[alife] PhDs in Social Evolution / Optimal Consensus Decision Making at the University of Sheffield

[James Marshall]

PhD studentships are available on the following topics at the University of Sheffield:
  Best wishes,
	James Marshall

PhDs in Optimal Concensus Decision Making
University of Sheffield - Department of Computer Science

3 year studentship

Application closing date: Wednesday 25 January 2012.

The successful applicant(s) will investigate optimal collective decision-making, applying statistical decision theory to the study of decision-making in biological systems from single cells to populations of social insects or humans. There will be the potential for collaboration with experimental biologists, psychologists and neuroscientists to inform and validate the models developed. Since the perspective of the PhD is in terms of optimal decentralised control algorithms, links with collective robotics or other engineering applications may also be investigated. A representative recent paper from this research programme is:http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2011/12/07/science.1210361.full.pdf and a report on it:http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2011/12/07/science.1216563.full.pdf

The ideal candidate will have a strongly numerate background, from mathematics, physics or computer science, but applications from numerate life scientists are also welcomed. 


PhDs in Social Evolution
University of Sheffield - Department of Computer Science

3 year studentship

Application closing date: Wednesday 25 January 2012.

The successful applicant(s) will investigate the application of social evolution theory to understanding pro and anti-social behaviour in a biological system or systems of their choice. Social systems span all ranges of biological complexity, from populations of single-celled organisms, to multi-cellular bodies, to societies of individuals. Of particular interest for the lab is the importance of social evolution theory for understanding many aspects of disease. The successful applicants will be encouraged to empirically study their chosen systems, either developing experiments themselves or in collaboration with experimental biologists, while ensuring that any experiments are motivated by and interpreted using a good understanding of the underlying theory. A representative recent theoretical publication from the Lab in this area is http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169534711001169

The ideal candidates will be biologically-inclined physical scientists (e.g. with first degrees in mathematics, physics or computer science) or numerate life scientists.





Candidates should submit an application as described below including in their application a 500 word research proposal understandable to a non-specialist, and a 250 word explanation of why their skills, experience and plans for further research or study make them a particularly suitable candidate.
Potential candidates are welcome to discuss their application informally with Dr James Marshall (james.marshall at shef.ac.uk).

The studentship will cover the candidates' fees, as well as a stipend at a level determined by the candidate's background. Applications from UK home, EU home and international students are welcomed.

About the Behavioural and Evolutionary Theory Lab:
The Behavioural and Evolutionary Theory Lab is an interdisciplinary collection of individuals interested in how and why behaviours evolve. We are interested in behaviours and behavioural mechanisms, and their evolutionary function. We apply a range of theoretical approaches, from mathematics and statistics, decision theory, computer science, and physics. Particular topics of interest are currently the evolution of social behaviour, such as altruism and cooperation, and optimal decision-making mechanisms in groups, such as social insects, and in individuals.

The Lab is part of the Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield (http://www.shef.ac.uk/dcs), and is physically based in the interdisciplinary Kroto Research Institute

Applicants should apply using the online application form at:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply




---
James A. R. Marshall
Behavioural and Evolutionary Theory Lab
Department of Computer Science and Kroto Research Institute
University of Sheffield