Connectionists: CogModel notes: ICCM10/Brims10/Book/grant/Positions
Frank Ritter
frank.ritter at psu.edu
Tue Mar 2 15:09:00 EST 2010
This is based on the International Cognitive Modeling Conference
mailing list, which I maintain. I forward messages about twice a
year, a few more close to ICCMs. (this is the first one for ICCM
2010)
The first two announcements are driving this email, the call for
papers and tutorials.
If you would like to be removed, please just let me know. I maintain
it by hand to keep it small.
cheers,
Frank Ritter frank.e.ritter at gmail.com
http://acs.ist.psu.edu http://www.frankritter.com
1. ICCM 2009, Paper call, 5-8 August 2009, Philadelphia, PA
http://iccm2010.cs.drexel.edu/ papers due 19 April 2010
Proceedings of 2009 available online.
2. ICCM 2009 Conference Tutorial Call, 5 August 2010, Philadelphia, PA
http://iccm2010.cs.drexel.edu/tutorials.html proposals due 8 March 2010
3. BRIMS 2010, program available, 22-25 March 2010
http://www.brimsconference.org
4. Soar Workshop, 19-21 May 2010, Ann Arbor, MI
5. European ACT-R Spring School and Workshop: Call for Abstracts /
Registration
6. Two career resources on my mind
7. Mind, Machine and Morality [book]
http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754673583
8. A new remote eyetracker
http://www.designinteractive.net/products/eyetracking/index.html
9. Call for proposals on human factors and cognitive modeling from
the (US) Air Force
10. Pre-doctoral position(s) in traffic and transportation
http://www.adaptation-itn.eu
11. Research Positions Available with AFRL's PALM Team
12. Graduate student, postdoctoral, and research programmer positions at RPI
[from Soar-group]
13. Job opportunity at Design Interactive
http://www.designinteractive.net
14.
***************************************************
1. ICCM 2009 Conference Program available, 5-8 August 2009, Philadelphia, PA
http://iccm2010.cs.drexel.edu/ papers due 19 April 2010
ICCM is the premier international conference for research on
computational models and computation-based theories of human
behavior. ICCM is a forum for presenting, discussing, and evaluating
the complete spectrum of cognitive models, including connectionism,
symbolic modeling, dynamical systems, Bayesian modeling, and cognitive
architectures. ICCM includes basic and applied research, across a wide
variety of domains, ranging from low-level perception and attention to
higher-level problem-solving and learning.
The proceedings of the 2007 conference are available from
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/iccm2007.org/iccm_2007_proceedings_and_papers
The proceedings of the 2009 conference are available from
http://acs.ist.psu.edu/papers/iccm2009.pdf
***************************************************
2. ICCM 2009 Conference Tutorial Call, 5 August 2010, Philadelphia, PA
http://iccm2010.cs.drexel.edu/tutorials.html proposals due 8 March 2010
The Tutorials program at the International Conference on Cognitive
Modeling (ICCM) 2010 will be held on 5 Aug 20010. It will provide
conference participants with the opportunity to gain new insights,
knowledge, and skills from a broad range of areas in the field of
cognitive modeling. Tutorial topics will be presented in a taught
format and are likely to range from practical guidelines to academic
issues and theory. Tutorials at ICCM have been held many times before,
and this year's program will be modelled after them and after the
series held at the Cognitive Science Conference.
Tutorial participants will either be doing cognitive modeling or be
interested in learning more. They will be looking for insights into
their own areas and summaries of other areas providing tools,
techniques, and results to use in their own teaching and research.
Tutorials must present tutorial material, that is, provide results
that are established and to do so in an interactive format. They will
tend to involve an introduction to technical skills or methods (e.g.,
cognitive modelling in Soar or ACT-R, statistical "causal" modelling,
or methods of analysing qualitative observational data). They are
likely to include substantial review of material. The level of
presentation can assume that the attendees have at least a first
degree in a cognate area. Tutorials are welcome to assume a higher
level if necessary. On the other hand, tutorials about "last week's
results from your lab" are not acceptable.
******************************************************************
3. BRIMS 2010, program available, 22-25 March 2010
http://www.brimsconference.org
BRIMS (Behavior Representation in Modeling Simulation) enables human
behavior representation (HBR) modeling and simulation research
scientists, engineers, application users and technical communities to
meet, share ideas and experiences, identify gaps in current
capabilities, discuss new research directions, highlight promising
technologies, and showcase applications. It is in its 19th year and
continues to reach an ever widening military, government, academic,
and industry community in the U.S. and internationally.
