Research Assistant ViWAS Project (Education & Training)

CYENS Centre of Excellence

RESPONSIBILITIES Research Group / Project: Visual Computing Group / Pharos-CY Category: An initial one-year full time employment contract will be offered with the possibility for renewal depending on performance and project needs. Location: Nicosia, Cyprus Preferred Start Date: June or as soon thereafter. Application Deadline: 31/07/2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. No. Of Positions: 1 Salary Range: Depending on qualifications and experience. About the project / position: CYENS Centre of Excellence is seeking to recruit a Research Assistant to join the Visual Computing Group and contribute to the Pharos-CY project. Pharos-CY aims to support the development and deployment of advanced, trustworthy, and human-centric AI technologies in Cyprus and the wider region. Within this context, CYENS contributes expertise in visual computing, interactive technologies, AI-enabled data services, digital twins, visual analytics, and applied research that can support both the public and private sectors. The successful candidate will work on research and development activities related to language and AI for Pharos-CY, including areas such as natural language processing, speech processing, multilingual AI, and retrieval-augmented generation. The successful candidate may also contribute to the preparation of project reports and deliverables, research proposals, software prototypes, stakeholder engagement activities, and dissemination of research results. Where applicable, the candidate will be encouraged to publish and present research outputs in international conferences, journals, workshops, and project events. Position holders are expected to contribute to both the research and applied innovation objectives of Pharos-CY, working closely with CYENS researchers, project partners, public-sector stakeholders, private-sector users, and other relevant actors in Cyprus’ AI and data ecosystem. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of the Visual Computing Group Leader.   Responsibilities of Research Assistant:  1. Conduct research and development in natural language processing, speech processing, machine learning, generative AI,  or related areas relevant to Pharos-CY.. 2. Design, implement, test, and document software prototypes, tools, pipelines, and services that support Pharos-CY use cases. 3. Work with text, speech, audio, or other domain-specific datasets, including data preparation, annotation, processing, analysis, and visualization. 4. Contribute to the development of AI-ready datasets and data services that may be used by public-sector and private-sector stakeholders. 5. Support the integration of speech-to-text, subtitling, diarisation, transcription, summarisation, translation, and text classification pipelines.. 6. Participate in project meetings, technical discussions, reporting activities, and coordination with Pharos-CY partners. 7. Contribute to project deliverables, technical documentation, presentations, demonstrations, and dissemination material. 8. Assist in the preparation of scientific publications, research proposals, and innovation activities related to the project. 9. Engage with stakeholders to understand real-world needs and translate them into technical requirements, prototypes, or research tasks. 10. Support the wider activities of the Visual Computing Group and CYENS Centre of Excellence, where relevant. YOUR PROFILE Profile of the ideal candidate:  1. Self-motivated, with the ability to take initiative and work independently. 2. Able to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary research and development team. 3. Strong in analytical thinking, problem-solving, and attention to detail. 4. Able to translate research ideas into working prototypes, tools, or demonstrators. 5. Dynamic, adaptable, hands-on, and results driven. 6. Comfortable working with researchers, engineers, project managers, and external stakeholders. 7. Able to communicate technical ideas clearly through written reports, presentations, and demonstrations. 8. Interested in applied AI and NLP solutions that can have real impact for Cyprus’ public and private sectors. GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS General qualifications and requirements: 1. University Degree (Bachelor's degree and/or postgraduate degree) in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or another relevant field. 2. Experience in one or more of the following areas: natural language processing, speech processing, computational linguistics, machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, large language models, or AI-enabled software development.  3. Strong programming skills, preferably in Python and/or C++. Experience with relevant libraries and frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face, Transformers, NLTK, scikit-learn, Pandas, NumPy, LangChain, Whisper-family tools, or similar will be considered an advantage. 4. Experience with data processing pipelines, APIs, databases, cloud tools, or software engineering practices will be considered an advantage. 5. Ability to read, understand, and apply technical and scientific literature. 6. Computer literacy and ability to work with collaborative software development tools, such as Git. 7. Excellent written and oral English-language skills. 8. For non-EU applicants, a work permit will be required. Specific requirements for Research Associate positions:  1. University Degree (Bachelor's degree and/or postgraduate degree), in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing,, Machine Learning, Data Science, Computer Engineering, Speech Technology, or a related area. 2. Strong programming skills in at least one of the following languages: Python. 