[ACT-R-users] ACT-R Related Position

[Mike Fotta]

Sorry for a double posting for some, but I have received replies that my attachment was embedded in message as garbage for some (I believe if you signed up for 'digest' option). So I am putting job description in the body this time. 
 
I will be beginning an Office of Naval Research Phase 2 Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) this fall and am in need of a research associate (which comes under systems engineer job category in my company).  A job description including capabilities needed, job duties and a brief description of the project is shown below. If you are interested please send me a resume; if you know of anyone please forward this email.
Thanks,
Mike
 
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 built upon ACT-R and, utilizing an analysis of research in human errors, established a cognitive architecture for human error modeling - HEMA. 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.
6.	Experience in parallel programming is desired but not necessary.
 
Job Duties:
1.	Work with team to complete detailed design of Human Error Modeling Architecture (HEMA) and HEMETS components.
2.	Implement HEMA as extensions and additions to ACT-R.  
3.	Work with team to design human studies to validate HEMETS error predictions.
4.	Work with consultant and PI to insure HEMA integrates with interface to system simulations.
5.	Work with team to 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.	Work with team to develop technical papers and presentations for customer (ONR) and cognitive modeling community.
 
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 <http://dnamerican.com/>   
 
The position is in Fairmont WV which is 1 ½ hrs south of Pittsburgh, PA, about 3 ½ hrs. east of Washington DC. Morgantown, WV, home to 25,000 student West Virginia University is 30 minutes north.    
 
 
 
 
Michael E. Fotta, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
D.N. American
(304) - 363 - 6757
mike.fotta at dnamerican.com
 
 
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