Logic List Mailing Archive

Postdoctoral position in "Cognitive Systems in Interaction", Groningen (The Netherlands), Deadline: 15 Jan 2010

Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Groningen

Postdoc position Cognitive Systems in Interaction (1,0 fte, 2.5 years)
Vacancy number 209395

The Postdoc 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.dr.
 
Rineke Verbrugge, comprising six researchers.
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: A 
thinks about what B knows, about what B thinks that A knows, and so on. 
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 modeling. 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 to design 
realistic logics, ready for implementation in systems supporting mixed 
human-computer teams.

The Postdoc project: Why is it so hard to apply higher-order social 
cognition?
Adults apply first-order social cognition (??Mary doesn??t kno
w that I 
ate the chocolate?) seemingly without effort. In contrast, they 
nd it 
hard 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 Postdoc project, we investigate 
what causes this phenomenon. What are the bottlenecks in moving from level
 
1 to level 2 and from level 2 to level 3?

The Postdoc 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 modeling results, new ideas for 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 Postdoc 
constructs an integrated computational cognitive model of adults learning
 
to apply higher-order social cognition.

Requirements and duties
We seek an energetic Postdoc 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 a
 
Ph.D. degree in cognitive science, artificial intelligence, psychology or
 
logic, with a strong interest and proven skills in computational cognitive
 
modeling. Good analytical skills and a positive attitude towards 
interdisciplinary work are required. Objective of the temporary 2.5 years
 
position is the production of a number of research articles in 
peer-reviewed scientific journals. Teaching duties of 10% of the time are
 
foreseen, for example, supervision of master??s theses.

Additional conditions of employment
The University of Groningen offers a salary between ? 2.379,- and 
? 
3.755,- gross per month. 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.

Additional information
For more information you may contact prof.dr. Rineke Verbrugge, 
L.C.Verbrugge@rug.nl
Additional information about the Multi-agent Systems Group can be obtained
 
through the following link: http://www.ai.rug.nl/alice/mas/MAS/

Application
Letters in English language, including a personal motivation, curriculum 
vitae, and the names and addresses of three referees (including telephone
 
number and email address) must sent before January 15th, 2010 to: 
vmp@rug.nl . Please, also send an electronic copy of your application to:
 
L.C.Verbrugge@rug.nl