[agents] JOBS: 2 PhD/postdoc positions in normative & value-based reasoning

Wed Jan 25 04:30:12 EST 2017

** JOB OPENING - Deadline approaching! **
** TWO PhD/Postdoc POSITIONS **
** NORMATIVE AND VALUE-BASED REASONING FOR SOCIALLY ADAPTIVE SOFTWARE ** 
** with Dr. M. Birna van Riemsdijk and Prof. Dr. Catholijn Jonker, Delft University of Technology **
** Deadline for application: January 31st, 2017 **

JOB DESCRIPTION

The purpose of this email is to solicit applications for one PhD and one postdoc position (PhD: 4 years, postdoc: 2 years), attached to the NWO Vidi grant obtained by Birna van Riemsdijk. Vidi is a highly competitive grant programme that funds innovative lines of research. Birna van Riemsdijk was awarded the Dutch Award for ICT research 2014.

The project is entitled Computational Reasoning for Socially Adaptive Electronic Partners (CoreSAEP). The vision underlying the project has been outlined in a publication in the AAMAS "Blue Sky Ideas" track in 2015 (http://ii.tudelft.nl/~birna/publications/2015/riemsdijk15aamassaep.pdf). The research lies in the intersection of theoretical computer science (formal semantics, temporal logic) and multi-agent systems (agent programming, normative systems). The overall aim of the project is to develop a reasoning framework that combines logic and quantitative techniques for Socially Adaptive Electronic Partners (SAEPs) that adapt their behavior to norms and values of people. This becomes more and more important as technology becomes an integral part of our daily lives. The computational reasoning techniques are aimed at determining when and to what extent norm-compliance can be guaranteed, and deciding what to do if in exceptional situations a norm cannot or should not be complied with. We will implement the reasoning framework to evaluate its run-time behavior. We develop the reasoning techniques through a scenario-based approach in cooperation with users and other stakeholders, grounding the formal work in real-world use cases. 

The associated research posts will be in the following areas:

POST 1 - formal semantics, temporal logic & normative agents (vacancy number: EWI2016-61)
POST 2 - quantitative reasoning, logic & normative agents (vacancy number: EWI2016-60)

More information on the project and the team you will be working in, can be found on http://ii.tudelft.nl/~birna/projects/CoreSAEP.html. For further information about the positions, please contact Birna van Riemsdijk via email (m.b.vanriemsdijk at tudelft.nl).

Salary for a PhD position is EUR2191 to EUR2801 per month gross, and for a postdoc position EUR2552 to EUR4028 per month gross.

REQUIREMENTS

The applicant:
* Has a Master's degree in computer science or artificial intelligence. If applying for a postdoc, a PhD is also required.
* Has good command of the English language.
* Has strong (formal) modelling skills.
* Has strong organizational skills and affinity for a scenario-based research approach.
* Has a willingness to try new things and learn from others, has an eye for detail, and stamina.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications will be accepted until all positions have been filled. The first round of interviews will be conducted based on applications received before *** January 31st 2017 ***.

To apply, please submit the following application material to Hr-eemcs at tudelft.nl and state the vacancy number in the subject line of the email:

(1) Curriculum Vitae (with publications if you have any).
(2) Course lists with grades and degree certificates
(3) A letter of application in which you explain both your motivation and the relevance of your skills and experience for this research project. The motivational letter should be on-topic, generic letters will cause your application to be rejected immediately.
(4) A list of 3 (academic) references that we can contact
(5) When applying for a PhD position: your MSc thesis in English (or alternatively if your MSc thesis is not in English, a 5-page summary of your MSc thesis in English). When applying for the postdoc position: a copy of your PhD thesis (or a draft thereof) and a detailed list of your publications.

-----------------------------
Dr. M. Birna van Riemsdijk
assistant professor
Interactive Intelligence Group
Department of Intelligent Systems
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
Delft University of Technology
Mekelweg 4
2628 CD Delft
The Netherlands
Room: HB 12.040
Telephone: +31 (0)15 2786331
Website: http://ii.tudelft.nl/~birna/
Twitter: @mbirna