[Tccc] Postdoc position at IDSIA: Networked swarms

Gianni Di Caro gianni
Tue Sep 6 19:18:21 EDT 2011


Post-doc position in: Swarm robotics and Ant-based networking

Duration: 1 year, starting October 2011

Where: Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA), 
Lugano, Switzerland


*** Mission ***

The objective of the research is to fill the gap and to work out the
cross-fertilization of ideas and methods between swarm robotics and 
ant-based
approaches for adaptive routing and control of mobile ad hoc networks. 
While so
far in swarm robotics the notion of pure locality of interactions and
communications has played a central role shaping the design and the 
behaviour of
these systems, the use of efficient, adaptive, and scalable techniques for
longer range data routing and information dissemination, such as 
ant-based ones,
can play a major role to boost-up the performance of swarm robotics 
systems and
significantly expand their possible domains of application. The 
applicant will
port and adapt to robotic swarms methods developed during the last two 
decades
in the field of ant-based routing and control of mobile ad hoc networks, and
will research novel methods to close the loop between communication and 
control
in robotic swarms: efficient communications will support and direct 
distributed
control and, viceversa, controlled and coordinated robot mobility will 
enhance
and made possible reliable and intensive data communications and robot
interactions.  The investigated topics will be a follow-up of IDSIA's 
previous
and current research in the domains of swarm robotics and of ant-inspired
routing in mobile ad hoc networks.


*** Candidate profile ***

We are looking for an excellent and highly motivated candidate with a strong
interest and  scientific background in: ant-based networking, robotics, 
swarm
intelligence, and machine learning. In particular, the candidate must have a
proven experience in: ant-routing algorithms for mobile ad hoc networks,
distributed algorithms for the behavioral control of swarm intelligence and
swarm robotic systems, use of open source network simulators (e.g., NS2),
application of statistical analysis and learning techniques. She/he is 
expected
to have good mathematical skills and programming skills, and to have a 
positive
attitude toward interdisciplinary research and teamwork.
The candidate must already have obtained a Ph.D. degree.



*** Time frame, Enrollment, and Salary information ***

  Expected duration of the fellowship: 1 year, starting from October 2011

  English is the official language at IDSIA.

  The candidate will work under the direct supervision of Prof. Luca 
Gambardella
  and Dr. Gianni Di Caro.

  The gross salary is roughly 74,000 CHF per year (negotiable based on 
candidate's
  experience). There is travel funding in case of papers accepted at 
conferences
  and for project meetings.



*** Research environment ***

IDSIA (http://www.idsia.ch) is a research institute affiliated to the 
University
of Lugano (http://www.usi.ch/en/index.htm) and the University of Applied
Sciences of Southern Switzerland (http://www.supsi.ch/home_en.html).

IDSIA is a truly international, stimulating, and dynamic environment. It
currently hosts about 50 people, including senior researchers, postdoctoral
fellows, and Ph.D. students. The research activities carried out at IDSIA
address a number of different domains, including: swarm robotics, 
networking,
machine learning, combinatorial optimization, bio-inspired computing, data
mining, information theory, complex systems, and simulation.



*** Contact ***

In case you need further information about this position please contact
Dr. Gianni A. Di Caro at the following address: gianni AT idsia DOT ch, 
using
"IDSIA-Fellowship in Networked Swarms" as subject.



*** How to Apply ***

The rules for applying are described in the following document:
http://www.idsia.ch/~gianni/Ricercatore-swarm-IDSIA.pdf

---- The deadline for submissions is September 9, 2011 -----




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