Postdoc in LLM Factuality Detection

We are seeking to recruit a postdoctoral researcher within Natural Language Processing to work on the project “A Mechanistic Framework for Mitigating the Susceptibility of LLMs to Learning False Information” funded by Independent Research Foundation Denmark, led by Isabelle Augenstein and Pepa Atanasova. The project goal’s will be to develop a novel theoretical frameworks for LLM security, new mechanistic interpretability methods, and new evaluation protocols, developed through research at the intersection of Natural Language Processing, LLM Security, and Explainable AI. The postdoc’s duties will be to characterise the spectrum of false information used by LLMs at different stages of their life cycle, in order to develop mitigation methods and prevent false information attacks on LLMs. In addition to the PIs and the postdoctoral researcher, the team also includes a postdoctoral researcher, as well as the opportunity to apply as an academic collaborator with NVIDIA as part of an existing relationship.

The postdoc’s duties will also to a smaller degree include teaching and supervision.
 

Who are we looking for?

Applicants should hold a PhD degree or equivalent in Computer Science or a related field, and have good written and oral English skills. The assessment of qualifications will also be made based on previous scientific publications and relevant work experience. The ideal candidate would have an educational background, prior research or work experience on Natural Language Processing, LLM Security, and/or Explainable AI.  
 

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

The successful candidate will join the CopeNLU group at the University of Copenhagen. CopeNLU is a vibrant and collaborative research group led by Isabelle Augenstein and Pepa Atanasova with a focus on fair and accountable NLP. We are interested in core methodology research on interpretability, explainability and bias detection; as well as applications to tasks such as fact checking and cross-cultural learning. With a strong focus on both foundational and applied research, we provide a platform for exploring cutting-edge topics in NLP, while also emphasising the importance of transparent and responsible AI development.

We are affiliated with the Pioneer Centre for AI at the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen, located in central Copenhagen. The Pioneer Centre focuses on fundamental AI research, and within an interdisciplinary framework, develops platforms, methods, and practices that address society’s greatest challenges. It consists of seven AI research themes, with one being Speech and Language. The Natural Language Processing research environment at the University of Copenhagen is internationally leading, as e.g. evidenced by it being ranked second in Europe according to CSRankings. Further information about research at the Department is available here: https://di.ku.dk/english/research/.

The position is open from 1 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter, and will be offered for three years.

Terms of employment

The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

1. Cover Letter detailing your motivation and background for applying for this position;
2. Research plan – description of current and future research plans;
3. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position;
4. Diplomas (Master’s and PhD degree or equivalent);
5. Complete publication list;
6. Separate reprints of 3 particularly relevant papers;
7. Names and contact details of three references.

Application deadline
The deadline for applications is 31 May 2026, 23:59 GMT +1.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee. You will be notified about whether your application will be selected for assessment.

The assessors will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above-mentioned research area, skills and other requirements. The assessors will conclude whether each applicant is qualified. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessments. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in Weeks 25 and 26 (15-26 June 2026).

Questions
Inquiries about the position can be made to Isabelle Augenstein <augenstein@di.ku.dk> and Pepa Atanasova <pepa@di.ku.dk>.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.