[robocup-worldwide] PhD Studentships in Information and the Organization of Cognition for Robotics and AI

[Daniel Polani]

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  PhD Studentships

  INFORMATION AND THE ORGANIZATION OF COGNITION FOR ROBOTICS AND AI:
    PRINCIPLED ROUTES TOWARDS ROBOTICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

  Adaptive Systems Research Group
Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research
     School of Engineering and Computer Science
  University of Hertfordshire, UK
   Contact: Daniel Polani (d.polani at herts.ac.uk)

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Application deadline 1 June 2020
Bursary GBP 15,285 p.a.

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The Research

Increasingly, information (in the sense of Shannon) is identified as a
fundamental resource underlying all processes involved in
decision-making, ranging from simple control to intricate
computational systems implementing Artificial Intelligence; this
extends into the biological realm. All these complex systems are
driven by the need to organize information in the appropriate way.

We investigate the questions that emerge from this observation and ask
what constitutes the fundamental principles according to which these
organizational processes take place, how increasingly complex systems
and capabilities can emerge and self-organize seemingly spontaneously
from simpler ones in an intelligent system through informational
principles, and how this can be harnessed to create more intelligent
and capable AI and robotic systems.

We invite applications for our PhD studentships to investigate these
topics. You are interested in identifying fundamental principles of
the laws of cognition and apply them to questions of Artificial
Intelligence and Robotics, typically expressed in the language of
information theory. This includes, but is not limited to, modeling how
to arrange cognitive structures to enable robust decision making and
flexible control and how to encode and reflect the inherent structure
of the world in your agent’s "brain", making use of the powerful role
of embodiment and the inner dynamics of the perception-action loop.

You are interested in expanding these questions into concrete robotics
applications, including simpler, more natural, robust and powerful
robotic control algorithm classes, capable of dealing with a
uncertain, quickly changing, ill specified environment and other
agents, robots and humans.

You should have a very strong first degree; a very keen interest and
motivation in delving into and contributing to a fresh, stimulating
and fast-moving research area. An outstanding background in one of the
following or a related field is essential: Computer Science,
Computational/Cognitive Robotics, Physics, Mathematics, Statistics or
any other relevant discipline with a considerable
quantitative/computational component. In particular, you should
demonstrate excellent programming skills in at least one major
computer language. A mathematical/numerical background would be highly
desirable. Knowledge in at least one of the following fields would be
a strong plus: probability theory, information theory, differential
geometry, control, dynamical systems, data modelling/neural network
techniques.

The envisaged research will take place in the vibrant and enterprising
environment of the SEPIA (Sensor Evolution, Processing, Information
and Actuation) subunit of the Adaptive Systems Research Group in the
School of Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire; you for
interested candidates, there will also be the special opportunity to
collaborate with the School’s successful and enthusiastic humanoid
robot RoboCup team, the Bold Hearts, and with additional actively
funded projects.

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Research in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire has
been recognized as excellent by the latest Research Assessment
Exercise, with 50% of the research submitted being rated as
internationally excellent or world leading.

The University of Hertfordshire provides a very stimulating
environment, offering a large number of specialised and
interdisciplinary seminars as well as general training and researcher
development opportunities. The University is situated in Hatfield, in
the green belt just north of London. Hatfield is close to Central
London (less than 25 minutes by direct train to Kings Cross), with
convenient access to Stansted, Luton and Heathrow airports, and, via
the nearby historic town of St. Albans, also to Gatwick airport.

For informal inquiries and more information about the topics, please
contact:

Prof. Dr. Daniel Polani
Email: d.polani at herts.ac.uk

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Application forms and submission instructions are available under


https://www.herts.ac.uk/study/schools-of-study/engineering-and-computer-science/research-in-engineering-and-computer-science/the-phd-programme-in-computer-science

Please note: You must download the application form to your computer
before you complete it. If you complete the form in the browser
window, the information you have entered may be lost when the form is
saved.

The application form should be returned to:

    doctoralcollegeadmissions at herts.ac.uk.

The short-listing process will begin on 1 June 2020.
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