[on behalf of Maithilee Kunda]
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Brief description
Two (2) postdoctoral fellowships available, one in AI/computer science and
one in psychology/education, to contribute to research on innovative,
AI-based educational technologies for students on the autism spectrum.
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Full description
Through a collaboration between Vanderbilt University's Department of
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Vanderbilt Kennedy
Center for Research on Human Development, we are exploring new ways to
leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and educational technologies in the
classroom to help middle school students on the autism spectrum improve
their theory of mind and social reasoning skills.
We are seeking two (2) postdoctoral researchers to contribute to this
project: one with a background in AI, computer science, or related
disciplines; and one with a background in psychology, education, or related
disciplines.
* AI/computer science position: The postdoctoral fellow will work with a
staff software engineer and other researchers on the project team to help
lead the design and development of the new educational technology
platform. This position will involve research in artificial intelligence,
including symbolic modeling of social reasoning concepts as well as
behavioral data analytics and data mining.
* Psychology/education position: The postdoctoral fellow will work with
experts in special education and other researchers on the project team to
help lead the design and execution of evaluation studies of the new
educational technology platform, working with students on the autism
spectrum and also with special education teachers. The position will
involve both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including
innovative approaches using behavioral data analytics to measure student
learning.
Both postdoctoral researchers will be members of Vanderbilt's Laboratory
for Artificial Intelligence and Visual Analogical Systems (
https://my.vanderbilt.edu/aivaslab/) and will work closely with faculty
mentor Maithilee Kunda as well as with other faculty and student
researchers in computer science and special education at Vanderbilt. This
is a three-year project that has been recommended for funding (final
approval pending).
The initial postdoctoral fellowships will be for one year, with the
possibility of extensions to a second and third year based on performance.
The positions include stipends, health insurance coverage, and support for
professional travel to conferences as well as to early-career mentoring
events.
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Application Details
Qualifications for AI/computer science position:
* Candidates are expected to have a PhD and publication record in computer
science, cognitive science, or a related discipline, as well as research
experience in artificial intelligence (any area).
Qualifications for psychology/education position:
* Candidates are expected to have a PhD and publication record in
psychology, education, or a related discipline, as well as research
experience in designing and conducting human participant studies.
For both positions, prior experience in research related to autism, special
education, and/or social cognition is a plus but is not required.
Candidates from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.
To apply, please send a cover letter, CV, and list of three references by
email to Maithilee Kunda (mkunda@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx). Applications will be
reviewed immediately, with a potential start date of July 1, 2018.