Logic List Mailing Archive

PhD student position in multi-agent organisations, Delft (The Netherlands), Deadline: 31 Jan 2012

PhD Vacancy in Multi-Agent Organisations

* Job description This position is part of the SHINE project and will be 
performed as a cooperation between the Man-Machine Interaction research 
group at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer 
Science, and the ICT research group at the Faculty of Technology, Policy 
and Management. Daily supervisors are Dr. Virginia Dignum and Dr. M. Birna 
van Riemsdijk and the promotor is Prof. Dr. Catholijn Jonker.

In order to understand, manage and safeguard society against abrupt 
changes and events in our complex world, there is an increasing need for 
integrated social monitoring systems that are able to access and integrate 
many heterogeneous information sources, including observation performed by 
local communities and traditional networks. This combination, augmented 
with new, advanced techniques for flexible sensing; software technology 
for data management, interpretation, dissemination and visualisation; 
decision making and acting offers great potential for an integrated social 
monitoring system. This project's main research question is: How can 
heterogeneous resources (people, mobile sensors, fixed sensors, social 
media, information systems, etc.) self-organise for answering dynamic 
information needs?

This PhD project will focus on the organisational development and analysis 
aspects of such systems. In order to achieve their goals, actors (sensors, 
people, or autonomous agents) participating in integrated social 
monitoring systems require means for coordination and cooperation that 
take into account their requirements and (institutional) constraints. 
Participants are assumed to belong to existing organisations and to be 
bound by specific norms of conduct (implicit or explicit) and 
expectations.

* Requirements
As a PhD student your tasks include the following activities:
?    performing scientific research;
?    implementing research prototypes and testing them in live settings;
?    presenting results at international conferences;
?    publishing results in scientific journals;
?    participating in the research groups' activities.

We are looking for excellent candidates who meet the following requirements:
?    an MSc degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence or a closely related field;
?    good programming skills;
?    good speaking and writing skills in English.
Having a background in multi-agent systems, organisation modelling or multi-agent simulation is a plus.

* Conditions of employment

Maximum employment: 38 hours per week (1 FTE)
Duration of contract: 4 years
Salary scale: 2042 to 2612 per month gross

In addition, TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a 
flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home (with a 
contract of two years or longer), and the option of assembling a 
customised compensation and benefits package (the 'IKA'). Salary and 
benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch 
Universities.

* Information and application For more information about this position, 
please contact Dr. Birna van Riemsdijk, phone: +31 (0)15-2786331, e-mail: 
m.b.vanriemsdijk@tudelft.nl or Dr. Virginia Dignum, phone: +31-15-2788064, 
e-mail: : m.v.dignum@tudelft.nl . To apply, please e-mail the following:

?  an explanation of your interest in the proposed research field;
?  a Curriculum Vitae;
?  copies of diplomas and other relevant certificates;
?  a complete list of courses attended and corresponding grades;
?  names and contact details of two references;
?  proof of English language skills (if applicable).

Please send your application materials by the early application deadline 
of 31 January 2012 to J. Eddini, hr-eemcs.tudelft.nl. We will continue to 
consider applications until the position is filled. When applying for this 
position, please refer to vacancy number EWI12-01.

-----------------------------
Dr. M. Birna van Riemsdijk
assistant professor
Man-Machine Interaction Group
Department of Mediamatics
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
Delft University of Technology
Mekelweg 4
2628 CD Delft
The Netherlands
Room: HB 12.040
Telephone: +31 (0)15 2786331
Fax: +31 (0)15 2787141
Website: http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~birna/
Twitter: @mbirna