Job Description

"If you are interested in the application of generative AI and NLP in healthcare, this is the right opportunity for you. Be a part of the team of research and machine learning scientists building different NLP applications, such as RAG and ChatBot from the ground up and get mentored by some of the best minds in AI during the process."


Shadan Golestan, Machine Learning Scientist and Mara Cairo, Product Owner, Advanced Technology

About the Role

This is a paid Residency that will be undertaken over a three month period with the potential to be extended or hired by our client, My Viva, afterwards (note: at the discretion of the client). The resident will report to an Amii Scientist and regularly consult to and work with our partners to share insights and engage in knowledge transfer activities.



Successful candidates will be members of a cross-functional project team with backgrounds in ML research, project management, software engineering, and new product development.

About the Client

At My Viva Inc., we help individuals take control of their health! We have created an innovative digital wellness program called My Viva Plan. We empower individuals to engage their mind, fuel their body, and move their body to help them live their most fulfilling lives. We work with healthcare providers, insurers, and organizations to create win-win situations and empower their employees and clients. By using My Viva Plan, individuals feel more energetic, happier, and engaged in their lives.



Executing a great idea is only possible if you have a dedicated team of people who believe in the vision and are committed to helping achieve it. Our core values are not just words to us; they are our compass. We embrace them with everything we do.



So, if you are...

Brave

and challenge yourself to think outside the box, embrace different perspectives, and try new things

Innovative

in your thinking and push yourself to think of doing things differently

Tenacious

and willing to weather the storms that come with forging new roads and overcoming obstacles to get things done

Compassionate

about our clients and their needs as well as your team members

Passionate

about our vision, your role, and your desire to help others and make a difference

Humbly Confident

and realize that no matter how awesome you are, you are not perfect and will never know it all

...we would like you to join our team!



Find out more about us here: https://discover.myvivaplan.com/about-us/

About the Project

At My Viva Inc., we wish to enhance our products - My Viva Plan and Yaro - with the latest generative AI and LLM techniques.



My Viva Plan (MVPlan) is a comprehensive digital health platform designed to enhance user engagement and improve health outcomes. MVPlan provides personalized health guidance by integrating nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being support into a unified program. The platform leverages advanced data analytics to track user progress and optimize health plans, ensuring tailored recommendations for each individual. MVPlan aims to empower individuals to take control of their health, promoting sustainable behavior change through innovative, patient-centered solutions. The platform's design focuses on making health management accessible and engaging, helping users build healthier habits and achieve their wellness goals.



Yaro is designed to enhance health engagement by providing a conversational health buddy that uses AR/3D avatars to guide users through programs, reward successes, and offer personalized advice. By incorporating gamification, users can customize Yaro and its environment, fostering a personal connection and increased engagement. Leveraging AR, AI, and chatbot technologies, Yaro aims to improve adherence to health programs and support broader health journeys. AR and AI advancements through Yaro enhance user immersion and engagement, crucial for mental health support. Self-management technologies like Yaro have shown effectiveness in reducing complications and healthcare costs. Yaro integrates AR and NLP to provide personalized guidance, addressing various health components.



Future directions for Yaro include expanding health pillars, integrating health device data, developing emotion detection, and enhancing user interaction. This approach aims to increase client adherence, attract new users, and provide valuable data for research, positioning Yaro as a disruptive force in the digital health market.

Required Skills / Expertise

Are you passionate about building great solutions? You'll be presented with opportunities to both personally and professionally develop as you build your career. We're looking for a talented and enthusiastic individual with a solid background in machine learning and Natural Language Processing, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs).

Key Responsibilities:

Perform exploratory data analysis Develop an application for interacting with internal proprietary data to perform Retrieval-Augmented-Generation (RAG), leveraging multiple open-source Large Language Models (LLMs) Perform prompt engineering with different LLMs , evaluate the performance and establish baseline Fine-tune LLMs if necessary based on the performance of baseline Develop a Proof of concept (POC) app so the model can be easily tested on different datasets Collaborate with project team and stakeholders to develop MVP and client focused solutions Participate in regular meetings with the client, preparing presentations and reports

Required Qualifications:

Completion of a Computing Science, Electrical Engineering (or a related graduate program) with a specialization in NLP or Generative AI, MSc. or PhD Familiarity with and hands-on experience with the state-of-the-art open-source LLMs (e.g., through HuggingFace) Experience using NLP tools and techniques Proficient in developing and training, fine-tuning and evaluating deep neural network models in PyTorch and/or TensorFlow Proficient in Python programming language and related ML frameworks, libraries and toolkits Familiarity with linux, Git version control, and writing clean code A positive attitude towards learning and understanding a new applied domain Must be legally eligible to work in Canada

Preferred Qualifications:

Full-stack developer experience in both frontend and backend (e.g., JavaScript, HTML/CSS, Java) Publication record in peer-reviewed academic conferences or relevant journals in machine learning (specifically NLP or Generative AI) Familiarity with Kubernetes, Mlflow or weights and bias

Non-Technical Requirements:

Desire to take ownership of a problem and demonstrated leadership skills Interdisciplinary team player enthusiastic about working together to achieve excellence Capable of critical and independent thought Able to communicate technical concepts clearly and advise on the application of machine intelligence Intellectual curiosity and the desire to learn new things, techniques, and technologies

Why You Should Apply

Besides gaining industry experience, additional perks include:


Work under the mentorship of an Amii Scientist for the duration of the project Participate in professional development activities Gain access to the Amii community and events Get paid for your work (a fair and equitable rate of pay will be negotiated at the time of offer) Build your professional network The opportunity for an ongoing machine learning role at the client's organization at the end of the term (at the client's discretion)

About Amii

One of Canada's three main institutes for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, our world-renowned researchers drive fundamental and applied research at the University of Alberta (and other academic institutions), training some of the world's top scientific talent. Our cross-functional teams work collaboratively with Alberta-based businesses and organizations to build AI capacity and translate scientific advancement into industry adoption and economic impact.

How to Apply

If this sounds like the opportunity you've been waiting for, please don't wait for the closing September 12, 2025 to apply - we're excited to add a new member to the Amii team for this role, and the posting may come down sooner than the closing date if we find the right candidate before the posting closes! When sending your application, please send your

resume and cover letter

indicating why you think you'd be a fit for Amii. In your cover letter, please include one professional accomplishment you are most proud of and why.

Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada at the time of application.

Amii is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability. Accommodations for disability-related needs throughout the recruitment and selection process are available upon request. Any information provided by you for accommodations will be kept confidential and won't be used in the selection process.