University has taken a stand regarding recruitment channels and marketing. We therefore decline all offers of advertising and recruitment assistance in connection with this advertisement.

You can read more about the benefits of working in Sweden here: Work in Sweden | sweden.se

Application
You apply for this position via Malmö University's recruitment system by clicking on the "Apply" button. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that your application is completed in accordance with the job advertisement, and that it is submitted to the University no later than 2025-04-15. The application must be written in Swedish, English or any of the Scandinavian languages. As an applicant, you are responsible for the application and its appendices being translated.

The application must include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Diplomas, transcript of records and other certificates relevant for the position
• A brief research plan presenting the focus of research and a thesis concept, and how this relates to the specific post (max 4 pages). The research plan must contain an overall purpose, questions that the project intends to answer, an account of the methodological approach, a description of material collection and type of research material and an account of the theoretical framework
• Independent work at advanced level (including master thesis or equivalent)

Miscellaneous
Preparation of admission to postgraduate education and employment as a doctoral student take place in parallel. Only those who are or have been admitted to third-cycle courses and study programmes at a higher education may be appointed to doctoral studentships (Chapter 5, Section 3 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

The doctoral studentship is a fixed-term position comprising four years of full-time studies, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5 Section 7. A doctoral student shall be employed for an indefinite period but for no longer than until a specified date, and never for longer than a year after the doctoral degree or artistic doctoral degree has been completed. The first appointment must be limited to one year at the most. The appointment can be extended by a maximum of two years at a time.

Malmö University actively promotes gender equality and equal opportunities in order to offer a workplace and a university characterised by an open and inclusive approach.

As part of this:

• applicants of an underrepresented gender are given priority for admission, if they are equally able to benefit from the programme.
• doctoral students with permanent disabilities are given the opportunity to receive support and adaptations during their studies, so that everyone can study on equal terms in a good study environment.

Malmö University is a workplace and higher education institution that is characterised by an open and inclusive approach, where gender equality and equal terms add value to our activities.

Malmö University applies salary setting for doctoral students in accordance with a local agreement on salary setting for doctoral students.

Start date
August 19th, 2025 (or by agreement).

If the admitted person requires a residence permit to live in Sweden and pursue their studies, the University reserves the right to revoke the admission decision if the admitted person cannot present a valid residence permit as required on the date they are due to commence their education.

Union representatives
SACO-S Mats Syde, mats.syde@mau.se

OFR/ST Sandip Kaur, sandip.kaur@mau.se

PhD Student Union representative
doktorandkaren@mau.se

We are looking forward to receiving your application!
You apply no later than 15/04/2025 by clicking the apply button.