Registration is Open.
The BRIMS conference includes plenary speakers, in-depth
presentations, poster sessions, and a half day/full day tutorials.
Conference Lodging
The BRIMS 2010 will be nestled along the white sandy beaches of
Charleston, South Carolina. Steeped in southern charm and
hospitality, the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina provides ocean
waves gently rolling ashore and palmetto leaves softly rustling in the
breeze. The natural beauty of this island paradise will indulge your
senses, invigorate your mind, and nourish your soul.
Discounted room rates are available through February 28.
The proceedings from last year's conference is available at:
http://brimsconference.org/archives/2009/toc.htm
******************************************************************
4. Soar Workshop
The 30th Soar workshop will be May 19-21, and we will have a reception the
evening of May 18 and we will be finished by noon on May 21. If there is
interest, we will have tutorials on May 17 & 18. The workshop will be held
in the CSE Building on the University of Michigan North Campus.
Previous workshop: http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/soar/sitemaker/workshop/29/
***************************************************
5. European ACT-R Spring School and Workshop: Call forAbstracts / Registration
From: "Hedderik van Rijn" <hedderik at van-rijn.org>
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:50:17 +0100
from: act-r-users at act-r.psy.cmu.edu
European ACT-R Spring School and Workshop
Organizers: Niels Taatgen and Hedderik van Rijn
University of Groningen, Netherlands
April 12-17, 2010
ACT-R is a cognitive theory and simulation system for developing
cognitive models for tasks that vary from simple reaction time
paradigms to driving a car and air traffic control. In most years, a
summer school and workshop are organized at Carnegie Mellon University
for training and discussion of the theory. This year, CMU will only
host a summer school, no multi-day workshop is planned. Instead,
there will be a two day ACT-R workshop in Europe in the spring that
follows a four-day spring school.
Spring School
The spring school will take place from Monday April 12 to Thursday
April 15. After an earlier call for applications, we have selected a
group of 14 students for a "traditional summer school curriculum", and
in additional 6 researchers will join us to work on their own projects
during the week.
European ACT-R Workshop
The European ACT-R workshop will take place from Friday April 16 to
Saturday April 17. Both days will be devoted to research
presentations, each lasting about 20 minutes plus
questions. Participants are invited to present their ACT-R research
by submitting a title and abstract with their registration. Given
that this is the first European ACT-R workshop, we would also like to
invite research groups to present themselves. What we have in mind is
a presentation focussed on the general themes covered by the group
rather than on the details of specific studies. Aim of these
presentations is to get to know what other groups are working on, or
planning to work on, and to start or facilitate cooperation between
research groups. Admission to the workshop is open to all. The
early registration fee is Euro 100 and the late registration fee
(after March 12) is Euro 150. Requests for presentations should be
submitted before February 28 to receive full consideration for
inclusion in the workshop program. A preliminary program of
presentations will be made available early March. If, because of
travel plans, an earlier decision about a submission is required,
please contact us.
Housing
We have reserved a block of rooms in the University Guest
House. Details on reserving a room will be sent upon registration.
Registration
To register for the Workshop, please send the filled out registration
form in an email to Hedderik van Rijn (hedderik at van-rijn.org).
Registration Form
First European ACT-R Workshop
April 16-17, 2010 at University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Name:
Address:
Affiliation:
Tel/Fax:
Email:
Registration fee:
On or before March 12: 100 Euro ...
After March 12: 150 Euro ...
Details on how to transfer the registration fee will be sent after
registration. Non-European participants can pay the registration fee
at the start of the workshop.
Presentation topic / title (optional abstract: please attach a PDF):
ACT-R-users mailing list
ACT-R-users at act-r.psy.cmu.edu
http://act-r.psy.cmu.edu/mailman/listinfo/act-r-users
***************************************************
6. Two career resources on my mind
A couple of resources are in my head, and are not typical
announcements. I thought you might all know about these.
Using a reference management tool is very helpful when writing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_reference_management_software
has a review of them. Some are free.
Second, this book reads very well. I agree with 80%, learn 10%,
diagree with 5%.