3. Experience with one or more of the following: NLP, LLMs, speech-to-text, automatic speech recognition, subtitling, text classification, information extraction, summarisation, translation, corpus development, information retrieval, RAG, or AI-enabled language applications. 4. Experience with AI and machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face, Transformers, scikit-learn, or similar. 5. Ability to independently identify technical problems and carry out research and development work within the scope of the Visual Computing Group and Pharos-CY. 6. Ability to work with domain experts and stakeholders to identify needs, define use cases, and support applied research activities. 7. Previous research experience and high-impact publications on relevant topics will be considered an advantage, especially for PhD holders. 8. Previous industrial, innovation, entrepreneurship, or grant-writing experience will be considered an advantage. 9. Experience with EU-funded or nationally funded research projects will be considered an advantage. 10. Experience with data governance, trustworthy AI, explainable AI, secure data handling, or responsible AI practices will be considered an advantage. WHY US? TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT BY BEING PART OF A FAST-GROWING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE. A competitive remuneration package will be offered to the successful candidate according to qualifications and experience. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary environment, collaborate with leading researchers and innovators, contribute to a strategic AI initiative for Cyprus, engage with real-world stakeholders, and participate in high-impact research and innovation activities. APPLICATION PROCESS For full consideration, interested applicants should submit the following items via the online application form and mention the position you are applying for: “Application for Research Assistant - Language Technologies and AI - Visual Computing Group / Pharos-CY”: Process for Research Associates:  1. A cover letter which clearly specifies 1) contact details, 2) employment availability date 2. A detailed curriculum vitae in English. 3. Copies of academic transcripts  4. Description of their academic and research experiences as well as any relevant industrial / innovation / entrepreneurship experience, where applicable (500 words maximum). 5. Contact details of one University professor or one industry referee who will provide the reference letters. 6. One (1) representative publications. In case you previously applied for a post at CYENS CoE, a new application is required. CONTACT DETAILS For general enquiries, applicants may contact the HR Department of CYENS, Centre of Excellence at vacancies@cyens.org.cy .

CYENS Centre of Excellence

RESPONSIBILITIES Department: Research / DeepCamera No. Of Positions: 1 Reporting Line: Research Team Leader  Contract Type: An initial one-year fixed term employment contract will be offered with the possibility for renewal. Full Time basis. Duration of project: 36 months (September 2026 – August 2029) Location: Nicosia, Cyprus Indicative Annual Gross Salary Range: €18,000 – €23,000 The salary will be determined based on qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role.  Preferred Start Date: July 2026, or as soon as possible. Application Deadline: 19th of June 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. About the project / position: The successful candidate will work in the area of AI-based underwater image analysis and marine species detection. Marine biodiversity monitoring currently relies on large volumes of underwater video footage that must be manually analysed, a process that is time-consuming and prone to variability. Advances in artificial intelligence and computer vision provide the opportunity to automate species detection and classification, significantly improving efficiency and consistency in marine ecological assessments. In this role, the successful candidate will develop, train, and validate deep learning models for automated detection and classification of marine species from underwater imagery and video datasets. The position is part of the EU-funded ATLANTIS project (I3–ERDF), developing underwater technologies for marine monitoring and sustainable blue-economy applications. The successful candidates will have the opportunity to conduct fundamental and/or applied research in the aforementioned areas. Where applicable, candidates may also participate in the preparation of project reports and deliverables, research proposals for funding, software development, and travel abroad for dissemination activities. Furthermore, successful candidates will be encouraged to publish/present their research results in prestigious international conferences and journals. Key Responsibilities: 1. Perform data curation, preprocessing, and quality control of underwater imagery and video datasets, in collaboration with marine experts 2. Design, train, and evaluate deep learning models for automated detection and classification of marine species  3. Develop computer vision pipelines for video processing and model inference  4. Evaluate model performance using quantitative metrics  5. Contribute to the integration of AI-based detection models into operational biodiversity monitoring workflows and data analysis pipelines  6. Collaborate with project partners and contribute to the preparation of deliverables, technical reports, and dissemination materials  7. Contribute to other activities of the research group and the Centre YOUR PROFILE Skills and Competencies The ideal candidate will be: 1. Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and collaborate effectively within an interdisciplinary team  2. Strong organisational and problem-solving skills  3. Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative and work independently.   4. Strong organizational, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, having the ability to deal confidently and politely with enquiries.   