offering a fully funded 3 year PhD studentship on runtime analysis for
Bio-Inspired Computation.
Bio-inspired algorithms include general-purpose metaheuristics like
evolutionary algorithms, ant colony optimisation and particle swarm
optimisation. These algorithms are constantly being applied successfully
in various engineering disciplines. They often produce good solutions in
short time and they often perform better than tailored algorithms for
many problems from combinatorial optimisation.
Runtime analysis or computational complexity analysis helps to
understand how these metaheuristics work. The goal is to rigorously
estimate the expected time until such an algorithm finds a good or
optimal solution for interesting problems. This is done using
mathematical techniques from the analysis of randomised algorithms,
probability theory and computational complexity. The results allow for
insights into the working principles of metaheuristics, enable the
assessment of parameter choices and design aspects, and contribute to a
sorely needed theoretical foundation.
This studentship offers a valuable opportunity to work within a very
active, successful, challenging and widely respected field in the
intersection of computational complexity and metaheuristics. The topic
can range from evolutionary algorithms to ant colony optimisation and
particle swarm optimisation, including hybrid and parallel variants
thereof. In addition, there are opportunities for rigorously analysing
biological models in collaboration with the Computational Systems
Biology group.
Funding:
The award covers UK fees and a stipend at the standard UK research rate
of £13,590 per annum.
Applicants should be highly motivated and have, or expect to achieve, a
minimum of an upper-second-class Honours degree (2.1 or above) or a
Master´s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or related disciplines
(or equivalent). Expertise in any of the areas algorithms, computational
complexity, probability theory and bio-inspired computation is
desirable. An interest in and the willingness to learn about these areas
is essential.
UK applicants and EU applicants are eligible for a full scholarship
award. International non-EU applicants are not eligible.
How to apply:
Please apply online through
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/scholarships/projects/sudholt
For informal enquiries please contact the supervisor Dr. Dirk Sudholt at
d.sudholt@cs.bham.ac.uk.
Please provide appropriate references with the application.
Applications must be received by 31st December 2011.
**********************************************************
*
* Contributions to be spread via DMANET are submitted to
*
* DMANET@zpr.uni-koeln.de
*
* Replies to a message carried on DMANET should NOT be
* addressed to DMANET but to the original sender. The
* original sender, however, is invited to prepare an
* update of the replies received and to communicate it
* via DMANET.
*
* DISCRETE MATHEMATICS AND ALGORITHMS NETWORK (DMANET)
* http://www.zaik.uni-koeln.de/AFS/publications/dmanet/
*
**********************************************************
Posts
