Connectionists: Research Associate in Machine Learning (Bristol, UK)

[Gavin Brown]

Please see below for an open position at Bristol...


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Research Associate
Department of Computer Science

You will act as RA on the Adaptive Dynamic Ensemble Prediction
Techniques (ADEPT) project which aims to merge theory and practice
between two sub-fields of Machine Learning: Ensemble methods and
evolutionary Learning Classifier Systems. Though they have developed
largely in isolation we believe these areas are both significantly
overlapping and complementary. We aim to unify the two areas and use the
best of both to develop novel predictor-independent methods applicable
to a range of machine learning problems. This is an exciting opportunity
to conduct original scientific research at the cutting edge of machine
learning from within a large and diverse group. You will deliver
empirical results, software, theoretical analyses, and oral and written
reports.

You will be based with the department of computer science's Machine
Learning and Biological Computation group
   http://www.cs.bris.ac.uk/Research/MachineLearning/
which is part of Intelligent Systems at Bristol
   http://intelligentsystems.bristol.ac.uk/
and home to a world class MSc Machine Learning and Data Mining degree
   http://www.cs.bris.ac.uk/handbook/2007-8/course-msc-cs.html

You will collaborate with other project members in Bristol, Manchester
and Birmingham, and generally contribute to the academic life of the
department.

Objectives of the project include:
- Developing ensemble methods for dynamic / non-stationary problems
- Developing ensemble methods for multi-step problems
- Building a statistical framework for learning classifier systems by
drawing on the pattern recognition literature
- Adapting the explicit probabilistic modelling approach of Estimation
of Distribution Algorithms (EDAs) to our novel methods to better solve
problems with interactions between features

Essential qualifications:
- A PhD in a relevant area
- An excellent track record of publishing high-quality research
- Excellent communication skills (oral and written)
- Initiative and independence
- A strong background in machine learning, pattern recognition and/or
   evolutionary computation.

Desirable qualifications:
- Evidence of the ability to carry out research independently and to a
high standard
- A background in one or more of the following:
      - evolutionary computation
      - reinforcement learning
      - ensemble methods
      - multi-objective learning methods
      - probabilistic modelling approaches
      - evolutionary learning classifier systems
- Good software engineering skills (including e.g. familiarity with UML
and design patterns and experience with substantial projects)

Salary up 28,290 UKP depending on qualifications and experience

Timescale of appointment:
Contract: Fixed Term Contract
             35 months from start date
Anticipated interview date: 03 March 2008
Anticipated start date:  01 April 2008

Closing date for applications: 9:00am on 18 February 2008

Contact Tim Kovacs for informal enquiries:
   http:/www.cs.bris.ac.uk/~kovacs

For further information including application procedures see
   http://www.bris.ac.uk/boris/jobs/ads?ID=71287


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