5. Very good analytical skills coupled with attention to detail.   6. Dynamic, adaptable, hands-on and results driven. 7. A team player with an ability to work independently and under pressure.  8. High levels of commitment, energy, and drive. 9. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS Key requirements Essential Requirements 1. M.Sc. / Ph.D. in Computer Vision, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, or a closely related field, or in related area.  2. 3 years of relevant experience required  3. Demonstrated experience in applied research in artificial intelligence or computer vision  4. Experience in experimental design, model training, and quantitative evaluation of machine learning systems  5. Evidence of scientific writing and dissemination (e.g. peer-reviewed journal publications, conference presentations) 6. Strong programming skills in Python, with experience using deep learning frameworks (e.g. PyTorch or TensorFlow)  7. Experience in computer vision and image or video analysis  8. Language requirements: Excellent written and oral English-language skills will be required.   9. For non-EU applicants a work permit will be required Desirable Qualifications The following will be considered an advantage: 1. Experience with object detection or image segmentation models (e.g. YOLO, Mask R-CNN, Detectron2, etc.)  2. Experience working with large image or video datasets and annotation tools (e.g. CVAT)  3. Familiarity with Linux-based computing environments and version control systems (e.g. Git)  4. Experience with data augmentation, transfer learning, or domain adaptation techniques  5. Prior experience with environmental monitoring, marine datasets, or remote sensing imagery 6. Previous research experience and high impact research publications on relevant topics (a requirement for PhD holders/an advantage for non-PhD holders).  WHY US? What CYENS Offers CYENS offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of research and innovation within a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and international environment. Researchers benefit from collaboration with leading academic and industry partners, participation in high-impact national and European projects, access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, and opportunities for professional growth and scientific excellence. APPLICATION PROCESS Application process  For full consideration, interested applicants should submit the following items via the online application form and clearly indicate the position title in their application:   1. Full CV (including contact details). 2. Cover letter outlining:  1. your suitability for the role 2. your motivation for applying;  3. your earliest available start date, part-time or full-time availability 4. Research Group (s) of interest in order of priority 5. contact details of two referees.  3. Copies of academic transcripts  4. Description of their academic and research experiences as well as any relevant industrial / innovation / entrepreneurship experience, where applicable (500 words maximum). 5. Two (2) representative publications (if applicable). 6. Two (2) representative innovation outcomes / products (if applicable).   Important Information * Incomplete applications will not be considered.  * Applicants who have previously applied for a position at CYENS are required to submit a new application.  * All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.  * CYENS Centre of Excellence is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates worldwide.  CONTACT DETAILS For general enquiries, applicants may contact the HR Department at vacancies@cyens.org.cy.

CYENS Centre of Excellence

RESPONSIBILITIES Department: Research Department /Extended Experiences Research Group   No. Of Positions: 2-3 Part Time or Full Time Researchers  Reporting Line: Extended Experiences Research Team Leader  Contract Type: Fixed Term Fixed Term project-based contract for the duration of the project.  Duration of project: 48 months (October 2026 – September 2030) Location: Nicosia, Cyprus Indicative Annual Gross Salary Range for Full Time Equivalent (FTE):  Research Assistant: €18,000 – €32,000 Research Associate: €28,000 – €45,000   Senior Researcher: starting from €36,000  - €55,000 The salary will be determined based on qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role.  Preferred Start Date: October 2026, or as soon as possible. Application Deadline: Position will remain open until the position is filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.   About the project / position: The Extended Experiences (EX) Multidisciplinary Research Group (MRG) at CYENS Centre of Excellence invites applications for 2 Research Assistant / Research Associate / Senior Researcher positions in the areas of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), Neurotechnology, Artificial Intelligence, and Extended Reality (XR). The successful candidate(s) will contribute to the Horizon Europe project ELEVATE (European Excellence in AI-based Neural Engineering for Capacity Building in Widening Europe), which aims to advance research excellence in neurotechnology, AI, and immersive technologies through interdisciplinary research, innovation, training, and international collaboration.  Neuro-AI, BCIs and brain data represent a rapidly emerging technological domain with profound scientific, societal and economic implications. Unlike other physiological signals, brain data can act as proxies for attention, intention, affect and preference, raising questions not only about data protection but also about mental privacy, identity, human autonomy and non-discrimination. Because neurotechnology is moving from specialised clinical labs into everyday contexts — e.g., workplace monitoring, neurofeedback for mental health, learning enhancement and gaming — Europe urgently needs coordinated capacity to ensure that innovation, safety and rights-based governance evolve together.  