What They Didn't Teach You in Graduate School
199 Helpful Hints for Success in Your Academic Career
Paul Gray , David E. Drew
http://stylus.styluspub.com/Books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=171247
***************************************************
7. Mind, Machine and Morality [book]
http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754673583
Toward a Philosophy of Human-Technology Symbiosis
Peter A. Hancock,
University of Central Florida, USA
'Hancock makes a definitive break with Human Factors as "device
advice" or "appliance science". 'Mind, Machine and Morality is
a masterwork by one of the great scientists and thinkers of our
time. Hancock's theory relies on notions of perception-action
coupling and goal-orientation of human-machine systems. Thus,
were I to reach into history, I would say that Hancock has taken
Edward C. Tolman's Purposive Behavior in Animals and Men and
James J. Gibson's Ecological Psychology, arguably two of the
great works in psychology, and extended them into the computer
age, and well beyond.
Hancock does far more than present tales of caution about the
impact of machines on people: He presents tales of celebration
of the human ability to adapt and to exercise its moral
faculty. Hancock's intellect, itself charged with a clear sense
of right and wrong, races across history, approval. If you are
not completely satisfied, return the material to us in good
condition and we will cancel your invoice.
Technology is our conduit of power. In our modern world,
technology is the gatekeeper deciding who shall have and who
shall have not. Either technology works for you or you work for
technology. It shapes the human race just as much as we shape
it. But where is this symbiosis going? Who provides the
directions, the intentions, the goals of this human- machine
partnership? Such decisions do not derive from the creators of
technology who are enmeshed in their individual innovations.
They neither come from our social leaders who possess only
sufficient technical understanding to react to innovations, not
to anticipate or direct their progress. Neither is there
evidence of some omnipotent 'invisible hand'. The simple fact is
that no one is directing this enterprise.
In Mind, Machine and Morality, Peter Hancock asks questions
about this insensate progress and has the temerity to suggest
some cognate answers. He argues for the unbreakable symbiosis of
purpose and process, and examines the dangerous possibilities
that emerge when science and purpose meet. Historically, this
work is a modern-day child of Bacon's hope for the 'Great
Instauration.' However, unlike its forebear, the focus here is
on human-machine systems. The emphasis centres on the conception
that the active, extensive face of modern philosophy is
technology. Whatever we are to become is bound up not only in
our biology but critically in our technology also. And to
achieve rational progress we need to articulate manifest
purpose. This book is one step along the purposive road.
Drawing together his many seminal writings on human-machine
interaction and adapting these works specifically for this
collection, Peter Hancock provides real food for thought,
delighting readers with his unique philosophical perspective and
outstanding insights. This is theoretical work of the highest
order. Order your copy today and open your mind to a fresh
perspective on our humanity and our technology.
Mind, Machine and Morality offers thought- provoking insights
into:
* The Morality of Human-Machine Symbiosis
* The Moral Imperatives of Design
* The Link between Technology and Torture
* The Scientific Neglect of Intention and Purpose
* The Future of Humans and Machines
'... I believe that the divorce between our purpose (that is,
the reasons why we do something), from our processes (that is,
the way we accomplish whatever we want to do), is a very
damaging situation. It promises to destroy us unless the rift
can be first bridged and then healed.'
From the author's preface
For full reviews and downloads of the Preface and Index go to
http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754673583
July 2009 Hardback 202 pages 978-0-7546-7358-3
***************************************************
8. A new remote eyetracker
http://www.designinteractive.net/products/eyetracking/index.html
[Christina asked me to foward this, looks interesting, but does only
1 deg accuracy]
Here is the link for Design Interactive's product info for our
eyetracker hardware and software. Please let me know if you have any
questions.
http://www.designinteractive.net/products/eyetracking/index.html
Christina Kokini
Research Associate
Design Interactive, Inc.
christina.kokini at designinteractive.net
Phone: 407-706-0977 x 238
Fax: 407-706-0980
***************************************************
9. Call for proposals on human factors and cognitive modeling from
the (US) Air Force
Federal Agency: 711th Human Performance Wing, Human Effectiveness Directorate
Broad Agency Announcement Title: Science and Technology For
Warfighter Training and Aiding
Broad Agency Announcement Type: This is the initial announcement.
