Research School "Foundations of AI"

Scientific Topic:

This research school focuses on advancing AI methods, including energy-efficient and privacy-aware algorithms, fair and explainable decision-making, and mathematical theories of AI. While applications of AI are used to validate these innovations, the primary goal is to build foundational methods and theories for societal impact. 

Internal Evaluation Procedures: 

The research school will organize a yearly formal meeting with a thesis advisory committee (TAC) where each PhD student will give an oral report on the progress and there will be a short, written form assessing the PhD student’s progress signed by the student and the professor (primary advisor). 

International collaborations:  

The research school will collaborate with Stanford as part of the Stanford-HPI partnership as well as with selected faculty from UC Irvine for joint publications and exchange on the student and faculty level. We will also try to establish further collaborations, in particular with European universities. 

Regular Meetings & Events: 

We will organize a weekly research school talk series where PhD students of the research school will have the opportunity to present and share their ideas. In addition, we will organize a weekly school lunch roulette where PhD and master students of the research school will be able to get to know each other better (in a non-work setting). The research school will supervise and stimulate the scientific progress of PhD students by means of annual retreats with individual feedback, exposure to external guests, and research methods curricula.