[ACT-R-users] Human Error Architecture Job Listing

[Mike Fotta]

I orginially posted this in September but the funding was delayed until
next month - January 2005. 

Systems Engineer for Human Error Modeling for Error Tolerant Systems
(HEMETS) Small Business Innovative Research project

HEMETS 
The interaction of humans with computers in environments which are
increasingly information rich and demand fast decision time yields
errors when human capabilities and limitations are not designed into a
system. These "human errors" can lead to serious and even deadly
consequences, such as friendly-fire incidents during combat. If
knowledge of the cause of human errors resulting from a particular
design were available to the system designers before implementing a
system, then the design could be modified or an alternative design
chosen to reduce or remove these errors, or at least enable recovery
from the errors. One method to provide such knowledge is the development
of software which can both simulate human performance given a system
design and predict the errors likely to occur from this design. 

In order to develop such a tool, D.N. American is undertaking the
development of a computational Human Error Modeling tool for Error
Tolerant Systems (HEMETS). This is an extension of previous work in
which we successfully designed the Human Error Modeling Architecture
(HEMA) which provides the core component of HEMETS. HEMA is built upon
ACT-R and, utilizing an analysis of research in human errors,
established a cognitive architecture for human error modeling. HEMETS
will utilize HEMA to assess a wide variety of designs. 

There are a number of challenges to develop a functional HEMETS. Some of
these are:
1.	Extending ACT-R to incorporate the error modeling aspects needed
to implement HEMA.
2.	Developing an easily-used, reusable method to interface HEMETS
to system simulations.
3.	Tracking the activities of HEMA to determine the cause(s) of
error resulting from a system design.
4.	Developing an automated output which communicates the likely
operator errors resulting from a system design and offers
recommendations to improving the design.  

This work is funded under an Office of Naval Research (ONR) Small
Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant. 

Candidate Capabilities
1.	Experience with LISP programming: either a minimum of 1 year on
the job experience or graduate school experience which used LISP
programming, preferably in modeling some aspect of human cognition or
behavior.
2.	B.S. Computer Science with experience, or M.S. /PhD. Computer or
Cognitive Science.
3.	Experience with ACT-R cognitive architecture; experience with
other cognitive architectures will be considered. 
4.	Self-starter, independent worker capable of creative approaches.
5.	Good communication skills, especially technical writing.


Job Duties:
1.	Develop detailed design of Human Error Modeling Architecture
(HEMA) and HEMETS components.
2.	Implement HEMA as extensions and additions to ACT-R.  
3.	Design human studies to validate HEMETS error predictions.
4.	Work with consultant and PI to insure HEMA integrates with
interface to system simulations.
5.	Design an automated subsystem which both explains error cause
due to a proposed system design and offers recommendations to eliminate
or reduce those errors.
6.	Develop technical papers and presentations for customer (ONR)
and cognitive modeling community.

This position gives an individual the opportunity to do post-doctoral
type work with the pay and benefits of a thriving small company. 

Application
Applicants should email a resume to mike.fotta at dnamerican.com 

D.N. American is a small but growing business with working relationships
to major corporations, government agencies, and academic and research
institutions. D.N. American offers competitive salaries, vacations,
educational support and full benefits (medical, dental and life
insurance, 401 K plan with company matching). For further information
visit http://dnamerican.com  

Michael E. Fotta, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
D.N. American
(304) - 363 - 6757
mike.fotta at dnamerican.com