[Amdnl] Post-doc position - conceptualizing robot plan execution experiences

[Luis Seabra Lopes]

===========================================================
POST-DOC RESEARCHER POSITION
Job reference: MI-PI-2-ARH/2012

Transverse Activity on Intelligent Robotics
University of Aveiro, Portugal
===========================================================


In the framework of FP7 project RACE ("Robustness by
Autonomous Competence Enhancement"), the Institute for
Electronics and Telematics Engineering (IEETA), University
of Aveiro, intends to fill, in the near future, a post-
doctoral research position, under a "Contrato a Termo
Resolutivo Certo" (a fixed-term work contract for one
year, renewable up to three years, index 195, about 45,000
euros / year), in the area of Intelligent Robotics.

The hired person will carry out research work as part of
the participation of the University of Aveiro in the
mentioned project, focusing on the design and development
of the semantic interpretation, high-level learning and
human-robot interaction modules for an intelligent robot
with manipulation capabilities.

To this effect, IEETA is interested in gathering detailed
curricula of potential stakeholders in the mentioned
position.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Who can apply?
-----------------------------------------------------------

Candidates should have the following general
characteristics:

** The candidate must hold a Ph.D. degree in Intelligent
    Robotics, or related areas, namely Artificial
    Intelligence, Machine Learning, Pattern Recognition
    and Semantic Computer Vision, and, preferably,
    post-doctoral experience in these areas;
** The candidate must have a record of high-quality
    research in some of the areas relevant for the
    position;
** The candidate must be capable of, not only performing
    high-quality research autonomously, but also
    participating in collaborative research projects and
    supervising other researchers, namely at the PhD
    student level.

-----------------------------------------------------------
How to apply?
-----------------------------------------------------------
Applications should be addressed to the Rector of the
University of Aveiro and submitted electronically by
2012/03/08 to Glória Castro (gloria at ua.pt). Applications
must include the following attachments:

** Detailed curriculum vitae;
** Copy of an identification document;
** A statement of motivations and objectives of the
    candidate as far as this position is concerned;
** Copies of certificates of academic qualifications;
** The names and contact data of three academic
    references.

The official announcement, with additional information,
can be found here:
http://www.ua.pt/sgrhf/ReadObject.aspx?obj=21868

-----------------------------------------------------------
The RACE project
-----------------------------------------------------------
The overall aim of this EU FP7 project is to develop 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. Robot
competence is obtained by abstracting and generalising
from experiences, extending task planning and execution
beyond preconceived situations. The project aims to
produce the following key results: (i) Robots capable
of storing experiences in their memory in terms of
multi-level representations connecting actuator and
sensory experiences with meaningful high-level structures,
(ii) Methods for learning and generalising from 
experiences
obtained from behaviour in realistically scaled
real-world environments, (iii) Robots demonstrating
superior robustness and effectiveness in new situations
and unknown environments using experience-based planning
and behaviour adaptation. 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 of experiences of plan-based activities,
high-level learning about robot activities, and
human-robot interaction.

Additional information:
http://project-race.eu/

-----------------------------------------------------------
UA and ATRI
-----------------------------------------------------------
Created in 1973, the University of Aveiro quickly became
one of the most dynamic and innovative universities in
Portugal. Now a public foundation under private law, it is
attended by about 15,000 students on undergraduate and
postgraduate programmes. UA is one of the top universities
regarding the quality of its infrastructures, the strength
of its research and the excellence of its staff. The main
University campus, bordering the lagoon of Aveiro, is
renowned for its many buildings designed by famous
Portuguese architects.

The Transverse Activity on Intelligent Robotics (ATRI) 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
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aveiro,_Portugal