The positions offer the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of neural engineering, human-computer interaction, AI, and immersive technologies, while collaborating with leading European partners including the University of Nottingham and the University of Patras, under the supervision of the Director of Research, Prof. Fotis Liarokapis Key Responsibilities: 1. Conduct research in one or more of the following areas:  1. Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI),  2. Neurotechnology and physiological sensing,  3. Neuro-AI and intelligent adaptive systems,  4. Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality (VR/AR/MR)  2. Design, develop, and evaluate novel systems integrating neurotechnology, AI, and immersive technologies.  3. Participate in the collection, processing, and analysis of physiological and behavioural data (e.g., EEG, eye tracking, biometric sensing).  4. Develop research prototypes and demonstrators using modern software and XR development frameworks.  5. Contribute to scientific publications, technical reports, project deliverables, and dissemination activities.  6. Support the overall coordination of the EX MRG in line with the Grant Agreement, Description of Action and Consortium Agreement.  7. Monitor implementation progress across all relevant Work Packages and ensure timely follow-up with partners.  8. Maintain the project workplan, deliverables calendar, milestones tracker, action log, risk register and decision log.  9. Participate in proposal preparation, stakeholder engagement, training activities, and knowledge transfer initiatives.  10. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across academia, industry, and public-sector organisations.  YOUR PROFILE Skills and Competencies The ideal candidate will be: * Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative and work independently. * Strong organizational, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills. * Excellent analytical skills with attention to detail. * Dynamic, adaptable, hands-on, and results-driven. * A team player with the ability to work independently and under pressure. * High levels of commitment, energy, and drive. * Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS Key requirements Essential Requirements 1. Qualifications:  1. Research Assistant Level: B.Sc. or M.Sc. degree from an accredited university in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Extended Reality, Cognitive Science, or a related field.  2. Research Associate Level: Ph.D. degree from an accredited university in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Biomedical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Extended Reality, Neuroscience, or a related field.  3. Senior Researcher Level: Over 5 years of post-doc experience in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Biomedical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Extended Reality, Neuroscience, or a related field.    Essential Research/Academic requirements: 1. Brain-Computer Interfaces (EEG, fNIRS, neurofeedback, neuroadaptive systems)  2. Virtual, Augmented, or Mixed Reality  3. Strong programming skills (e.g., C#, C++, or similar).  4. Strong in bio-signal analysis (e.g., Python, Matlab, etc) 5. Ability to independently identify research problems and contribute to innovative solutions.  6. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.  7. Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary and international research teams.  8. Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.   Desired Qualifications: 1. Physiological computing and bio-signal analysis  2. Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence  3. Unity or Unreal Engine development  4. Human-computer interaction 5. User experience research  6. Experimental design and user studies  7. Responsible AI and ethical aspects of emerging technologies  8. Experience with large multi-partner EU projects 9. Knowledge of quality assurance, risk management, GDPR, ethics or data management in EU projects.  10. Experience working in a research centre, university, innovation organisation or European consortium. WHY US? CYENS offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of research and innovation within a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and international environment. Researchers benefit from collaboration with leading academic and industry partners, participation in high-impact national and European projects, access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, and opportunities for professional growth and scientific excellence. APPLICATION PROCESS For full consideration, interested applicants should submit the following items via the online application form and clearly indicate the position title in their application:   1. Full CV (including contact details). 2. Cover letter outlining:  1. your suitability for the role 2. your motivation for applying;  3. contact details of two referees.  3. Copies of academic transcripts  4. Description of their academic and research experiences as well as any relevant industrial / innovation / entrepreneurship experience, where applicable (500 words maximum). 5. Two (2) representative publications (if applicable). 6. Two (2) representative innovation outcomes / products (if applicable).   Important Information * Incomplete applications will not be considered.  * Applicants who have previously applied for a position at CYENS are required to submit a new application.  * All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.  * CYENS Centre of Excellence is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates worldwide.    CONTACT DETAILS Enquiries  For general enquiries, applicants may contact the HR Department at vacancies@cyens.org.cy.