Broad Agency Announcement Number: BAA 09-05-RH. THIS BAA REPLACES BAA
05-04-HE IN ITS ENTIRETY.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): If a grant or
assistance instrument is awarded, the CFDA number will be 12.800_AF or
12.910 (DARPA)
THIS WILL BE A TWO-STEP SOLICITATION:
First Step: WHITE PAPER DUE DATE AND TIME: White Papers will be
accepted until 5 PM Eastern time 30 Sep 2014. Submission of white
papers will be regulated in accordance with FAR 15.208.
Second Step: PROPOSAL DUE DATE AND TIME: To be provided in response to
the Requests for Proposals sent to offerors that submit White Papers
considered to meet the needs of the Air Force.
NOTE: White Paper/Proposal receipt after the due date and time shall
be governed by the provisions of FAR 52.215-1(c)(3). It should be
noted that this installation observes strict security procedures to
enter the facility. These security procedures are NOT considered an
interruption of normal Government processes, and proposals received
after the above stated date and time as a result of security delays
will be considered "late." Furthermore, note that if offerors utilize
commercial carriers in the delivery of proposals, they may not honor
time-of-day delivery guarantees on military installations. Early
white paper submission is encouraged.
Solicitation Request: 711th Human Performance Wing, Human
Effectiveness Directorate, Wright Research Site is soliciting white
papers on the research effort described below. White Papers should be
addressed to the Contracting Point of Contact (POC) stated in Section
VII of the Full Text Announcement. This is an unrestricted
solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or
any part of this solicitation. The NAICS Code for this acquisition is
541712 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life
Sciences (except Biotechnology), and the small business size standard
is 500 employees. White Papers/Proposals submitted shall be in
accordance with this announcement. There will be no other
solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be
alert for any BAA amendments that may permit extensions to the white
paper submission date.
On-line Representations and Certifications (ORCA): Potential offerors
are notified that effective 01 Jan 2005 to be eligible for an award,
they must submit annual Electronic Representations and Certifications,
otherwise known as On-line Representations and Certifications
Application (ORCA) via the Business Partner Network (BPN) at
http://www.bpn.gov/orca. These FAR and DFARS level representations
and certifications are required in addition to the representations and
certifications specific to this acquisition. Before submitting the
Electronic Representations and Certifications, contractors must be
registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) Database.
On-line registration instructions can be accessed from the DISA CCR
home page at http://www.ccr.gov/
Estimated Program Cost: $49 Million
Anticipated Number of Awards: The Air Force anticipates awarding 3-5
awards for this announcement per year.
Brief Program Summary: The objective of this BAA is to research,
demonstrate, evaluate, and transition human performance methods and
technology to enable warfighters to have the right skills, knowledge,
experience and capabilities at the right time to make the right
decisions.
Address technical questions to: M. Jay Carroll, 711 HPW/RHAO, 6030
South Kent Street, Mesa, AZ 85212, telephone: (480) 988-9773 or
e-mail: Matthew.Carroll at mesa.afmc.af.mil
Address contracting questions to: Helen Williams, Det 1 AFRL/PKH, 2310
Eight Street, B167, Wright Patterson AFB OH 45433-7801, 937-656-9833,
Helen.Williams at wpafb.af.mil or
Gerema A. Randall, Det 1 AFRL/PKH, 2310 Eight Street B167,
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7801, 937-255-0406,
Gerema.Randall at wpafb.af.mil
***************************************************
10. Pre-doctoral position(s) in traffic and transportation
http://www.adaptation-itn.eu
There is still one PhD-position open within ADPATATION, a Marie-Curie
Initial Training network funded by the EC. It is a 3 year position
(full time) for early stage researches (less than 4 years research
experience after the master degree). Since the position will be hosted
by BMW, Munich, only "non-Germans" can apply. Candidates with a
background in psychology, engineering or computer science may
apply. They should have research interests in Traffic and
Transportation.
More details:
http://www.adaptation-itn.eu
[Josef noted this on 20 January, so it may be gone]
Josef Krems <josef.krems at psychologie.tu-chemnitz.de> can provide
further details if needed.
******************************************************************
11. Research Positions Available with AFRL's PALM Team
From: "Gluck,Kevin A Civ USAF AFMC 711 HPW/RHAC" <Kevin.Gluck at mesa.afmc.af.mil>
With apologies and respect to our valued colleagues of other
nationalities, only U.S. citizens and permanent legal residents of the
United States are eligible for these positions.
