[agents] PhD candidate, Multi-Agent-based Social Simulation, HES-SO Valais, Switzerland

[René Schumann]

The  Smart Infrastructure Laboratory at the Institute of Information System, School of Management and Tourism, University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland (HES-SO) in Sierre, Valais, Switzerland is looking for:

PhD candidate in Agent-based social simulation
* 2+ option for 2 more years contract, 80% (approx. 32h/week, competitive salary)
* Beginning earliest May 2015

Your Role
The successful candidate will participate in research activities of the eEnergyCenter under the supervision of Prof. Dr. René Schumann. The PhD will be given by a university partner, with whom a good relationship already exits.

The goal of the PhD project is to investigate the potential of agent-based simulation in the evaluation of business models. In the current changes in the energy industry the business models of existing companies are challenged, and new business models needs to be identified. The goal of the research is to evaluate the potential for social simulation in the evaluation process of potential new business models. Preferable the models should be based on established framework for Multi-Agent based Social Simulation, like Repast or NetLogo, for instance. 

The research will be conducted at the HES-SO Valais / Wallis, but is supposed to be in collaboration with research partners from the interdisciplinary Swiss Competence Center for Research in Energy, Society and Transition (SCCER-CREST). Therefore it requires both a strong background in Multi-Agent Systems, in particular Multi-agent based Simulation, but also an active interest in interdisciplinary work, in particular management and economic aspects for the project at hand. 


The tasks for the PhD student will be to:
* Proactively push the existing research project, in which context the PhD will be written
* Write a doctoral dissertation
* Disseminate results through scientific publications
* Participate in the acquisition of additional funding, related to the research project

Your Profile
* A Master degree in Computer Science or a related discipline
* Pre-existing experience in the field of agent-based social simulation
* A proven interest in Interest in interdisciplinary research
* Very good written and oral English skills, and a good knowledge of German or French

Further Information
Applications should be written in English and include the following documents:

* An introduction letter indicating your motivation,
* A detailed Curriculum vitae
* A transcript of the grades you received in your Bachelor and Master
* A short description of your master thesis (1 page)

Please send your application until the 3rd of April to 
- HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Service des Ressources humaines, Route du Rawyl 47, 1950 Sion 2,
- or via e-mail to Prof. Dr. René Schumann, rene.schumann at hevs.ch

For further inquiries please contact:
- Prof. Dr. René Schumann, rene.schumann at hevs.ch