[alife] PhD Studentship in Complex Systems/Informatics/Bio-inspired Computing

[Rene Doursat]

PHD STUDENTSHIP IN COMPLEX SYSTEMS/INFORMATICS/BIO-INSPIRED COMPUTING

Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, Spring 2016

"Exploring morphogenetic engineering to manage self-organisation in socio-technical complex systems"

http://goo.gl/4cG1Uo

SUMMARY

Creating a computational framework for the design and control of self-adaptive and self-organising (SASO) socio-technical systems using "morphogenetic engineering"--a field investigating how to program the development and evolution of emergent multi-agent structures toward beneficial outcomes. Potential applications range from the Internet of Things and intelligent logistics to smart energy grids and disaster response coordination.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Exploding growth and complexity in hardware, software and networks forces us to rethink the traditional ways in which computing systems are created. This challenge is also an opportunity to usher in a new generation of cutting-edge technologies based on an entirely novel kind of unconventional, "organic" architectures. For this, we need to operate a bold shift from classical top-down design to bottom-up "meta-design", i.e. mechanisms that enable these architectures to self-assemble, self-regulate and evolve-not directly specify them.

The aim of this project is to explore the potential for the meta-design and control of "self-adaptive and self-organising" (SASO) systems of a socio-technical nature through the use of morphogenetic engineering. As individuals and their computers and digital assistants become more deeply entangled, we need to equip machines with greater social intelligence--and understand how humans use them. Potential application domains are numerous: self-reconfiguring manufacturing plants, intelligent logistics, the Internet of Things (IoT), self-balancing energy distribution grids and resource-sharing communities, self-communicating sensor networks, self-deploying multi-agency disaster response, or self-regulating institutions.

In each scenario, the system should build its own dynamic connections and activity (almost) purely on the basis of local rules and peer-to-peer communication-modulated by users and influencing them in turn. Therefore, the goal is to create an evolvable set of rules that the AI agents of such complex systems can follow to independently link to each other, make decisions and guide users, such that the end result is an intended functional network architecture of people and technology.

Specific objectives are:

* To explore how the principles of Morphogenetic Engineering could be applied to complex socio-technical systems.
* To develop a computational framework that embeds the relevant principles.
* To select one or two application areas and implement a demonstration within these domains. Some examples are provided above, but this is not intended to be an exhaustive set.
* To explore the deeper implications of this work.

SUPERVISORS

Informal enquiries can be made to:

* Prof. René Doursat, Informatics Research Centre (IRC), School of Computing, Mathematics & Digital Technology (SCMDT), Manchester Metropolitan University
* Dr. Emma Norling, IRC, SCMDT, Manchester Metropolitan University
* Prof. Bruce Edmonds, Centre for Policy Modelling, Business School, Manchester Metropolitan University

TO APPLY

See details here: http://goo.gl/4cG1Uo

Closing date: 21 March 2016 (9am GMT)

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Dr. Rene Doursat -
Professor of Complex Systems, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK -
Research Affiliate, BioEmergences Lab, CNRS (USR3695), Gif-sur-Yvette, France -
Steering Committee & Fmr. Director, Complex Systems Institute, Paris, France -
Co-Founder & Guest Lecturer, Complex Systems Master's, Ecole Polytechnique, Paris -
Officer (Secretary), Board of Directors, International Society for Artificial Life -

Web: http://doursat.free.fr -
email: R.Doursat at mmu.ac.uk -
work: +44 161 247 3589 -

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