We have a variety of research positions available for talented
cognitive, computational, and computer scientists interested in
working with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's Performance and
Learning Models (PALM) Team on basic and applied cognitive science
research. Full-time, paid positions range from undergraduate and
graduate-level internships and research assistantships, to
post-doctoral research appointments, to visiting faculty appointments.
Salaries are commensurate with experience.
The PALM research portfolio continues to expand and evolve. We use a
combination of empirical human-subjects studies and formal, rigorous,
computational and mathematical modeling and simulation methods to
understand, replicate, and predict human performance and learning, and
to create new cognitive science-based technology options. Currently
there are research efforts underway in all of the following areas
(with associated PIs):
Basic research:
- large scale cognitive modeling (Scott Douglass)
- representations and processes of spatial visualization (Glenn Gunzelmann)
- modeling the relationships between alertness and cognitive processes
(Glenn Gunzelmann)
- persistent, generative, situated agents (Christopher Myers)
Applied research:
- natural language comprehension and generation (Jerry Ball)
- robust decision making in integrated human-machine systems (Kevin Gluck)
- model exploration and optimization using distributed and high performance
computing (Jack Harris)
- mathematical models for performance prediction and prescription
(Tiffany Jastrzembski)
Brief elaborations of each area can be found below.
Anyone interested in working with us on one or more of the research
efforts listed above is encouraged to contact the PI for that
particular research area as soon as possible. Email addresses are
first.last<at>mesa.afmc.af.mil
Natural language comprehension and generation (Jerry Ball)
The focus of the natural language research is development of
computational cognitive models which are both functional and
cognitively plausible. There may be short-term costs associated with
adoption of cognitive constraints, but we expect, and have to some
extent already realized, longer-term benefits. We focus on
communication via text messaging, avoiding complex challenges of
speech recognition, but make no assumptions about the grammatical
quality of messages and put no arbitrary limits on their linguistic
range. Our current project, the Synthetic Teammate, is aimed at
development of a cognitive agent capable of functioning as the pilot
of a simulated UAV. The cognitive agent interacts with two teammates-a
navigator, and a photographer-in order to take pictures of ground
targets over the course of a simulated 40 minute reconnaissance
mission. Lightweight agent versions of the navigator and photographer
currently support development, but the cognitive agent will eventually
interact with human teammates in an empirical study.
Large scale cognitive modeling (Scott Douglass)
Explores how paradigms in software engineering called "meta-modeling"
and "model-integrated computing" can be used to produce
domain-specific modeling languages tailored to the specification and
integration needs of cognitive modelers. These new formalisms will
help cognitive modelers increase the scale of their efforts by
allowing them to specify self-modifying models at high levels of
abstraction. These new formalisms will share a foundation in general
systems theory and will therefore help their users: (a) compose and
compare models; and (b) integrate models into task environments and
simulations that subscribe to the same formal foundation. This
research reciprocates value back to software engineering by
demonstrating how specifications of cognitive processes can be
formally captured and exploited during the design of human/machine
systems.
Representations and processes of spatial visualization (Glenn Gunzelmann)
Human spatial competence is applied ubiquitously as individuals encode
information about the location of objects in the world, plan routes
and navigate through the environment, reason about spatial
relationships, or make decisions in environments that are rich with
spatial information. Despite the criticality of spatial information
processing in human cognitive functioning, detailed mechanistic
theories that can be used to explain and predict behavior are
lacking. Our research in this area is targeted at producing a
mechanistic, quantitative theory of human spatial competence, focused
on representing and processing visuospatial knowledge. This research
involves rigorous empirical data collection, to understand human
performance in this area and to support validation of quantitative
theoretical accounts instantiated as mathematical and computational
models.
Modeling the relationships between alertness and cognitive processes
(Glenn Gunzelmann)
Understanding the functioning of the human cognitive system is as
important as understanding the human physiological system in
operational environments. As an example, research on fatigue has
uncovered neurophysiological changes in the human brain resulting from
sleep loss, circadian desynchrony, or time on task. In addition,
corresponding deficits in human performance on a variety of tasks have
been documented in the empirical literature. What is unknown, however,
are the mechanisms through which physiological changes impact
cognitive performance. This line of research is aimed at understanding
how cognitive processing changes as a result of fatigue, bridging the
gap between mathematical models that capture the dynamics of overall
change in neurobehavior performance and in situ performance on
particular tasks.
