In the Institute of Neural Information Processing of the Faculty of Engineering, Computer Science and Psychology of Ulm University there will be
4 PhD / PostDoc positions in the field of Learning Systems
from October 2016 in the newly established research group on “Learning Systems”. The group is interested in the mathematical foundations of intelligent behavior in cognitive systems, including both biological and artificial systems, in particular the information-processing principles underlying learning and decision-making. This requires a combined theoretical and experimental approach. In our theoretical line of work we use methods from machine learning, statistics, physics, information theory and decision theory to investigate the effects of limited resources on learning and decision-making (“bounded rationality”). In our experimental line of work we investigate sensorimotor behavior in humans by using virtual reality technology and robotic interfaces to study learning and decision-making quantitatively under controlled conditions. This interdisciplinary approach unites aspects from both basic and applied research. On a basic level we aim at a quantitative understanding of embodied intelligence, in particular the emergence of cognition from sensorimotor interactions by processes of abstraction and structure learning. On an applied level we are interested in both autonomous robotic systems and human-machine-interactions, as sensorimotor learning and decision-making in artificial systems constitute a cutting-edge technical challenge. The research group is supported by the ERC-project BRISC (Bounded Rationality in Sensorimotor Coordination)
https://erc.europa.eu/projects-and-results/erc-funded-projects/BRISC
funded by the excellence programme of the European Research Council, in which we aim at a novel information-theoretic understanding of sensorimotor interactions in psychological and technical systems. Previous publications of the group can be found under http://www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/research/rg/braun.html
Ulm University with its more than 10,000 students is Baden-Württemberg’s youngest university. It offers attractive career prospects in a highly innovative research, teaching and work environment at the same time facilitating the reconciliation of work and family life. Embedded within the novel international “Cognitive Systems”-Master’s course, the research group “Learning Systems” is part of the university’s priority programme on human-machine-interaction. Beyond the university, there are plenty of opportunities to cooperate within the SFB Transregio 62 and with international partners in Great Britain and the United States.
The applicants should have a strong mathematical background, hold a Diploma or Master’s degree in natural science, mathematics, economics, psychology, computer science, engineering or similar and have a keen interest in artificial and natural intelligence.
The positions are paid according to German tariff TV-L E13. Exceptional candidates with a Bachelor’s degree can also be considered, albeit with an individual pay scale regulation.
The University of Ulm is an equal opportunity employer: Handicapped individuals are strongly encouraged to apply, and so are women in areas in which they are underrepresented.
The positions will be filled as soon as possible. Candidates should send a CV, a brief statement of interest and a copy of their highest degree to Prof. Dr. Dr. Daniel Alexander Braun daniel.braun@uni-ulm.de .