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

[Mike Fotta]

Well the funding for this position was delayed again, but I now have a contract in hand and will be ready to offer a position starting in the April - May timeframe. 

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.

There may be an opportunity for a graduate student to intern part-time with pay, but no company benefits. 

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