Robust decision making in integrated human-machine systems (Kevin Gluck)
It is increasingly clear that the traditional boundaries between human
and machine are disappearing. The future vision of integrated
human-machine decision systems is already upon us. Hence, there is
escalating pressure on AFRL researchers to better understand the basic
science of mixed human - machine decision making, and make use of this
science to develop increasingly robust, automated knowledge-extraction
tools and intelligent machine-based decision aids that optimize, speed
up, and adaptively adjust inference, prediction, and decision
processes. This is a new-start research area in which we are
interested in new models and methods for assuring high quality
decision processes and outcomes, especially in complex and uncertain
dynamic environments.
Model exploration and optimization using distributed and high
performance computing
(Jack Harris)
Computational complexity grows quickly with increases in the
granularity of models, the fidelity of the models' operating
environment, and the time scales across which these models are used in
simulations. We must find ways to deal with the computational demands
of large-scale basic and applied cognitive modeling. One approach is
to acquire more computational horsepower, such as through high
performance computing (HPC) clusters, volunteer computing, or cloud
computing. Another approach is to reduce the size of the required
computational space through predictive analytics and parallelized
exploration and optimization algorithms. Our view is that it is only
through the combined use of these approaches that we can meet our
far-term scientific and technological objectives, both as a research
team and as a broader research community.
Mathematical models for performance prediction and prescription
(Tiffany Jastrzembski)
Training people to stable levels of high performance in specialized
skills requires a great deal of investment in both time and capital,
and this is particularly true in highly complex domains like military
operations. Given the length, complexity, resource limitations, and
cost of warfighter training, it is critical to ensure that the timing
and frequency of training events are tailored to the needs of the
learner to maximize learning and performance effectiveness. This
research identifies the mathematical regularities of human learning
and forgetting as a function of the temporal distribution of training
in order to (1) validly, precisely, and quantitatively predict future
levels of learner performance, and to (2) prescribe more optimal
training schedules to enhance retention, achieve more effective
learning, and streamline training to the needs of the individual.
Persistent, generative, situated agents (Christopher Myers)
The typical approach to computational cognitive modeling is to isolate
a process of interest and capture enough detail within the model to
account for a set of data obtained from humans performing within a
particular task environment. The promise of this approach is that
veridical models of cognitive processes will eventually be integrated
to produce more complex processes. While this approach has proven
beneficial to isolating, studying, and understanding arguably distinct
cognitive processes, the resulting models are typically brittle,
engineered, short-lived and tailored to specific experimental
psychology paradigms. These characteristics are limitations to the
development of models which require persisting over long periods of
time and generating their own knowledge. This research is focused on
identifying, developing, and integrating process models of cognitive
capacities to enable persistent and generative models.
_______________________________________________
ACT-R-users mailing list
ACT-R-users at act-r.psy.cmu.edu
http://act-r.psy.cmu.edu/mailman/listinfo/act-r-users
***************************************************
12. Graduate student, postdoctoral and research programmer positions at RPI
[from Soar-group]
List-Id: "The soar-group mailing list."
<soar-group.lists.sourceforge.net>
The Human-Level Intelligence Laboratory at Rensselaer has just been awarded a
grant to study "Unified Theories of Language and Cognition". As a consequence,
we have funding for several graduate student, postdoctoral and
research programmer positions.
The project aims to develop a unified computational theory of language use that
significantly expands the ability of computers to understand language
and explains
how people use background knowledge and context to achieve deep understanding
of language even when it is highly ambiguous, novel, ungrammatical and/or
metaphorical. Many aspects of this problem (for example, the reasoning
algorithms and ontologies involved) are not specific to language and thus an
interest in language is not strictly necessary to participate.
Rensselaer is located in the Hudson Valley, equidistant from Boston
and New York
City. It is conceivable that we could work something out with someone who is
constrained to reside near one of those cities.
Our primary criterion for bringing new people into the lab is the intelligence,
curiosity, energy and motivation needed to solve the problems involved in this
project. Background in one or more of the following areas, would help, though
is not necessary:
* Linguistics. Formal syntax and semantics, construction
grammars and pragmatics are especially relevant.
