[ACT-R-users] Two open positions in spatial cognition: junior researcher / teaching assistant

[Holger Schultheis]

Apologies for multiple postings

         Please distribute to anyone who may be interested

###################### Position 1 ######################

Postgraduate Position: Junior Researcher & Teaching Assistant SFB/TR 8
Spatial Cognition, Universität Bremen Project R1-[ImageSpace] - Mental
Representations of Spatial Environments
- Under the condition of job release / reference number: A 172/07 -


Project Description:
Mental reasoning about spatial environments often involves specific and
task-sensitive spatio-analogical or quasi-pictorial mental
representations. Mental processes dynamically construct and explore
these representations to obtain desired spatial information and they do
so with restricted working memory capacities. One goal of the project
R1-[ImageSpace] is to build a cognitive architecture which comprises the
components and processes necessary to accurately model human spatial
cognition. A second focus is on how to best employ such architectures in
applications that assist humans in spatial cognition tasks (e.g., in
architectural design and spatial planning). Eye tracking and other
behavioral methods are used to clarify the theoretical basis of the
modeling (such as the role of visual attention in mental spatial
reasoning). In addition, eye tracking methods are employed in
the developed application systems. More information on the project can
be found at www.sfbtr8.spatial-cognition.de/project/r1/

Qualifications:
Successful applicants will have expertise in computer science /
artificial intelligence and cognitive science and will hold an excellent
master or diploma degree in computer science, cognitive science, or a
related field. They will be committed to interdisciplinary, team-based
research and be fluent in spoken and written English.

Ideally, an applicant will also have good knowledge of / expertise in
more than one of the following areas: mental representations and
processes in human spatial cognition and visual perception; visual
attention; eye movement tracking; qualitative spatial reasoning;
architectural design / design studies; human problem solving;
human-computer interaction; user interface design. Additional training
will be provided on the job.

Work profile:
* Applying cognitive models to spatial reasoning assistance scenarios.
* Contributing to conceptual and computational modeling of mental and
diagrammatic reasoning about space.
* Managing a visual perception & diagrammatic reasoning lab, including
eye tracking facilities.
* Teaching assistance for undergraduate and graduate courses.
* Preparing manuscripts for publication in international journals / at
conferences.

The successful applicant is expected to work on obtaining a doctoral
degree in the scope of this position.

Conditions of Employment:
Salary is according to the German Federal pay scale (TV-L 13, approx.
EUR 34,000 p.a.). The position is available from April 2008 until the
end of 2010. Extension is possible. Application deadline: 1. February
2008 (or until a suitable candidate is found).

As the University of Bremen intends to increase the proportion of female
employees in science women are particularly encouraged to apply.

In case of equal personal aptitudes and qualification disabled persons
will be given priority.

Please address questions about the position and send your application
under the reference number (preferably by email) to:

Sven Bertel <bertel at informatik.uni-bremen.de> SFB/TR 8 Spatial Cognition
Universität Bremen P.O. Box 330 440
28334 Bremen / Germany

For a paper-based application, please make sure to only send document
copies as all received application material will be destroyed after the
selection process.

Sven Bertel
email | bertel at informatik.uni-bremen.de
http | www.cosy.informatik.uni-bremen.de/staff/bertel
address | Universität Bremen,
FB3 / Cognitive Systems
PO Box 330 440, D-28334 Bremen,
Germany phone  +49 421 218-64235,
fax | +49 421 218-98-64235 office
CARTESIUM 3.47 @ 53°06'21" N 8°51'18" E



###################### Position 2 ######################
           Postgraduate Position / Junior Researcher
        SFB/TR 8 Spatial Cognition, Universität Bremen
Project R1-[ImageSpace] Mental Representations of Spatial Environments
           - under the condition of job release-


Project Description:
Mental reasoning about spatial environments often uses spatio-analogical
or quasipictorial representation structures. As human working memory for
spatio-analogical knowledge processing is severely restricted in
capacity, mental processes dynamically construct and explore
task-sensitive representations to obtain desired spatial information.
One goal of the project is to build a cognitive architecture comprising
all components and processes necessary to accurately model human spatial
cognition. A second research strand of the project concerns how to best
employ such an architecture in applications assisting humans in spatial
cognition tasks (e.g., architectural design and spatial planning). More
information on the project can be found at
www.sfbtr8.spatial-cognition.de/project/r1/


Duties:
* planning / designing and conducting experiments
* (statistical) analysis of experimental data
* help in devising cognitive models
* preparing manuscripts for publication in international journals and
conferences

The successful applicant is expected to work on obtaining a doctoral
degree in the scope of this position.

Required Qualification:
* an excellent master or diploma degree in psychology or a related field
* detailed knowledge of experimental methodology including, in
particular, statistical analysis
* fluency in spoken and written English

Ideally the candidate should have good data handling skills, computer
skills (e.g. MATLAB, SPSS, SAS, Stimulus Presentation Softwares), and
knowledge about mental representations and processes involved in human
spatial cognition.

As the University of Bremen intends to increase the proportion of female
employees in science women are particularly encouraged to apply.
In case of equal personal aptitudes and qualification disabled persons
will be given priority.

Conditions of Employment:
Salary is according to the German Federal pay scale (1/2 TV-L 13,
approx. € 17,000). The position is available from April 2008 until the
end of 2010. Extension is possible. Application deadline: 1. February
2008 (or until a suitable candidate is found). 

Please address questions about the position and send your application
(preferably by email) to:

Holger Schultheis <schulth at informatik.uni-bremen.de>
SFB/TR 8 Spatial Cognition
Universität Bremen
P.O. Box 330 440
28334 Bremen / Germany