[agents] PhD project Agent Technology at Utrecht University

[Henry Prakken]

(Apologies for multiple postings)

PhD student Agent Technology

The Intelligent Systems group of Utrecht University has acquired funding 
from The Dutch Research Council NWO for a four-year PhD project titled 
"Agents Interacting in Dialogues with Argumentation".

* PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project concerns the following problem. The world of software 
systems increasingly consists of autonomous artificial agents 
interacting in open, dynamic and unpredictable environments, such as the 
Internet. In such environments it is often impossible to predict all 
interactions the agents will have so that a centralised architecture is 
not feasible. Therefore, the agents' interactive behaviour must become 
more intelligent and flexible. For this reason, intelligent 
communicative interaction between artificial agents is a key research 
issue in artificial intelligence and agent technology. Communication 
languages, protocols and strategies have been studied for various types 
of agent interaction, such as information exchange, negotiation, and 
collaborative problem solving.

In this field there is a particularly marked interest in the role of 
argumentation, i.e., the process in which agents present arguments in 
support of their own opinions or in attack of those of other agents. 
Argumentation is often claimed to promote more efficient dialogues or 
dia­logues with better outcomes. However, so far there has been little 
research on whether these advantages of argumentation indeed obtain.

This research project aims to fill this gap. The main research question 
therefore is: is the use of argumentation in dialogical interaction 
between artificial agents be­ne­ficial for the agents or the community 
in which they operate? This question will be answered with systematic 
simulation experiments, in which forms of interaction with and without 
argumentation will be compared on their efficiency and quality of 
outcome. The research will thus contribute to a computational theory of 
effective communication between intelligent artificial agents.

* REQUIREMENTS:

The candidate should have a Msc Degree in Computer Science or Artificial 
Intelligence, good programming skills, and an interest in multi-agent 
systems research, both from a formal and a computational perspective.

* CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000
Salaryscale 10.
Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 years
Maximum hours per week: 38

Additional conditions of employment:
The candidate is offered a full-time position for four years. The gross 
salary is in the range between € 2,000.- per month in the first year and 
€ 2,558.- per month in the fourth year of appointment.

The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year 
bonus of 6,4% per year. In addition we offer: a pension scheme, a 
partially paid parental leave, flexible employment conditions in which 
you may trade salary for vacation days or vice versa. Conditions are 
based on the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities. 
The research group will provide the candidate with necessary support on 
all aspects of the project.

* ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from Prof.Dr. 
H. (Henry) Prakken, email henry at cs.uu.nl, phone +31-30-2532313 (not on 
Thursdays)
For more information on the Intelligent Systems group and its research 
on Agent Technology, please visit www.cs.uu.nl/groups/IS/
The text of this vacancy can also be found at 
www.academictransfer.org/00351-1645

* HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please send your application before 12-09-2008 to:

Faculty of Science
Personnel Department
Budapestlaan 6
3584 CD Utrecht
The Netherlands

or by email to Science.PenO at cs.uu.nl
Please send your application including a letter of motivation, 
curriculum vitae and contact details of at least two references.

When applying for this job always mention the vacancy number 62812.