Project title: Reasoning with Uncertainty and Inconsistency
in Structured Scientific Knowledge
Funded by: UK EPSRC (for 3-years)
Positions: one Postdoc position and one PhD studentship

Short description: This project aims at investigating how uncertain and inconsistent
knowledge and information from multiple sources in structured scientific knowledge can
be modelled and merged. we will particularly consider context-dependent merging and
conflict resolution versus information loss issues when conflict arises.

The uncertainty theories that will be used in the project include:
probability theory, the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence, and the
possibility theory (which can be seen as a special case of Dempster-Shafer
theory). We will investigate (i) the suitability of different uncertainty
modelling mechanisms for different types of uncertain information, (ii) and
to analyze the conflict resolution principle when a decision has to be made
in highly conflicting situations.

A candidate for both positions is expected to have a strong mathematics backgropund.
For the postdoc position, a candidate should have a PhD (or completing a PhD by
December 2006) in mathematics or computer science and is willing to do research in the
Reasoning under Uncertainty area. Some knowledge of logic would be useful since the
project is part of a general logic-based fusion framework. For the PhD studentship, a
candidate is expected to have obtained a MPhil degree (or completing by December
2006) in computer science or mathematics, or related areas.

Both posts are based at Queen's University Belfast, UK.

Please contact Dr Weiru Liu at w.liu@qub.ac.uk (http://www.cs.qub.ac.uk/~W.Liu/) for
further details. Postdoc: Salary: 24,000 Pounds -- 27,000 Pounds depending on age and
experience. Studentship: 12,000 Pounds per annual.

Start date: 1st January 2007 or anytime soon after.