[robocup-humanoid] 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