[DMANET] PhD Opportunity – Mathematics of Deep Bilevel Learning (University of Southampton)

Dear colleagues,
I am pleased to announce a fully funded 4-year PhD position at the School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Southampton (UK), starting 1 October 2026.
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📌 Project Title: The Mathematics of Deep Bilevel Learning
Project Summary
Deep learning has been a driving force behind the rapid progress of AI for more than a decade, culminating recently in the success of large language models powered by transformer architectures—a class of deep neural networks. In parallel, bilevel optimization has emerged as a powerful framework for modeling complex machine learning tasks, giving rise to what we refer to as deep bilevel learning. This PhD project will investigate the mathematical foundations of deep bilevel learning, with the goal of uncovering structural properties that can be exploited to design more efficient, robust, and explainable learning algorithms. The results have the potential to influence the next generation of AI systems and advance theory at the intersection of optimization, machine learning, and deep learning.
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🎓 Supervisors

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Professor Alain Zemkoho, University of Southampton (project lead; bilevel optimization)
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Professor Massimiliano Pontil, University College London & Italian Institute of Technology (machine/deep learning)

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💡 Candidate Profile

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Applicants should have a strong background in optimization, applied mathematics, and/or machine learning.
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Open to UK and international students (fees covered at UK rate).

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💰 Funding & Benefits

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£20,760/year stipend (~£1,730/month, tax-free)
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Support for conferences and potential stays at UCL and the Italian Institute of Technology
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Optional paid part-time teaching assistantship
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Funding provided by DAS Ltd and the EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award (Collaborative Studentships Scheme)

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📅 Key Dates

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Application deadline: 9 January 2026
(interviews may take place on a rolling basis until the position is filled)
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Start date: 1 October 2026
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Duration: 4 years

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How to apply:
👉 https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPQ619/phd-opportunity-the-mathematics-of-deep-bilevel-learning
For informal enquiries:
📩 a.b.zemkoho@soton.ac.uk
I would be grateful if you could circulate this opportunity to suitable candidates or share it within relevant networks.
Best wishes,
Professor Alain Zemkoho
School of Mathematical Sciences
University of Southampton
http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~abz1e14<http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~abz1e14/>

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