Postdoctoral Fellow in Computational Simulation of Social Behavior at University of Central Florida

The College of Engineering and Computer Science at University of Central Florida (UCF) has an immediate opening for a 2-year full-time, postdoctoral fellow position in the Complex Adaptive Systems Laboratory (CASL), directed by Dr. Ivan Garibay.
UCF provides an outstanding research environment and we are seeking highly motivated and independent postdoctoral fellows, with training and expertise in agent-based modeling, neural networks, social network analysis, machine learning, data analytics, or computational social science. This position will be part of the “Deep Agent” project team, provided the team secures DARPA funding for this project. This team will conduct research as part of the DARPA’s “Computational Simulation of Online Social Behavior” program, a network of DARPA-funded teams across the USA. The Deep Agent 4-year project seeks to create state-of-the-art agent-based models of human behavior, considering emotional, social and rational agent architectures with a particular focus on computational simulations of the spread and evolution of online information. These simulations will allow for a deeper, more quantitative understanding of our global online information environment, including better understanding of phenomena such as cascades, recurrence, gatekeepers, and persistent minorities. The Deep Agent team consists of interdisciplinary faculty from various US institutions, including UCF, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Florida Institute of Technology.
Training and mentorship from senior faculty will be provided with multiple opportunities to co-author high-quality publications in an interdisciplinary research environment. Mentorship and training will be provided for grant writing as well, with multiple opportunities offered to serve as co-principal investigator on federal grant proposals. If desired, teaching opportunities could be also made available via the Master of Science in Data Analytics program directed by Dr. Garibay. Also, there will be collaborative projects with other experts in the area of deep learning and data analytics at the University of Central Florida and partner institutions.
Salary and Benefits:
Salary will be based on the DARPA stipend scale and is commensurate with skills and experience, starting at $60,000.00. The cost of living in the Orlando area is significantly lower than in other cities in the USA. In addition, Florida does not collect state income taxes. The University of Central Florida offers a full benefits package. Information on University benefits programs, including eligibility, is located at Human Resources .
Minimum qualifications:
A Ph.D. in computer science, statistics, computer engineering, machine learning, complex adaptive systems, data science, computational social science, or a closely related field. Candidates with strong knowledge and experience in FLAME-GPU, agent-based modeling, machine learning methods, neural networks, or social science simulations, as well as excellent writing skills, as evidenced by multiple peer-reviewed publications, are preferred. Curiosity and passion for computer-driven problem solving and an ability to work both independently and as a member of an interdisciplinary team are highly desirable.
Application:
To apply for this position or to request more information on this opportunity please send your CV via email to Daniel.Eilen-AT-ucf.edu. Position preferred starting date is Fall 2017.