Postdoctoral researcher in Mathematical Logic and AI

The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) is a renowned research institute at the University of Amsterdam, in which researchers from the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Science collaborate. The research carried out at Humanities forms one of the six research schools within this faculty. ILLC’s central research area is the study of fundamental principles of encoding, transmission and comprehension of information. Research at ILLC is interdisciplinary, and aims at bringing together insights from various disciplines concerned with information and information processing, such as logic, philosophy, linguistics, musicology, mathematics, computer science, artificial intelligence and cognitive science.

The ILLC is looking for an exceptional postdoctoral researcher in the interface between Mathematical Logic and Artificial Intelligence, within the project 'The Logic of Conceivability [LoC]. Modelling Rational Imagination With Non- Normal Modal Logics' . This is a 5-year project (2017-2021) funded by the European Research Council, and led by Principal Investigator (PI) Prof. Franz Berto, Chair at the Department of Philosophy.

Job description

The postdoctoral researcher will work within the subproject 'Core Theory & applications', lasting for the last four years of the project (2018-2021), and will be employed full-time. This subproject will

1. develop the Core LoC theory and solve the open problems the project is meant to address: the problem of logical omniscience in epistemic logic, the problem of Information overload, and the problem of how to model moderately rational cognitive agents; it will also
2. provide formal models of the LoC suitable for development in Artificial Intelligence research.

This will be a pure research position, with the researcher expected to:

• present intermediate research results at international workshops and conferences;
• deliver a number of excellent publications, also in cooperation with the PI and the other project members.

The postdoctoral researcher is also expected to help with all the organizational tasks connected to the project, including:

• the organization and attendance of a regular LoC project seminar;
• the organization of a major LoC Conference in year 4 of the LoC project;
• the maintenance of the interactive project web site;
• the dissemination of results to non-specialists as planned in the LoC project.

The candidate will have a PhD in the interface between Mathematical Logic and Artificial Intelligence, obtained on 1 January 2007 or later, and expertise in at least two areas between Philosophical logic, Cognitive science, Philosophy of mind, and the Psychology of reasoning.

The candidate will have contributions in excellent international peer-reviewed journals, testifying a strong research profile and the capacity to publish regularly at high level.

Requirements

• PhD in the interface between Mathematical Logic and Artificial Intelligence, and expertise in at least two areas between Philosophical logic, Cognitive science, Philosophy of mind, and the Psychology of reasoning;

• research works testifying the capacity to publish regularly in top journals in the areas of Logic and AI;

• strong willingness to help with all the organizational duties connected to the LoC project;

• strong cooperative attitude and willingness to engage in collaborative research;

• excellent command of English.

Further information​

For more information on the LoC research project, please contact:

• Prof. Franz Berto, Principal Investigator

Appointment

The selected Postdoctoral researcher will be appointed full-time (38 hours per week) for a maximum period of four years at the at the Department of Philosophy of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Amsterdam. The research will be carried out under the aegis of ILLC. The appointment is initially for a period of 12 months; contingent on satisfactory performance it will be extended by a maximum of 36 months, leading to at least four papers published/forthcoming in excellent peer-reviewed journals of logic, cognition and/or philosophy of mind. The gross monthly salary (on a full-time basis) will range from €3,193 to €4,028, in accordance with the  Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

Job application

Applications should include the following information in one single pdf file, named using your surname and 'postdoc-logic-AI' as file name, e.g.: Smith-postdoc-logic-AI.pdf:

• a1-page statement of research motivating why you are applying and how you can contribute to the LoC project in terms of (a) excellent publications, (b) cooperative research, and (c) help with organization;
• CV, including (a) details of research experience; (b) names and e-mail addresses of at least two referees to be contacted informally for references; (c) full list of publications.

Also include URLs for downloading sample publications and/or thesis manuscripts (do not send these as part of your application). 

Applicants must have completed their PhD by 7 May 2017.

Please submit your application to solliciteren2017-fgw@uva.nl no later than 7 May 2017.

Only complete applications submitted to this email address will be considered.

Please state vacancy number 17-080 in the subject line of your application. The subject of the email message and the attachment must consist of the text 'LoC + applicant's last name-postdoc-logic-AI'.

Candidates will be interviewed between May and June 2017. Skype interviews are possible.

The preferred starting date is 1 October 2017. Short delays can be negotiated in case of need.