[sem-grd] Three Semantic Grid Research Positions at University of Aberdeen

[Pete Edwards]

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 at 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

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