Postdoc Position: Adaptive and Distributed Foundation Model Inference across the Computing Continuum

Postdoc Position: Adaptive and Distributed Foundation Model Inference across the Computing Continuum
We are seeking highly motivated and talented applicants for a 2-year postdoctoral position (with the possibility of extension) in the area of distributed foundation model inference.

Join us at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Aarhus University, where we are advancing resource-efficient and distributed foundation model inference across the computing continuum, leveraging the computation resources at Edge and Cloud. Our research aims to enable scalable, low-latency, and resource-aware deployment of large foundation models.

Expected start date and duration of employment
This is a full-time, fixed-term position for one year, starting on March 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The initial appointment will run until Feb 28, 2029, or for 24 months from the actual start date.

Job description

• The successful candidate will contribute to cutting-edge research on topics including:
• Distributed and collaborative inference strategies;
• Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) placement and scheduling for inference acceleration;
• Token compression or Intermediate feature compression;
• Resource-aware and communication-efficient inference optimization.

You will work in a dynamic and collaborative research environment, with opportunities to publish in top-tier venues and collaborate with leading academic and industry partners within the Horizion Europe Project.

Your profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and talented candidate with a background in deep learning. The required qualifications include:

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related field;
• Strong background in Deep Learning (e.g., Transformers, foundation models);
• Strong programming skills in Python and experience with deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch);
• Experience with distributed systems and edge AI;
• Strong publication record in reputable conferences or journals relative to career stage;
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.

Following qualifications will be considered as an advantage:

• Experience in working with stream data;
• Experience with collaborative, cross-cultural research environments.

Who we are
You will be based at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Aarhus University, a dynamic and growing department committed to excellence in research, education, and innovation. Our research spans Internet of things, machine learning, signal processing, to digital twins, all with a strong emphasis on high impact research and societal relevance.

This position will be supervised by Professor Qi Zhang, whose current research focuses on Edge Intelligence, Distributed Foundation Model inference, Internet of Things and Analytics on compressed data.

What we offer
We offer a vibrant and inclusive research environment with a clear commitment to real-world impact. Denmark is consistently ranked among the best countries in the world for work-life balance and quality of life. Family-friendly policies include generous parental leave, subsidised childcare, and access to excellent public healthcare and education. As a postdoc at Aarhus University, you will benefit from a supportive and flexible workplace culture that values diversity and offers excellent conditions for researchers and their families.

Specifically, we offer:

• Access to state-of-the-art facilities and computing infrastructure;
• Strong support for research career development, including mentoring and international networking opportunities;
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work;
• A workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

Place of work and area of employment
The place of work is Helsingforsgade 10, 8200 Aarhus N, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.

Contact information
For further information, please contact: Professor Qi Zhang, +4541893253, qz@ece.au.dk.

Deadline
Applications must be submitted by December 6th, 2026.

Application procedure
Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self.

Formalities and salary range
Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary and terms as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Unions at basic salary steps 4-8.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Om Aarhus Universitet

Aarhus Universitet er et fagligt bredt og forskningsintensivt universitet med høj kvalitet i uddannelse og forskning, og et stærkt engagement i samfundsudviklingen nationalt og globalt. Universitetet tilbyder et inspirerende uddannelses- og forskningsmiljø for 37.500 studerende inklusive ph.d.-studerende og har 9.000 medarbejdere opgjort i årsværk samt en årlig omsætning på 8,9 mia. kr. Læs mere på au.dk