Postdoctoral position in cognitive modelling, RPI, Troy NY (U.S.A.)

The Cognitive Science Department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is looking for a post-doctoral researcher, to join in a basic research project investigating cognitive modeling, cognitive architectures, and cognitive social simulation.

The starting date is August 1, 2009 (although a slight change, say by a month, is also possible). This will be a full-time research position, with the expectation that you devote 90% of your time to project-related research work (not your own research topics).

Prospective applicants should have a finished Ph.D degree. They should have a background in computer science (the equivalent of a BS in computer science), with strong Java programming skills, and have prior exposure to psychology and cognitive science (with background in cognitive architectures, human and machine learning, motivation, or social psychological modeling preferred), and other related areas.

Prospective applicants with expertise and interests in cognitive science should apply by EMAILing Prof. Ron Sun and sending: (1) a complete vitae, and (2) samples of best prior writings (published papers), and also FAX (3) GRE/TOEFL scores (if available), and (4) copies of the transcripts of the BS, MS, Ph.D programs previously attended. Also send the reference letters (if available).

See the following Web page regarding his research (in the afore-described areas and in other areas): http://www.cogsci.rpi.edu/~rsun

Two sample publications are downloadable from my Web site: R. Sun, E. Merrill, and T. Peterson, From implicit skills to explicit knowledge: A bottom-up model of skill learning. Cognitive Science, Vol.25, No.2, pp.203-244. 2001. http://www.cogsci.rpi.edu/~rsun/sun.cs01.pdf

R. Sun, P. Slusarz, and C. Terry, The interaction of the explicit and the implicit in skill learning: A dual-process approach. Psychological Review, Vol.112, No.1, pp.159-192. 2005. http://www.cogsci.rpi.edu/~rsun/sun-pr2005-f.pdf

RPI is a top-tier research university. The new CogSci department has identified research as its primary missions. The department is conducting research in a number of areas: cognitive architectures, cognitive modeling, human and machine learning, multi-agent interactions and social simulation, neural networks and connectionist models, human and machine reasoning, cognitive engineering, perception and motor control, and so on.

Professor Ron Sun
Cognitive Science Department
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 Eighth Street, Carnegie 302A
Troy, NY 12180, USA
phone: 518-276-3409
email: rsun at rpi.edu