Postdoc -- Reinforcement Learning & Finance

[Moody Lab]

                INTERNATIONAL COMPUTER SCIENCE INSTITUTE
                          Berkeley & Portland

                    Post-Doc / Research Scientist in 
                Machine Learning & Computational Finance

            Preferred Start Dates: September - December 2004


DESCRIPTION:

The International Computer Science Institute (ICSI) invites applications
for a one to two year Post-Doctoral Fellow or Research Scientist
position that is part of a project directed by Prof. John Moody and
funded by the National Science Foundation entitled "Risk, Reward and
Reinforcement".  This interdisciplinary investigation is exploring
powerful, new algorithms for Direct Reinforcement and the application of
these algorithms to games, multi-agent systems and important, real-world
financial problems.  Activities include fundamental algorithms research,
extensive simulation and empirical testing.  Substantial financial
market data resources under development at ICSI are available for
application prototype development. The goals are to create highly
effective and efficient algorithms for Direct Reinforcement that can
discover robust solutions to challenging, dynamic, real-world problems.

ICSI is an independent, nonprofit research institute with headquarters
in Berkeley, California. It is closely affiliated with the University of
California at Berkeley.  ICSI is funded by the U.S. and several European
governments, and brings together top researchers from participating
countries.  This ICSI project will be based in Portland, Oregon, which
offers exceptional quality of life and was recently named America's
"Best Big City". See http://www.moneymag.com/best/bplive/portland.html .
The successful candidate will have opportunities to interact with
researchers at ICSI, UC Berkeley, and other leading Northwest and West
Coast universities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Candidates must have a Ph.D. or comparable research experience in
computer science, an engineering, physical or mathematical science or a
quantitative social science such as economics or finance.  Strong
mathematical, statistical and computational skills are required.
Ideally, applicants should have expertise in two or more of the
following topics: machine learning (especially reinforcement learning),
Monte Carlo methods, nonparametric statistics, time series analysis,
optimization, control engineering or quantitative finance. Preference
will be given to candidates who are about to complete or have completed
a Ph.D. within the past three years. Exceptionally well-qualified non-
Ph.D. candidates with three to five years of relevant professional
experience may also be considered.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Interested individuals should email a curriculum vitae, up to three
representative publications, names / phones / emails of three to five
references and a cover note describing research interests, professional
goals and availability.  Please submit materials to:

        Cordelia Nwaekwe, Assistant to Professor Moody        
        Email: moodylab at icsi.berkeley.edu
        URL:   www.icsi.berkeley.edu/~moody/
        
Applications submitted on or before August 31, 2004 will receive
priority consideration. We will continue considering candidates until
the position is filled. Applicants should be available to begin a one
year position between September 1, 2004 and January 1, 2005.  Extension
to a second year and beyond will depend upon performance in year one and
procurement of additional funding. ICSI is an equal opportunity
employer; minorities and women are encouraged to apply.