Connectionists: Research Studentship: Information-Driven Self-Organization of Collectives

[Daniel Polani]

RESEARCH STUDENTSHIP
--------------------
University of Hertfordshire, UK
Science and Technology Research Institute

Applications are invited from candidates for a PhD studentship on

	 INFORMATION-DRIVEN SELF-ORGANIZATION OF COLLECTIVES

Contact for informal inquiries: Dr. Daniel Polani
(E-mail: d.polani at herts.ac.uk)

PROJECT AND REQUIREMENTS:
-------------------------

Self-organization of complex adaptive systems is a topic that enjoys a
significant interest in the neural computation and machine learning
community.  Recently, information-theoretic methods have increasingly
proven successful in gaining a principled description and
understanding of such phenomena. This studentship will aim at
developing systematic methods to study and direct the
self-organization of collectives of simple adaptive units and groups
thereof, based on principles from information theory.  Depending on
the candidate's interest and expertise, this may involve, but is not
limited to the study of adaptation and learning algorithms,
developmental mechanisms (e.g. for architecture generation),
unsupervised optimization and adaptation of inter-unit communication
and concept transfer, and/or the development of efficient
approximation techniques and algorithms for the implementation of the
adaptation/learning rules.

The prospective candidates should have a keen interest in contributing
to a rapidly expanding and promising research area which uses
information theory to study and develop adaptive and self-organizing
systems in a systematic fashion. For this, they should have a strong
background in Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Statistics or
another relevant computational discipline. In particular, they should
demonstrate very strong programming skills in one or more major
computer languages. A strong mathematical/numerical background would
be desirable, ideally including probability theory and neural
network/statistical machine learning techniques.

STUDENTSHIP INFORMATION
-----------------------
Successful candidates may be eligible for a research studentship award
from the University (equivalent to £13,290 per annum bursary plus the
payment of the standard UK student fees).

The envisaged research will take place in the vibrant and enthusiastic
research environment of the Science and Technology Research Institute
as a part of the Adaptive Systems Research Group in the School of
Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire. Research in
Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has been
recognized as excellent by the latest Research Assessment Exercise,
with 55% of the research submitted being rated as world leading or
internationally excellent.

The university is located in Hatfield, less than 25 minutes by train
from London Kings Cross and with convenient access to Stansted, Luton
and Heathrow airports and not far from the historic town of St.
Albans.

CONTACT AND APPLICATION
-----------------------
Contact for informal inquiries on the research topic: Dr. Daniel
Polani (E-mail: d.polani at herts.ac.uk)

For further information on the application process and an application
form, contact

Mrs Lorraine Nicholls
Research Student Administrator
STRI, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences
University of Hertfordshire
College Lane, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AB, UK.

Tel: 01707 286083
Fax: 01707 284185

or email:

L.Nicholls at herts.ac.uk

The short-listing process will begin on 20 November 2009. Interviews
will be held in the second week in December.