[robocup-humanoid] Subject: Doctoral and post-doctoral research positions in hybrid reasoning/learning for intelligent robots

[Luís Seabra Lopes]

The University of Aveiro (UA) is seeking applications for
two doctoral research positions (3 years max) and one
post-doctoral research position (2 years max) in the area of
hybrid knowledge representation, reasoning and learning for
intelligent robots.

Through previous projects conducted at the Transverse
Activity on Intelligent Robotics (ATRI/UA), we have been
working on the integration of reactivity, deliberation, learning
and interactivity for intelligent robots. In the framework of
RACE ("Robustness by Autonomous Competence
Enhancement"), an ongoing project funded by EU FP7,
ATRI/UA is currently collaborating on the development of
an artificial cognitive system able to build a high-level
understanding of the world it inhabits by storing and exploiting
appropriate memories of its experiences. The project
developments will be integrated and demonstrated on a
PR2 robot, from Willow Garage. The University of Aveiro
is involved in the development of modules concerned with
semantic interpretation, recording and conceptualization of
experiences of plan-based activities, and human-robot
interaction.

In this context, the following positions are open:

D1) Doctoral (PhD student) position focused on conceptualizing
robot plan-based activities, such that robot performance on
task planning and execution improves with accumulated
experiences and conceptualizations. There is a focus on problem
solving and failure recovery, as well as on human-robot
interaction for guiding plan-based experiences.
Additional information:
http://wiki.ieeta.pt/wiki/images/c/cb/Anuncio-bolsas-PHD-RACE.pdf

D2) Doctoral (PhD student) position focused on conceptualizing
objects and scenes, such that robot performance on object and
scene recognition improves with accumulated experiences
and conceptualizations. There is a focus on 3D environment
perception and open-ended learning, as well as on human-robot
interaction for naming objects and scenes and for providing
corrective feedback.
Additional information:
http://wiki.ieeta.pt/wiki/images/c/cb/Anuncio-bolsas-PHD-RACE.pdf

PD) Post-doctoral position funded in the framework of the RACE
project for 1 year, renewable up to 2 years. This researcher
will focus on unsupervised aspects of experience gathering and
experience-based learning and will also contribute to the
integration of diverse functionalities for a successful participation
of UA in the mentioned project.
Additional information:
http://wiki.ieeta.pt/wiki/images/5/5c/Anuncio-bolsa-PosDoc-RACE.pdf

Candidates should have a strong background in computer science
and, preferably, also in relevant topics in artificial intelligence and
robotics, namely machine learning, knowledge representation,
AI planning, object recognition and human-robot interaction.

At the time of starting any of the two doctoral scholarships
(D1 and D2 above), candidates must be registered in a relevant
doctoral programme at the University of Aveiro. It is
recommended that doctoral scholarship candidates also apply
for admission to MAP-i, the Joint Doctoral Programme in
Computer Science of the Universities of Minho, Aveiro and Porto
(http://www.map.edu.pt/i). MAP-i admission applications can
be submitted by July 13, 2012  (recommended) or by
September 14, 2012.

Applications to the announced doctoral/post-doctoral positions
must be submitted by July 25, 2012, via e-mail to Luís Seabra
Lopes (lsl at ua dot pt). The evaluation and ranking of candidates
will be communicated via e-mail.

Further information about UA
======================
The University of Aveiro is in the top 2% universities
in “Times Higher Education World University Rankings
2011-2012”, and is also among the top 100 universities
in the world with less than 50 years. UA is attended by about
15,000 students on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
ATRI/UA has been conducting projects leading to the
development of integrated architectures for intelligent robotic
systems. This group is well known for its successful
participation in many robotic competitions (RoboCup,
Portuguese Robotics Festival, AAAI, SRVC, etc.)
Additional information:
http://www.ua.pt/Default.aspx?lg=en
http://wiki.ieeta.pt/wiki/index.php/Transverse_Activity_on_Intelligent_Robotics


% Luís Seabra Lopes
% IEETA/DETI
% Universidade de Aveiro
% 3810-193 Aveiro / Portugal
% http://www.ieeta.pt/~lsl