Postdoctoral Fellowships

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                     Aston University 

               Neural Computing Research Group


            TWO POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS: 
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           FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH IN NEURAL NETWORKS


Two postdoctoral fellowships, each with a duration of 3 years, 
will be funded by the U.K. Science and Engineering Research Council, 
and are to commence on or after 1 April 1994. These posts are part 
of a major project to be undertaken within the Neural Computing 
Research Group at Aston, and will involve close collaboration with 
Professors Chris Bishop and David Lowe, with additional input from 
Professor David Bounds. This interdisciplinary program requires 
researchers capable of extending theoretical concepts, and 
developing algorithmic and proof-of-principle demonstrations 
through software simulation. The two Research Fellows will work 
on distinct, though closely related, areas as follows:


1. Generalization in Neural Networks

The usual approach to complexity optimisation and model order 
selection in neural networks makes use of computationally intensive 
cross-validation techniques. This project will build on recent 
developments in the use of Bayesian methods and the description 
length formalism to develop systematic techniques for model 
optimization in feedforward neural networks from a principled 
statistical perspective. In its later stages, the project will 
demonstrate the practical utility of the techniques which emerge, 
in the context of a wide range of real-world applications. 


2. Dynamic Neural Networks

Current embodiments of neural networks, when applied to `dynamic' 
events such as time series forecasting, are successful only if 
the underlying `generator' of the data is stationary. If the 
underlying generator is slowly varying in time then we do not 
have a principled basis for designing effective neural network 
structures, though ad hoc procedures do exist. This program will 
address some of the key issues in this area using techniques 
from statistical pattern processing and dynamical systems theory. 
In addition, application studies will be conducted which will 
focus on time series problems and tracking in non-stationary 
noise. 


If you wish to be considered for these positions, please send 
a CV and publications list, together with the names of 3 
referees, to:

    Professor Chris M Bishop
    Neural Computing Research Group
    Aston University
    Birmingham B4 7ET, U.K.
    Tel: 021 359 3611 ext. 4270
    Fax: 021 333 6215
    e-mail: c.m.bishop at aston.ac.uk