🚀 go-pugleaf

Post Doctoral Position
HCI Institute
School of Computer Science
Carnegie Mellon University

The ATC-Soar project is a modeling effort aimed at understanding the
cognitive processes people use while learning to perform highly interactive
computer tasks.  We are developing a large-scale cognitive model written in
Soar (and C) of human learning on the Kanfer-Ackerman Air Traffic
Controller Task (TM) (a simplified air traffic controller-like task). The
model integrates several cognitive abilities developed in previous work
including perception, planning, problem solving and several different types
of learning. There is a large set of existing experimental data with human
users which serve to inspire and test the model.

The project has two main goals.  One goal is to continue the development of
unified theories of cognition (i.e., Newell's 1990 "Unified Theories of
Cognition").  Another is to lay the theoretical ground work for practical
methods for evaluating the learnability of human-computer interfaces. We
are especially interested in extending GOMS by incorporating a model of
learning.

Primary responsibility will be to continue the development and testing of
the Soar model. Our ideal candidate is a computer science Ph D. with a
background in machine learning, experience programming in Soar or other
production rule-based cognitive modeling environment, with an interest in
unified theories of cognition and/or HCI.  Psychologists with very strong
computer science backgrounds and experience with cognitive modeling are
also a close match.  Candidates with other strong CS backgrounds interested
in seriously exploring these issues will also be considered.

The appointment would be for one year, beginning in June of 1996, an
additional year would be contingent on on availability of funds and
performance.  Send a vita, a statement of research interest, three letters
of recommendation, and selected reprints to Dr. Bonnie E. John, School of
Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA 15213.  E-mail
applications are acceptable, bej@cs.cmu.edu.  CMU is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.