* Reasoning algorithms. Our work integrates multiple forms of
reasoning algorithms, including those based on first-order logic,
SAT, probability theory and analogy.
* Ontologies. Our approach is knowledge-intensive and will
require the ability to acquire and organize this knowledge.
* Semantic Web. We will be interfacing with information
available in many machine-readable, distributed knowledge bases.
There are many interesting problems involved in using this
information for reasoning and language understanding.
* Software engineering. All our work is integrated within a
single cognitive architecture. This presents several interesting
software engineering challenges.
If you are interested in a position, please send a note to me at
cassin at rpi dot edu.
***************************************************
13. Graduate Student Positions at RPI
Research Assistants
The CogWorks Laboratory in the Cognitive Science Department at
Rensselaer has funding for new Graduate Research Assistants in AY2010
(beginning August 2010).
The theme to our work is the Cognitive Science of Natural Interaction
with a focus on the integration of perception, motor, and cognitive
operations. This work has focused on human-technology,
human-information, and (most recently) human-human interactions. We
see the human-human interactions as part of Cognitive Social Science;
namely, an approach to traditional social psychology type questions
that is rooted in cognitive science theory, modeling approaches, and
methodologies. Recent work in human-technology interaction includes
the study of fast-paced action games. In our premier gaming project we
have collected EEG, eye data, and behavioral data, and are building
computational cognitive models of expert game play as a means to
understanding the control problems in real-time interactive
behavior. We are also building models of airline pilots who get lost
or confused while taxingly on the ground from the runway to the
gate. Our work on human-information interaction has focused on the
cognitive control of multitasking, interruptions, errors, and other
common human behaviors which turn out to be incredibly hard to
understand.
We are looking for people with good computer science and mathematics
skills and an intense interest in cognitive science!
To apply contact:
http://www.rpi.edu/dept/admissions/graduate/index.html [the deadline
may have passed, but it is recurring, and there may be other
opportunities for really good matches]
For more information contact:
**Rensselaer**Rensselaer**Rensselaer**Rensselaer**Rensselaer**
Wayne D. Gray;
Professor of Cognitive Science &
Professor of Computer Science
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Carnegie Building (rm 108) ;;for all surface mail & deliveries
110 8th St.; Troy, NY 12180
EMAIL: grayw at rpi.edu, Office: 518-276-3315, Fax: 518-276-3017
***************************************************
14. Job opportunity at Design Interactive
http://www.designinteractive.net
Design Interactive, Inc. (located just outside of Orlando, FL) is
looking for masters level students who recently graduated and are
looking for job opportunities. We are looking to hire an entry level
person, with a background in observational task analysis, requirements
specification, experimental design and conduct, data analysis,
literature review, supporting development of theoretical foundations,
usability engineering, critical thinking, problem-solving, and applied
engineering. Any help you can provide would be greatly
appreciated. Please have potential candidates send their resumes to
Kay Stanney, Kay.Stanney at DesignInteractive.net. Thanks!
Queries to Kay or to Christina Kokini, christina.kokini at designinteractive.net
***************************************************
15. Rutgers seeks Cognitive Science Director
http://ruccs.rutgers.edu/ruccs/jobs.php
[posted by Michael Littman <mlittman at cs.rutgers.edu>
To: comp-neuro at neuroinf.org]
The Rutgers Center for Cognitive Science (RuCCS) at the New Brunswick
Campus of Rutgers University is searching for a new director. The
ideal candidate is an outstanding scholar with proven administrative
abilities and a vision for the future of cognitive science at Rutgers.
A primary goal of the Center is to understand aspects of intelligent
performance such as perception, language processing, decision making,
problem solving, reasoning, learning and knowledge formation. RuCCS
has 22 jointly appointed faculty members and 30 associates who play an
active role in the intellectual life of the Center. The Center
promotes the integration of techniques and knowledge drawn from a wide
variety of fields, primarily psychology, computer science, linguistics
and philosophy. The Center offers a Certificate for graduate students
and a minor and major for undergraduates.
Candidates should be at the Full Professor level. Salary is
negotiable. Consideration of applications will begin on March 29,
2010.
Please see the posting at http://ruccs.rutgers.edu/ruccs/jobs.php for
details on the position as well as contact information.
***************************************************
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