Machine Leren voor Gestructureerde Data

Machine Learning for Structured Data

Studiewijzer 2025/2026

Globale inhoud

This course prepares you for handling structured inputs and outputs in deep machine learning applications. Real-world data is complex but highly structured. Natural language is organized hierarchically into units such as sentences, phrases, and words. Natural images show objects in various spatial relationships to each other. Our very DNA is made up of small discrete units that combine in complex ways. In all these cases, long-distance dependencies and constraints are essential. This course will prepare you to use machine learning and deep neural networks to model complex, structured phenomena. By marrying machine learning with models of symbolic, global structure, we get hybrid approaches that are the best of both words.

In standard (unstructured) ML, the focus is on classification and regression problems from vector representations of data. This course covers both main situations where structure enters a model:

• Structured inputs. Build predictive ML systems that make use of the known structure of the input data, like for social networks, documents, images.
• Structured outputs. Build systems that can output structured objects: alignments between proteins, syntactic parsing of language, object segmentation in images.

We will study models, learning algorithms, and evaluation methods for handling structured inputs and outputs in machine learning.

Leerdoelen

• Select appropriate structured representation for complex data: graphs, trees, sequences, grids, alignments, as encountered in language, vision, and biology applications.
• Design machine learning models for such structured data.
• Evaluate performance on structured data: beyond accuracy.
• Model relational data using structured neural networks such as Graph Neural Networks and Transformers.
• Implement algorithms for finding optimal structures: e.g., Viterbi variants
• Characterize probability distributions over structures.
• Formulate and solve structured and discrete optimization problems with the (integer) linear programming framework.
• Argue for or against using structured models and representations depending on application, (including big-O complexity arguments, representation power, etc.)

Onderwijsvormen

• Hoorcollege
• Laptopcollege
• Zelfstudie
• Begeleiding/feedbackmoment

In lectures, acquire and discuss new material.

In laptopcolleges, work on practical coding implementations and review material with TAs, as well as get feedback on work done and assignments.

In self-study, finish homework and theory quizzes and review materials to prepare for discussions.

Verdeling leeractiviteiten

Aanwezigheid

Aanwezigheidseisen opleiding (OER-B Artikel B-4.10):

• Voor sommige studieonderdelen geldt een aanwezigheidsplicht. Indien er een aanwezigheidsplicht geldt, dan staat dit aangegeven in de studiegids. De onderbouwing voor, en invulling van, deze aanwezigheidsplicht kan per vak verschillen, en is opgenomen in de studiewijzer. Wanneer studenten niet voldoen aan deze aanwezigheidsplicht kan het onderdeel niet met een voldoende worden afgerond.
  

Toetsing

In addition to the standard threshold on the final grade (per OER),  we also require

• minimum of 5/10 required for the exam before any rounding
• minimum assignment grade of 5/10 before any rounding (including quiz grade, weighted as described)

Grade calculations are performed on precise (unrounded) grades with the full available precision. Just the final grade is rounded to halves.

Inzage toetsing

For exam via ans.app; for assignments in the next laptopcollege.

Opdrachten

Individual assignments, graded.

Feedback via lab sessions.

Fraude en plagiaat

Dit vak hanteert de algemene 'Fraude- en plagiaatregeling' van de UvA. Hier wordt nauwkeurig op gecontroleerd. Bij verdenking van fraude of plagiaat wordt de examencommissie van de opleiding ingeschakeld. Zie de Fraude- en plagiaatregeling van de UvA: http://student.uva.nl

Weekplanning

Contactinformatie

Coördinator

• dr. Vlad Niculae

Docenten

• Melika Davood Zadeh
• Maya Nachesa