[agents] PhD Offer on Self-adaptation for Robust Multi-agent Systems

[Juan Antonio Rodriguez]

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PhD Offer on Self-adaptation for Robust Multi-agent Systems
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The Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (IIIA) offers a four-year PhD
scholarship for a student pursuing a full-time PhD degree in Artificial
Intelligence in the area of multi-agent systems (MAS). More concretely, the
applicant work will focus on developing formal techniques and algorithms for agents
to self-configure and re-configure to jointly achieve tasks. The PhD thesis will
continue the work previously developed by the team and already published in several
international conferences and journals. In previous work we explored how to
optimally form supply chains of agents making use of graph theory and Petri nets.
The work to carry out by the PhD candidate will continue this research based on
graphical formalisms. The main purpose will be to endow a MAS with self-adapting
capabilities. These will allow a MAS to cope with stochastic events so that it can
quickly mend its operation and continue to achieve its goals.

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Environment
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The student will be integrated in a Spanish large project on AGREEMENT TECHNOLOGIES
involving more than 50 researchers in computer science at IIIA-CSIC (Prof. Carles
Sierra), Universitat Politècnica de València (Prof. Vicent Botti) and University
Rey Juan Carlos I (Prof. Sascha Ossowski). 

The IIIA belongs to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain’s largest
public institution devoted to research and technological development. The IIIA is a
leading research centre in Europe in the areas of multiagent systems (Prof. Carles
Sierra), machine learning (Prof. Ramon López de Mántaras and Prof. Enric Plaza),
and uncertainty reasoning (Prof. Francesc Esteva and Prof. Lluís Godo). It attracts
funding from the European, Spanish, and Catalan governments and has substantial
collaborative research projects with industry. The IIIA is located in the campus of
the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and leads the university’s master and
doctoral studies in artificial intelligence.

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Requirements
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Candidates are required to hold (or be about to complete) a high-quality degree in
Maths or Computer Science, be willing to work on formal/mathematical aspects, have
good communication skills in English, and be able to demonstrate strong motivation
to conduct research. The candidates must be EU Nationals or otherwise have a
residence and/or working permit in Spain.  

Experience on optimization (especially combinatorial), computational complexity,
and software design and programming, although not mandatory, will be considered
favourably.

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Stipend
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The annual salary is 21000 EUR per year before taxes and includes health insurance.
In addition, generous allowances are given to support presentation of work at
international conferences and to attend seminars and tutorials. Scholarships are
conditional on satisfactory progress, which is reviewed every year.

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Deadline
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Closing date for application: December 31, 2008.

For further information contact Dr. Juan A. Rodríguez-Aguilar (jar at iiia.csic.es) or
Dr. Jesús Cerquides  (cerquide at maia.ub.es).