Computing Science University of Aberdeen Research Positions in Semantic Grid Technologies Postdoctoral Research Fellow Postgraduate Research Assistants/PhD Studentships (2) The closing date for the receipt of applications is 14th December 2005 Three vacancies are available immediately within the PolicyGrid project (http://www.policygrid.org) - one of the ESRC National Centre for eSocial Science (http://www.ncess.org) research nodes, located at the University of Aberdeen. The Node brings computer scientists and social scientists together to focus on the challenges of using Semantic Grid technologies to enable more powerful analysis of mixed-method data (e.g. surveys and interviews, case studies, simulations) thus adding significant value to the work of social scientists engaged in the analysis of evidence bases for policy development and evaluation. It expands upon the work of an earlier ESRC-funded pilot demonstrator project at Aberdeen (Fearlus-G http://www.csd.abdn.ac.uk/research/fearg/). Node activities will include new methods for querying and presenting results from Semantic Web resources, methods for metadata creation, techniques for creation of evidence structures from heterogeneous Grid services, workflow tools, and explicit characterisations of agent-based simulations. Research Fellow This postdoctoral position is being offered on a full-time basis for 36 months. The post holder will focus on development of ontology support for annotation of social simulation models, together with a toolset to facilitate design, execution, analysis and interpretation of simulation experiments. You will also be engaged in other ontology authoring activities (as required) and will be expected to contribute to the research agenda for the Node. The work will entail extensive collaboration with land-use modelling experts at the Macaulay Institute and other members of the social simulation community. You will also be encouraged to play an active role as a member of the PolicyGrid team and the wider e-science group within Aberdeen Computing Science. In addition, your role will involve liaison with the National Centre for eSocial Science (NCeSS) located at the University of Manchester. You should have a PhD in Computer Science or a related discipline. You are expected to be a highly competent programmer in Java, and have experience of Semantic Web technologies (including OWL and RDF), Web/Grid services, e-science, and related areas. Knowledge of workflow approaches in e-science would be desirable. Prior knowledge in the agent-based simulation area is not essential, but would be an asset. The work will involve conceptual/theoretical work, and also implementation of demonstrable system software. Salary will be at an appropriate point on the Research 1A Salary Scale (£20,044 - £26,470 per annum) with placement according to qualifications and experience. Research Assistants Two postgraduate research assistant positions are offered on a part time (50% FTE) basis for 36 months; they will focus on two workpackages: "Integrated Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis for Policy Development & Appraisal" and "Facilitating Access for Policy-Makers: A Natural Language Approach to Query Formulation and Information Presentation". If appointed, it is a condition that you will be required to undertake postgraduate research leading to an MPhil/PhD degree, in an area related to the research activities of the PolicyGrid Node. For both posts you should have an excellent Honours degree in Computer Science or a related discipline, and preferably an MSc. You are expected to be a competent programmer in Java, and have knowledge/experience of distributed information management (including ontologies). Prior knowledge in the area of social science is not essential, but would be an asset. Both posts will involve conceptual/theoretical work, and also implementation of demonstrable system software. For the "Integrated Data Analysis" post you should ideally have knowledge and experience of Web/Grid services and e-science; for the post assigned to the "Natural Language" workpackage it would be desirable for you to have knowledge and experience of natural language processing/generation and user-interface design. Salaries will be at an appropriate point on the RA1B Research salary scale (£20,044 - £22,289 pro rata per annum) with placement according to qualifications and experience. Informal and confidential enquiries should be directed to: Dr Peter Edwards PolicyGrid Node Director email: pedwards@csd.abdn.ac.uk tel: + 44 (0)1224 272052 Application forms and further information are available at: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/jobs The University pursues a policy of equal opportunities in the appointment and promotion of staff. -- Head of Graduate School College of Physical Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen AB24 3UE Reclaim Your Inbox! http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird