[ACT-R-users] Open Position - Junior Researcher in Spatial Cognition and Computation

[Jan Frederik Sima]

- OPEN POSITION -

Postgraduate Position / Junior Researcher
at the Transregional Collaborative Research Center
SFB/TR 8 Spatial Cognition, Universitaet Bremen

Project R1-[ImageSpace] - Mental Representations of Spatial Environments

-Under the condition of job release / reference number: A189/10 –

- 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 or train humans in spatial  
cognition tasks (e.g., in architectural design and spatial planning).  
Empirical studies are used to inform and evaluate modeling work (e.g.,  
to identify the nature of the representation formats employed during  
reasoning) as well as developed assistance tools.

More information on the project can be found at www.sfbtr8.spatial-cognition.de/project/r1/

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

Ideally, an applicant will also have knowledge of / interest in more  
than one of the following areas: computational cognitive modeling of  
human spatial cognition; psychological experimentation; model-based  
human-computer interaction. Additional training will be provided on  
the job.

- Main Tasks: -

* Contributing to conceptual and computational modeling of human  
spatial cognition.

* Applying cognitive models to computer-based training and tutoring.

* Planning / Designing and conducting experiments; statistical  
analyses of
  experimental data.

* Management of experimental lab and equipment.

* 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 January 2011 until  
the end of 2012 with the possibility of extension. Application  
deadline: 30. November 2010 (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. Applicants with a migration background  
are welcome.

- How to Apply & What to Do in Case of Questions: -

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

Dr. Holger Schultheis <schulth at sfbtr8.uni-bremen.de>

SFB/TR 8 Spatial Cognition
Universitaet 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.