[ACT-R-users] Open PhD position at University of Groningen

Tue May 11 05:45:04 EDT 2010

Dear all,

we have an open position for a enthusiastic PhD student. Project is on modeling of higher-order theory of mind. Niels Taatgen and myself are also involved in this project. 

 - Hedderik.

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http://www.van-rijn.org

Begin forwarded message:

> Resent-From: <D.H.van.Rijn at rug.nl>
> From: Rineke Verbrugge <L.C.Verbrugge at ai.rug.nl>
> Date: May 11, 2010 11:01:17 GMT+02:00
> To: cogmod-list-groningen
> Subject: [Cogmod] Vacancy in Vici project: please distribute
> 
> Dear cognitive modelers,
> 
> This is the advertisement for the project. Please distribute to good candidates (or apply yourself!) - deadline is 21 May.
> 
> Best wishes,
> 
> Rineke
> 
> 
> 
> PhD position Cognitive models of higher-order theory of mind (1,0 fte) (210176)
> 
> Organisation
> 
> About the city and University of Groningen
> Groningen is a historic town and among the ten biggest cities in The Netherlands. It is a vibrant student town with a direct train connection to Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam. The University of Groningen (founded in 1614) has a long tradition of academic excellence, being one of the oldest research universities in Europe. Currently approximately 27,000 students are enrolled and every year about 250 PhD students defend their theses. It has a highly international character: English is the main language in the research laboratories.
> 
> The PhD position is available in the Multi-agent Systems Group in the Institute of Artificial Intelligence (ALICE) at the University of Groningen. The candidate will join the five-year Vici project of Prof. Rineke Verbrugge, comprising six researchers.
> 
> Job description
> 
> The Vici project 'Cognitive systems in interaction: Logical and computational models of higher-order social cognition'
> Software agents are capable of recursion in their social reasoning. However, humans lose track of such reasoning after only two or three levels. If software agents work together with human team-mates, they need to take into account the limits of their social cognition. In the Vici project, we investigate children's development and adults' limitations in applying higher-order reasoning, using a close-knit combination of empirical research and formal modelling. Whereas first-order social cognition has been intensely investigated, higher-order social cognition is far less well-understood. This Vici project aims to apply improved understanding of higher-order social reasoning (gained in the current PhD project and another one started in 2009) to design realistic logics, ready for implementation in systems supporting mixed human-computer teams.
> 
> The PhD project: Why is it so hard to apply higher-order social cognition?
> Adults apply first-order social cognition ("Mary doesn't know that I ate the chocolate") seemingly without effort. In contrast, adults have difficulty to apply second-order social cognition ("Mary knows that I know that she ate the chocolate"), and even harder to apply third- and higher-order social cognition. In this PhD project, the graduate student investigates what causes this phenomenon. What are the bottlenecks in moving from level 1 to level 2 and from level 2 to level 3? The PhD student combines behavioral experiments and computational cognitive modelling in ACT-R to investigate the bottlenecks in moving from first-order social cognition to higher orders. On the basis of the theory and the modelling results, new ideas for behavioral and fMRI experiments are developed so as to test predictions. Experiments with a dual task help to investigate the role of goal-related memory in social cognition. Finally, the PhD student constructs an integrated computational cognitive model of adults learning to apply higher-order social cognition.
> Requirements
> 
> We seek an energetic PhD candidate to carry out this fundamental research project at the forefront of the interdisciplinary combination of cognitive science, logic, and artificial intelligence. The candidate has an MSc degree in cognitive science, artificial intelligence, human-machine communication or psychology, with a strong interest and proven skills in computational cognitive modelling, behavioural experiments and/or fMRI studies. Good analytical skills and a positive attitude towards interdisciplinary work are required. Objective of the 4 year's position is the production of a number of research articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and a PhD thesis. Teaching duties of 10% of the time are foreseen, for example, supervision of Master's theses.
> 
> Secundary
> 
> The University of Groningen offers a salary of € 2,042 gross per month in the first year up to a maximum of € 2,612 gross per month in the fourth year. It is a temporary assignment for a period of 4 years. First you will get a temporary position of 1,5 years with the perspective of prolongation with another 2,5 years. After the first year, there will be an evaluation as to the feasibility of successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next three years.The Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Engineering (ALICE) at the University of Groningen provides a stimulating research environment, with good facilities and high quality training and teaching.
> 
> The preferred starting date is July 1st, 2010.
> 
> We would like to receive letters in the English language including a personal motivation. Please pronounce the names and addresses of three referees (including telephone number and e-mail address) in your curriculum vitae. Please send your application to vmp at rug.nl before or on Friday, May 21, 2010, referring to the number of the job, 210176.
> 
> Please, also send an electronic copy of your application to: L.C.Verbrugge at rug.nl
> 
> Information
> For information you can contact:
> Prof. Rineke Verbrugge,   L.C.Verbrugge at rug.nl
> 
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